Outstanding year for League team

Brisbane Water Secondary College's Open Rugby League team has had an outstanding year on the field, according to college principal Mr Pat Lewis.

This matched the learning they were achieving in class time through the college's Sports Academy program, he said.

Backed by the NSW and Country Rugby League and Woy Woy Leagues Club, players involved in the academy learned sports management, coaching and refereeing, first aide, and health and nutrition, as well as honing their on-field skills.

"They have also been outstanding in sharing their skills with students from our local primary schools when they have conducted coaching sessions and conducted carnivals as part of their own accreditation as coaches," Mr Lewis said.

"On the field, the team has the honour of playing in a number of elite schoolboy competitions and through these has emerged as champion."

The team travelled to Tamworth last week to take on the residential Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in the quarter finals of the CHS University Shield, the pinnacle of schoolboy rugby league.

"Being an all-residential school, these boys eat and breathe footy as a means of filling in their time out of class," Mr Lewis said.

"Together with a very parochial student body crowd, they can be an awesome opponent."

Mr Lewis said that missing several players through injury, the college knew it had to lift its game and this is what it did.

"In an outstanding effort they trailed 16 to 12 at half time with captain Chris Hyde, Australian representative full back Aku Uate, Shane Lewis, Aaron Bull, and Ryan Varley all giving skilful displays of talent," Mr Lewis said.

"The second half of the game was as close as the first but two late tries gave the Tamworth boys a 34-16 victory.

"In this half, Jarrad Flack, Michael Smith Jason Overton, and Simon Nipsalla starred as did up and coming juniors Brett Sonter, Ryan Maskill, and Blake Mattei.

"Although going no further in the competition, the team retains a strong base to continue as a strong force in school boy rugby league. "

Coaches were Mark Cribb and Matt Marker.

Press release, August 31 Pat Lewis, Brisbane Water Secondary College