AN impressive performance from halves Sam Ylias and Zarn Durdevic has led Wauchope High School into the quarter-finals of the University Shield.
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Wauchope scored 10 tries and only conceded one in consecutive wins over Kempsey High School, Melville High School and Macksville High School at Wood Street last Tuesday.
Five-eighth Ylias scored three tries and had a hand in a couple of others while Durdevic provided the direction at halfback.
They were too good for Kempsey (16-4), Melville (12-0) and Macksville (12-0) as they progressed to the next stage at Coffs Harbour on June 5.
Coach Chris Hancock said it was the win over Melville High School that impressed him the most.
“They had plenty of opportunities to score, but our defence shut them down really well,” he said.
“One of their players in particular was a real handful.”
Impressively, Wauchope have up to six players in their side who were in the younger age bracket.
“It’s a bit unusual to have that many year 10 kids in the team when it’s normally 11-12,” he said.
Hancock said the school made it to the same stage in the competition last year before Toormina High School knocked them out.
“Toormina have had red-hot Buckley and Uni Shield teams for some strange reason in the last couple of years,” he said.
Hancock said Toormina had been somewhat of a feeder club for the Gold Coast Titans in previous years.
“The Titans have been pinching a few of their players and putting them in schools on the Gold Coast,” he said.
A top two finish at Coffs Harbour next week will see Wauchope make the semi-finals of the competition.
It would mean a likely clash with sporting schools such as Farrar Memorial Agricultural High School from Tamworth.
Before then, Wauchope could have to win up to three games before they progress to that level.
“Travelling hasn’t been our greatest ally previously,” Hancock said.
“We’ve travelled two hours up the road, had a 20-minute warm-up and then been slow out of the blocks against Toormina.
“We’ve usually lost 24-16 or something like that, but it’s been 18-0 before we’ve known what’s going on.”