Australian School Girls

Schoolgirls Championships

by
dailytelegraph
01/07/2023

Queensland u18 Schoolgirls were successful one day 1 of the ASSRL Championships at Dolphins Stadium (Photo : QSSRL)

Schoolgirls Championships

Author : Andrew Dawson, Nick Tucker and Matthew Elkerton NewsCorp Sport

Schoolgirls Championships

Struddys apparel

Queensland v NSW CIS

Queensland five-eight Esther Pedro put on a mini masterclass as the Maroons schoolgirls powered to victory 21-0 over NSW CIS.

Queensland drew first blood courtesy of smart Ipswich SHS Year 11 student Pedro who scrambled right after a wide spread threatened to break down.

NSWCIS v QRSS (girls)

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – NSWCIS v QRSS (girls)

Esther’s passing game then came to the fore, with a bullet pass hitting her winger Relna Wuruki-Hosea on the chest. Hosea finished expertly and it was 9-nil.

And soon after Pedro lobbed a nice ball into space, with edge forward Lennice Wright running a gorgeous line to score.

Marsden SHS winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala then scorched 60m to score and at 17-nil after 10 minutes, the result was decided.

While Pedro and her backs feasted, they have the Queensland forwards to thank for the foundation.

Queensland had started strongly, attacking with their defence and blockading the middle where Armani-Lea Auvae and Reegan Hicks stood like loyal soldiers.

Hooker Nadia Windleborn (Merrimac SHS) was also tenacious.

NSWCHS v NSWCCC

NSWCCC claimed a last second derby win over NSWCHS in a ripping last match of the day from Redcliffe.

There was not a struck match between the teams, with NSWCCC winning 8-5 in a gritty victory after Evie Jones (St Joseph’s) crossed.

Watch a full replay of NSWCHS v NSWCCC (Girls).

It came down to the last play of the game, with fullback Elizabeth McGregory (Red Bend Catholic College) sending a pass to centre Jones.

NSWCCC drew battlelines early with stoic defence from fullback McGRegor and five-eight McGrath (St Mary Star of the Sea) who was also a constant threat with the ball.

Twice NSWCCC also held NSWCHS up over the line, but there was no stopping NSW CHS dummy half Mere Rasaku (Bass High School) who capitalised on a bulldozing ruck run by Monica Fasavala-Faamausili.

It was 5-nil, eight minutes into the clash.

NSWCCC were down, but not out, and a surging edge effort from No.13 Paige Bohringer (James Sheahan Catholic High) cut CHS’s advantage to one point – 5-4.

Then late, very late, came Jones’ try for CCC.

Western Australia v Northern Territory

Western Australian centre Phoenix Mahaki scored two tries as WA rose marginally above their rivals to win 13-nil.

Mahaki, from Seda College, shone through the gloom – and WA needed her to in what was a challenging cross border stoush with brave Northern Territory.

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – NT v WA (Girls)

Despite the scoreline, there was little in the game and WA needed every point they could muster.

The spirit of NT was emphasised by two magnificent try saving tackles from NT winger Honey Chastain.

NT’s effort was spearheaded by prop Keiko Fordimail.

WA’s third try was scored by Byford Secondary College student Taliana Mika.

ACT v Victoria

Under lights at Kayo Stadium the second last game of day one was here and it was the Australian Capital Territory Secondary Schools girls who dug their heels in and shot out to an early lead – before pinching a 13-12 win in the final stages.

Watch a full replay of ACT v VIC (Girls).

Victoria looked to have secured the result when up 12-9 with two minutes to play but ACT hooker Indi Dyball had different ideas when ducking under the defence with a try close to the line, breaking her opponent’s hearts with a telling blow.

Second rower Layla Irving and speedy centre Samantha Nealon dazzled for points.

The Victorian Secondary Schools girls took a bit longer to click into gear but when they did it was a scary sight.

First to strike was lock powerhouse Faith Vili of St Albans Secondary College and not long after her it was one of the discovery players of the day in Koreti Leilua.

She was seriously good in all three matches she played on the day.

Victoria took the lead quickly through two try hero Vili to inch ahead 12-9 but Dyball threw her cape on and saved the game with a dummy half scoot.

Queensland v Northern Territory

Queensland prop Alice Shannon was unstoppable while newcomers Lila Parr and Esther Pedro set Kayo Stadium alight as the Maroons powered to a 25-0 win, their second win of the day.

Shannon was a force to be reckoned with, rucking the ball relentlessly into the teeth of the NT pack.

Behind Shannon and her fellow forwards, halves Parr and Pedro were terrific.

