Uni Shield

Great Lakes try hard in Uni Shield final

by
ourfooty
08/09/2022

Great Lakes College NSWCHS University Shield grand Final team photo (Photo - Steve Montgomery)

Great Lakes try hard in Uni Shield final

Author : Great Lakes Advocate

Great Lakes try hard in Uni Shield final

Disappointment for Great Lakes College rugby league university shield campaign

Great Lakes College’s University Shield squad and coaching staff at Belmore Oval. Picture by Steve Montgomery, OurFootyTeam.com.
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GREAT Lakes College’s University Shield rugby league campaign came to a disappointing end when they were beaten 60-0 by Bass High School in the semi-final played at Belmore Oval.

However, co-coaches Simon Maher and Tom Freeman agreed if was a ‘tremendous effort’ by the team to make it to the semi of the prestigious competition.

“We were patchy, we didn’t complete sets; if we had of completed it wouldn’t have blown out as much and we do lack on our edges a bit,” he said.

“At periods of the game we were in it and could match it, but we didn’t do it for the entire game and that’s were the score line came in.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them up against a quality side,” Maher told Steve Montgomery from OurFootyTeam.com.

“Our two wingers haven’t played football before and there are other boys who haven’t played since Year 5 or 6.

At periods of the game we were in it and could match it, but we didn’t do it for the entire game and that’s were the score line came in.

– Great Lakes rugby league co-coach, Simon Maher

“I can’t speak highly enough of the attitude of those boys, and some of the talent that is there – I’d back them every day.”

Maher coached a number of players in primary school and he knew there was talent in the squad.

“They were a pretty solid team back then and used to do well around our area.

“We’d come down to Sydney a bit so I was looking forward to an opportunity to coach them in high school.

“I knew there was some talent there it was just a matter of getting them all together.”

While the result wasn’t the one the side had hoped for, Maher said the opportunity to play at Belmore and the welcome provided by the Canterbury Bulldogs will long live in the players’ memories.