Edmund Rice will get a chance to win their third straight NSW Schools State Championship later this year, after taking out the Boys 11/12s South Coast Regional tournament this week.
The South Coast team have won the past two Champions of Champions tournaments and have had their eyes set on claiming a three-peat all year.
“They’re a really talented group of boys and we’ve really enjoyed watching them over the past few years,” Edmund Rice coach Josh Timpano told Oztag Australia.
“A few of the boys played in the Australian U16s team last year and a lot of them play reps with Vipers and Shellharbour.”
While Edmund Rice were favourites going into the opening regional tournament of 2019, Timpano said they didn’t have things all their own way.
“The final against Kiama was really tight. It was 1-1 at full time, then in the drop-off Kiama scored in the first set.
“Our guys managed to hit back straight away, then it went back and forth for a while before we found a way to score the match winner.”
Kiama featured in all three Boys grand finals but weren’t able to claim a title. Edmund Rice took out the Boys 9/10s with a 4-2 win in the final, while Figtree beat Kiama 4-2 in the Boys 7/8s.
“We actually entered a second senior team and they made it to the semi finals as well so there is plenty of Oztag talent floating around the school,” Timpano added.
In the girls, Holy Spirit Bellambi beat Oak Flats in extra time to claim the Girls 11/12s title. St Mary’s beat Figtree 4-3 in the Girls 9/10s final and Warilla were too good for St Mary’s in the Girls 7/8s.
The winners of each division will compete at the Champions of Champions tournament later this year.