CAS 26 – CHS 22 (HT 7-10)
It was a top game despite both teams making mistakes that teams thrown together at short notice make. CHS probably had more standout players but missing Hills skipper and 2nd rower Steve Cummins did not help their lineout - and CAS were the better team and had the better structure.
CHS's tries were more from expansive play and they took the lead near the end but CAS came back to win through a charge down try, and the bloke who kicked the ball, 14. Blake Murray from Inverell, had just been responsible for a cracking try at the other end of the park. It's a cruel game. Earlier CAS got a beautiful maul try, if there is such a thing, that never looked like being interrupted.
I thought CAS was going to be in strife with the huge Hills SHS front row playing for CHS: 1. Lolohea (135kgs), 2. Faaeteete and 3. Tatuillo. But the THP got carted off early and the hooker had trouble throwing the ball in straight, though he could fizz around the field. The other guy LHP Lolohaea is the real deal: not just a good srummager but light on his feet and with soft hands just like Rodzilla at the same age, but can get around the park better than Rod.
Watch this kid, but if you think he is big you should see his brother.
There were quite a few lads playing who are involved with rugby league. There were two fine no. 8s on the field. For CHS Jason Havea from Hills is a 115kgs athletic freak with a great fend and a superb instinct for the game, with overtones of SBW. But don't get too excited about him folks because he has a 4 year contract with the Melbourne Storm.
For CAS Jed Holloway, a recent Waverly College recruit from Yamba is also a dynamic runner. He can get over the gain line and he's a grand cover tackler too. Although he also played league last year from McAuley Catholic College in Grafton, he is more of a classic rugby union 8 and seems more likely to stay in our sport. Since his dad is a West Harbour man, he probably will, and at 195cms and 108kgs he's good at lineout time, which doesn't have much currency in the 13 man game.
Waverley 13, Fine, played well for CAS, but is signed by the Roosters, and Jason Seage, the SG Ball halfback for the Parramatta Eels, was even better playing fullback for CHS although he was a winger for them last year. Another Hills SHS boy, he's a superb runner and tricky stepper. 10. Gerard McCallum from Hills is another rising star in both codes but he is a good all round flyhalf in the union game, including kicking from hand, and he has top pace.
Others who shone for CHS were Hills 12. Junior Nuitio, a superb direct runner and hard tackler – and 7. Gordon Broome a small, brave, manic hunter/gatherer from Asquith HS. He's reminiscent of the great French flanker JP Rives who older folks may remember when he visited our shores and played a test with a broken collar bone.
Converted backrower Alexander from Knox tried his best around the park and contesting at the breakdown but he will be behind Roach and Moore for state honours.
That's more CHS lads mentioned than ones from CAS, who won, but if they get their team play better, CHS could cause GPS a bit of mischief.
Twos
CAS 38 - CHS 24
This was another top game and the score was 24-24 with not long to go but two tries, one from an intercept, after that and CAS got the chockies. 13 Tony Satini from Hills and the Penrith SG Ball team had a top game for CHS as did the terrific 10. James Vaka (Manly Sea Eagles) and the hard running 8. Tom Vaesen from Narrabri.
Big Willie Skelton the CHS lock and reportedly 140 kgs plus, didn't have the impact I was looking forward to watching.
For CAS lanky 10. Debreczini from Trinity continued his good form from the U/16 comp last year though he didn't connect with his team mates well. That should come, but he still has his huge boot. 9. Duchesne from Knox had the best pass from any team on the day and after watching senior players failing in this regard it was refreshing to see.
CAS U/16 trials
South H 24 – North H 15
There were a lot of good players here but the remarkable thing about the game was something the ref did. The trial was played in quarters and when the ref whistled for the lads to start the 2nd quarter, the North team complied but the South coach, Dane Inman, I think, was still geeing up his players near the 15 metre lineout markers.
The ref waited a while then penalised South for time wasting. Then the South team twigged and raced over to push somebody into touch near the corner after the North tap, but they gave up the try soon after. I'd never seen that before.
It was a good day of rugby and the ground was in superb shape after the rain we have had.
