AN impressive performance in the state final has handed Wauchope High School the tag of best under-17 girls’ rugby sevens team in the state.
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They did it after impressive victories over respected Newcastle schools Hunter Sports High (22-0) and St Pius Adamstown (43-0) in two of their final three games.
Coach Matthew Taylor was proud of the effort from his side after a 43-0 shut-out of St Pius in the final, but it was the win over Hunter Sports in their final pool game that was the most satisfying.
“Our final pool game was against our nemesis Hunter Sports High School,” Taylor said.
“We have never beaten them at state level and the girls put history aside and defeated them 22-0.”
“In the semi-final we played St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah and beat them 33-15 to qualify for the final against St Pius Adamstown.
“In an amazing performance (in the final) we won 43-0.”
The matches were played on September 25 in the NSW Secondary Schools Rugby 7s state championships in Newcastle.
The competition was for all schools across NSW: public, private and Catholic.
To make it there, the Hastings girls qualified at zone and then regional level.
They were drawn in Pool A and first up, played Calrossy from Tamworth and emerged with a comfortable 17-0 win.
Next up was Monte St Angelo North Sydney which the girls won 33-12.
Across their entire state championship campaign, the team won 13 from 13 games in season 2018 scoring 402 points and having only 61 points scored against.
They scored 66 tries and kicked 36 conversions.
Taylor says the girls’ success is testament to their hard work on the training paddock.
“The girls are a credit to themselves, our school and our town,” he said.
“No one can ever take that state title away from them and it just goes to show what we in Wauchope can do: take on the state and win.”
The team have been extremely well-supported by WHS staff, especially the Support Unit staff, parents, families and supporters.
The WHS P&C, the WHS SRC, the Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayoral Sporting Fund, the Wauchope Lions Club, bus drivers Mr Whittock and Mr Price, Bruce Doherty, assistant coach Mr O’Brien, resident scrum doctor Mr Palmer, regular guest coach Jimmy Holbeck and photographer Madison Auld.
“September 25 was a wonderful day for our girls,” Taylor said.
“Not only did they win five out of five games including the final 43-0, they kept three of their opposition teams scoreless.
“It’s an incredible achievement in the game of Rugby 7’s. All of the girls played well and impressed those who saw them play.”
Congratulations to the girls, the coaches, the support team and the families.