AUSTRALIAN
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Opens:
Melbourne 5 -10 July 1998
MATCH
REPORTS
Wednesday 1 July - Dapto Showground,
NSW vs NSW Combined High Schools
Queensland began this annual precursor to the national
championships on the right foot when Metro North lock Ashley
Harrison scored the first try. However the team fell into
handling errors, and CHS went to the break with a 14-4 lead.
Queensland were
still in the game with about fifteen minutes left, but then the
Blues ran in three late tries to post a final scoreline of 28-6.
Monday
6 July - Olympic Park, Melbourne National
Championships
Queensland were beaten on
the bell in a controversial finish to the return clash with NSW
Combined High Schools in their opening game of the national
championships.
The Maroons were in
control for most of the match. Leading 10-0 at halftime and 10-6
with one minute to go, they were on cue for an upset reversal
over the team which beat them convincingly at Dapto just five
days before.
But in the dying
seconds with Queensland in possession, controversy intervened.
Frustrated by the
opposition tactic of holding down the man with the ball, a
Queenslander was penalised when he dragged an offender off a
team-mate. Two tackles later, the Blues were in for a try as the
siren blew. CHS did not miss the conversion, sealing the win
12-10.
Tuesday 7
July - vs Australian Capital Territory
Queensland recovered from Monday's
setback to score a 12-6 win over Australian Capital Territory,
keeping them in contention for Friday's championship final.
Originally selected
as a winger but playing at fullback, Justin Hodges had been a
handful for the opposition in both games to date, scoring a try
in each. Jace van Dijk had a big game at five-eighth, taking the
player of the match award.
Wednesday 8
July - vs NSW Catholic Colleges
Day four of the national
championships saw another hard-luck story for the Queensland
Schoolboys, in their clash with New South Wales Catholic
Colleges.
Leading 18-12 close
to full time, Queensland was doing it tough with two players down
receiving treatment and two more walking wounded. The Catholics
made the most of the situation and raced in for a try in the
dying moments.
Queensland’s
hopes for a finals berth evaporated when the try was converted
for an 18-18 draw. Like their 15-Year compatriots at Queanbeyan a
week before, they were relegated to a playoff for third place
against ACT.
The Maroons scored
four tries to three, but were let down by a one from four goal-
kicking effort. Despite the disappointing result, Queensland
manager Dave Seeley said it was a great team effort against the
defending champions.
Friday 10
July - vs Australian Capital Territory
In the play-off for
third, Queensland overcame an 18-6 halftime deficit to post their
second win of the championships with another six-point defeat of
ACT, 24-18.
Michael Ryan from
St Edmund’s Ipswich was named Queensland’s player of
the carnival.
daily match results
queensland
open team
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