St Johns College open rugby union team will contest the State semi-final of the Yeates Shield on Friday against Bulli High School.
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The Yeates Shield is a New South Wales country schools knockout with the semi-final being played at St Johns College's main oval at 12.30pm.
In reaching the semi-final St Johns defeated Dubbo College, Dubbo Christian School, St Columbus Springwood and Parkes High in the western final.
Bulli have won their way to the semi after wins in the south coast and Wollongong region with a victory over Illawarra Sports High in the regional final.
The Wollongong area is a strong rugby nursery and Bulli have Alistair Wylie in their team. Wylie is part of the NSW Combined High Schools first 15 that plays GPS on Wednesday.
He is a dynamic breakaway who also represented NSW Country under-18s this year.
St Johns have several players carrying injuries including star Country soccer representative William Markwick, Country under-17 pivot Nick Macrae and Country schools representative David Mann.
Captain Joe Snare is also recovering from a shoulder knock he received in last week's Ken Eggleton Cup match against Dubbo College.
St Johns will have to improve significantly on their scratchy display in the Ken Eggleton Cup. Although winning the game five tries to one, ball retention and defence were some of the concerns the team has been working on.
Dubbo CYMS first grade rugby league front-rower Nic Wilson has been assisting in getting the defence back on track.
Wilson has provided the team with a number of answers and ideas regarding effective defence.
The boys have responded well to the former St Johns student in the sessions he has conducted during the past fortnight.
A good crowd is expected on Friday as the college has not hosted a State semi-final in rugby union or rugby league since the mid 1980s.
ST JOHNS: 1 Gavin Moffit, 2 Tim Arnold, 3 Ben O'Leary, 4 James Willett, 5 Jason McRae, 6 Joe Snare, 7 David Sturman, 8 Evan George, 9 Peter Raines, 10 Ryan Drew, 11 Grant Buckley, 12 William Markwick, 13 Simon Yeo, 14 Nathan Kellaher, 15 David Mann. Replacements 16 Nick Macrae, 17 David Bourke, 18 TK Pooe, 19 Tom Lynch, 20 Jeromy Smith, 21 Joss Fitzgerald, 22 Chris Walkom, 23 Clint Hadfield.
