2016 Melbourne Storm Cup Runners Up
Congratulations to our Senior Boys Rugby League Team and our coaching and support staff who proudly represented our College at the Melbourne Storm Cup Final at AAMI Park on Saturday, as the curtain raiser to the Melbourne Storm semi-final. The final score didn’t go in our favour, but to the boys credit they didn’t give up without a solid fight!
A special mention to Tony Adam (Rugby Coordinator and Head Coach) for continuing to challenge our young men and provide them with opportunities they will remember for a lifetime. Well done to all involved!
2016 U/18 Country Cup Final
Chatham High School 28 defeated Victoria University S.C 26
On Wednesday 28th July VUSC travelled to Dubbo, NSW to participate in the final of the prestigious GIO Country Cup, a schoolboy competition open to over 800+ government schools in NSW and VIC.
Playing in this nationally televised Foxsport game, VUSC had their hearts broken after conceding a converted try in the 2nd last minute of the game. This enabled Chatham H.S. to hit the front for the first time throughout the game and denied VUSC from achieving a fairytale finish. Having lead by 10 points with 8 minutes to go made the result even harder to digest and come to grips with. Despite the loss, the boys are to be congratulated on the effort, spirit and energy with which they competed and played with during the game and indeed their entire campaign to reach this stage.
Travelling 11 hours on a bus and then being expected to play a quality opponent was always going to be a hard task, but one the boys relished and almost pulled off. With an ounce of luck and better composure at the back end of the game, the result could have been much different.
All boys who played some part in the team’s preparation over the past 3 months are to be commended for the way they conducted themselves and represented VUSC with pride and integrity. The sportsmanship shown in defeat despite the inner hurt was outstanding and portrayed all the values we seek at VUSC.
Hopefully the legacy left by reaching the final, will inspire and motivate next year’s team to prepare well and give themselves every opportunity to go one better. Well done boys!
Girls U/16’s & U/18 Rugby 7’s Teams: State Champions
Three teams from VUSC competed in the Rugby 7’s Gala Day on August 24.
The U16 and U18 teams both won every game of the day and took out first place making them 2016 State Champions and the U14 team finished third overall!
All three teams displayed great skill level, especially tackling and running in all games, a testament to training and preparation prior to the tournament. Also evident throughout the day was a high level of sportsmanship and enthusiasm for just participating in sport and enjoying themselves.
A number of our girls have been invited to trial for the rugby union state team. Great opportunities lie ahead. Well done girls!
Lastly, a huge thank you and congratulations to our parent coach Mr Dominic who has worked with both the U16 and U18 teams in the lead up to the competition and who coached all three teams on the day without a break!
We congratulate the U16 and U18 teams on achieving the honour of becoming state champions as well as all three teams for demonstrating and living up to the school values of Aspire to achieve, Respect ourselves and others and Strengthen the community.
2016 U16’s Cooper Cronk Shield – Victoria University S.C 30 defeated Hallam Senior College 14
On Monday August 22 the VUSC U/16 team travelled to Fregan Reserve, Clayton to participate in the finals of the Cooper Cronk Shield. Having qualified 2 weeks prior, the team was expecting to play strong opposition from the East side of the draw.
In the semi-final they VUSC played Hampton Park. Starting the game off in scintillating fashion VUSC scored four unanswered tries within the first 20 mins. This seemed to demoralise the opposition and once in front VUSC continued to dominate the play and managed to rack a big score, winning 44-0 and thus progress to the Grand Final against their old foe in Hallam Secondary College.
The final was played in wet and windy conditions which required each team to suppress their natural attacking football and instead play a more conservative and physical style of game. Both teams traded tries during the first half in a very physical and even game. On the stroke of half time Sione Tuputa charged down a kick and regathered to score. This lifted the boys and gave them a lot of confidence going into the second half. It was during this 2nd half period that the team were able to defend really well and keep Hallam under immense pressure forcing them to continually work off their own line. This eventually told on the Hallam team and VUSC were able to score 3 second half tries and win the match.
Credit must go to all the team members who worked tirelessly throughout the game and were deserving winners. Special mention goes to Iverson Fautimau who was named man of the match. Well done boys!
2016 U/14 Cameron Smith Shield – Keysborough 44 defeated VUSC 36
On Monday 15th August, VUSC students participated in the U14 state finals of the Cameron Smith Cup held at AJ Davis reserve in Niddrie.
In the first game our boys played the fleet footed team from Cranbourne East Secondary College. It was a dominant performance in the first half from VUSC leading 46 to 0 at the end of the first half. They finished off just as strong securing a 68 to 4 win, lead all the way by captain Compton Fautimau. The win placed them in the state finals game vs Keysborough Secondary College.
The first half of the state final was a hard fought battle with both teams completing their sets and testing the opposing defence. Lead brilliantly again by Compton Fuatimau and assisted by Isaiah Rangikataua-Harris, Amo Logapati, Shawn-Ray Mauga and Hayden Plummer we held a 20-10 lead at half time. Unfortunately, this game was a tale of two halves. Keysborough continued to bring their best footy while the boys from VUSC, tired from only having a very limited bench for the day, saw the game slip from their grasp resulting in a 36-44 loss.
Mr Tony Adam – Rugby Coordinator and Head Coach
