Saturday, September 14, 2013

The New South Wales Combined High Schools have won their first 18’s Boys National Youth Championships title in recent times, scoring in the final seconds of the game to take the title 6-5 over Queensland Fire.

After a 12-11 win to the Fire in the round game on Thursday, the final was always going to be an exciting encounter and it lived up to all expectations.

The game marked the first time that NSWCHS had made the final since 2008, and their first NYC title in close to a decade.

Queensland were on the scoreboard in the first 90 seconds, when Justin Cridland scored to give his side an early 1-0 lead.

NSWCHS’ Kai Simbolon levelled the game up at one touchdown a piece five minutes into the game.

Queensland reclaimed the lead when co-captain Corey Russell scored shortly before the midway mark of the half.

Simbolon had his second touchdown of the half after consecutive sets on their attacking line, with a great ball from Adam Clune levelling the game up at 2-all.

When Clune was sent for a forced sub just before half-time, Queensland capitalised, making the most of their extra man, scoring with a minute left in the half to give them a one touchdown advantage at the break.

NSWCHS wasted no time after the break, with Daniel Brown the recipient of a great long ball to bring the game to 3-all.

New South Wales took the lead for the first time in the game shortly after before Queensland hit back at the midway mark of the half to level the game up at 4-all.

Clune was again in the thick of the action with three minutes remaining in the half, when he set up Abram Kara to run down the wing and score and take a 5-4 lead.

It looked as though New South Wales had the game won but Queensland weren’t done with yet, scoring a touchdown through co-captain Andrew Searle with 30 seconds remaining to lock the game up at 5-all.

The game looked to be headed to a drop-off before Combined High Schools’ Bevan French crossed as the siren sounded following some fancy footwork from Clune to give the New South Wales side their first title win in close to 10 years.

Clune was rewarded for his performance, named Player of the Final and Player of the Series for the 18’s Boys division.

To see the live stream of the game or the highlights of the match, please visit the TFA YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/touchfootballaus.  

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