School Championships Back on the Sunshine Coast

Published Sat 28 Apr 2018

Athletes from across the State will be heading to the Sunshine Coast for the annual Queensland School Championships.

A highlight of the year for many athletes, it’s an opportunity for players to compete against different teams and their friends. There is also the opportunity for selection in the Queensland School’s team and from there the Australian School side.

In the lead up to this year’s competition, we look back to the 2017 Australia School’s tour against New Zealand.

Alongside schoolboys head coach, Bjorn Galjaardt, nine Queenslanders were included in the side that played New Zealand in December 2017.

With only four training sessions under their belt, the boys clicked really well. Captained by Reilly Townsend, the side played with grit and determination throughout the three games.

For much of the first game, the boys were leading by one goal. The Kiwis came out firing in the third-quarter scoring four goals and taking the lead. We dug deep to close the gap but could not take back the lead.

In the second game, the boys played significantly better and held their own. However, the Kiwis once again used their physicality to level the scores. Nothing separated the two sides and it was all to play for in the final game.

We set out with a specific game plan in mind, which the boys executed during the third game. We knew the Kiwis would be after a win but we stuck to our guns and overran the Kiwis in the final quarter, scoring five goals and ending the tour with a win.

The test ended in a draw and as the previous year’s winners the Kiwis held onto the shield.

NZL – AUS Monday 13-11 loss

NZL – AUS Tuesday 7-7 draw

NZL – AUS Wednesday 6-12 win

MVP – Matthew Humby (NSW)

In the girl’s competition, we knew that it would be another close, physical encounter and the girls struggled in the first game to adapt to the physical playing style of the Kiwis losing the opening match.

However, the girls turned it around in the second game, with passes going to hand and fantastic outside shots from Sophie and Kasey. Charlize and Maisie also had a great performance, with great short drives, screens and picks.

It was all to play for in the final game. There were plenty of opportunities for the girls to take the lead but often shots landed on the woodwork or went wide. As expected it was a close game but the Kiwis took the lead in the last two minutes of the game and took the win.

NZL – AUS Monday 9-6 loss

NZL – AUS Tuesday 6-9 win

NZL –AUS Wednesday 5-4 loss

MVP – Jolie Marsdens (NSW) and Sophie Milliken (QLD)