Sydney North East has emerged as the favourite for the NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) rugby union crown after producing one of the toughest performances seen in the competition on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a physical and sometimes fiery clash with local rivals Sydney North West at Apex Oval, the North East side withstood wave after wave of attack and two yellow cards to emerge with a 24-12 victory and move through to Friday’s final.
Victorious coach Sarah Laman wasn’t thrilled with her side’s discipline but was almost lost for words when trying to describe her pride at the gutsy effort in defence.
RELATED:
“Amazing. I’m so impressed with the boys,” she said.
“Even though they were up a couple of tries towards the end they just did not stop defending, made every tackle and followed through and just never quit.
“There was always pressure and line-speed, it was fantastic.”
In a match between two undefeated frontrunners, things didn’t begin well for North East as a knock-on from the kick-off gave North West all the momentum and they capitalised through a try to winger Nathan Mazoudier.
The conversion was waved away but North West continued to dominate in attack while robbing North East of the ball almost every time they had it.
“We didn’t have a very smooth start with the knock-on from the kick-off and we didn’t have possession and then when we did we got held up in the mauls so we didn’t do ourselves any favours,” Laman said.
North East hit back through flyhalf Cooper Wood to make it 5-5 but when Jerome Van Der Heide was sin-binned the consensus was North West would take full control.
However, it was the exact opposite as a loose ball from a North West lineout was kicked into the clear and North East’s Justin Mills won the foot race and set-up a 12-5 lead for his side.
North East got through a mountain of defence before half-time and the second half was a mirror of the first as a North West knock-on led to a second try for Mills.
North West then had all the ball, thanks to a string of penalties and another yellow, and after 10 minutes of being camped inside North East’s 22 they finally crossed through Sione Faupula.
A grandstand finish awaited but North East took their chance when they got it inside the final three minutes, crossing through Taran Sialemake to set off the celebrations.
“It’s amazing,” Laman said again.
“Playing for one and two tomorrow is just going to be outstanding and I’m so proud of the boys and excited for them for tomorrow.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