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – NT v QRSS (Girls)

NSW Combined Independent Schools v Western Australia

NSW CIS fullback Juanita Jang (SEDA College) saved the day with the tackle of the championships so far as NSW CIS got out of jail to beat Western Australia 5-0.

With the game scoreless wwell into the second half, fullback Jang felled a runaway WA No.13 Topaz Porter who looked try bound.

Minutes later NSW CIS crossed for the only try of the match.

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – ASSRL Nationals – NSWCIS v WA (Girls)

NSW CCC v ACT

Flashes of enterprise from NSW CCC No.13 Paige Boringer and five-eight Evie McGrath drove their side beyond the clutches of an heroic ACT.

NSW CCC won 17-4, but the scoreline did not reflect the close nature of the schoolgirls match.

NSW CCC scored three late tries, with two of them scored by Boringer (James Sheahan Catholic School) and McGrath (St Mary Star of the Sea).

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – ASSRL Nationals – ACT v NSWCCC (Girls)

NSW Combined HIgh Schools v Victoria

Indie Bostock scored the individual try of day one as NSW CHS prevented a boilover to beat Victoria 16-5.

Bostock, from Warilla High School , halfback Kasey Reh (Figtree High School) and winger Mia Walsh (Illawarra Sports High) were the try scoring heroes, with the trio putting on brilliant exhibitions to score.

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – NSWCHS v VIC (Girls)

Queensland v Western Australia

Long-striding Tavarna Papalii finished a sensational team try as Queensland schoolgirls made an impressive debut at the ASSRL Nationals on Saturday.

Papalii, from the Keebra Park SHS catchment but with signed with the Sydney Roosters, scored next to the posts after Queensland had swept play right and then back to the left.

Papalii had a big match, including holding up a rival up over the tryline as Queensland posted a 25-0 victory over Western Australia.

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – QRSS v WA (Girls)

Papalii said she was approached last year to trial for the Roosters and this year hit the Sydney junior girls competition with gusto.

“It (signing with the Roosters) was not something I planned to do,’’ she said.

“Blake Cavallaro (head of pathways, Roosters) approached me and they offered me to play Tarsha Gale.

“It was something out of my comfort zone but I thought it would be good exposure playing Tarsha Gale in Sydney.’’

The Roosters even had plans to blood Papalii in their Harvey Norman women’s squad, but she was too young.

“So I finished off a season with Tarsha Gale (under 19s) and I was offered a contract.’’

She now lives in Sydney but does online learning with Keebra Park SHS on the Gold Coast.

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – NT v NSWCIS (Girls)

NSW CIS v Northern Territory

NSW CIS surged late to dismantle a willing Northern Territory 17-4.

Second half tries from wingers Charlotte Byrne and Shanelle Lyons and impressive left edge forward Bronte Ryan raised their side to safety after a rousing effort by the Territory girls.

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – ACT v NSWCHS (Girls)

ACT v NSW Combined High Schools

NSW Combined High Schools five-eighth Lilly-Ann White engineered a convincing 17-0 win.

White was tremendous, putting teammates into space, turning defenders inside out and organising the line.

NSWCHS had plenty of pace about them and from first glance they loomed as the main challengers to Queensland.

NSWCC v VIC (Girls)

Watch the replay of the ASSRL Nationals Day 1 – NSWCC v VIC (Girls)

VIC v NSWCCC

NSW Combined Catholic Colleges pulled off a thrilling 9-8 win over Victoria.

With ball in hand, NSWCCC were threatening, but it was an eight-minute period of incredible goal line defence which proved the difference.

WATCH DAY ONE FROM THE ASSRL NATIONALS

DAY ONE Results

Saturday, July 1

Boys Results

10.15am: Queensland 30 – 6 NSW CCC (Boys)
11.35am: NSW CHS 24 – 6 NSW CIS (Boys)

Girls Results

12.55pm: NT v NSW CIS (Girls)
1.20pm: Queensland v WA (Girls)
1.45pm: ACT 0 – 17 NSW CHS (Girls)
2.10pm: NSW CCC 9 – 8 VIC (Girls)
2.35pm: NT 0 – 25 Queensland (Girls)
3pm: NSW CIS 5 – 0 WA (Girls)
3.25pm: ACT 4 – 17 NSW CCC (Girls)
3.50pm: NSW CHS 16 – 5 VIC (Girls)
4.15pm: NT 0 – 13 WA (Girls)
4.40pm: NSW CIS 0 – 21 QRSS (girls)
5.05pm: ACT 13 – 12 VIC (Girls)
5.30pm: NSW CHS 5 0 8 NSW CCC (Girls)