TOP TEAM: Kinross Wolaroi School took out the NSW Independent School under 16s title on the weekend. Pictured is the winning team of (back) Ned Yeomans, Alex Amos, Ben Watt, Hugh Alston, (third row) Tony Pellow, Damien Hill, John Thompson, Vaughn Higgins, (second row) Kurtis Crisante, Jackson Bridger, Woody McClymont, Jack Dalla, (front) Bailey Hilder, Billy-Jacob O'Connor, Bill McLaughlin, Ben Raines, Nick Duffy and Anthony Begg (coach). Photo: MICHELLE COOK 0821mckws
KINROSS Wolaroi School’s under 16 boys’ rugby union team had been saving their victory song all season.
They were able to sing it on Saturday when they claimed the NSW Independent Schools Association Under 16 Rugby Union title by beating St Augustine’s of Sydney.
Kinross and St Augustine’s went into the last game of the season undefeated, with the winner to take the spoils in the first-past-the-post competition.
St Augustine’s had not been beaten in four years and the closest Kinross had gone to them was a 35-nil loss in 2011.
On Saturday at Warringah, things were different and Kinross took a 10-5 win and sang their victory song.
“It was the most amazing feeling I’ve ever had in rugby,” Kinross captain Ned Yeomans smiled.
“The whole team came into a big huddle. We have a victory cry which we sing. We saved it for this game.”
Yeomans admitted he didn’t expect to beat the Sydney side.
“We were the underdogs and they were confident they would win. I think that helped us win,” he said.
Kinross had the better start on Saturday and were up 7-nil thanks to a try to Damien Hill, which was converted by Ben Watt.
“They came back straight away and scored to make it 7-5,” Yeomans explained.
“We held them out for the rest of the half. The second half was so even. Both sides went close to scoring.
“We got an opportunity 30 metres out, a full arm penalty and we decided to take the three points. Ben Watt slotted it for us.”
The win was a historic one as it was the first time since 2006 Kinross had claimed a NSW ISA rugby premiership.
Kinross coach Anthony Begg said it was the team’s training ethic which helped them to go through the season undefeated.
“They train like an opens team,” Begg explained.
“They have extra sessions in the morning that other teams don’t. Plus they’re all a nice group of kids so they’re very coachable.”
The Kinross team boasts a slick backline combined with a small but fit and mobile forward pack.
The team includes Orange players as well as 10 boarders, coming from Dubbo, Griffith, Coonamble, Cowra, Narromine, Lake Cargelligo, Lithgow and Trangie.