Valentine Public School has concluded a remarkable run of achievement in school footy competitions for 2018, finishing second and third in the rugby and AFL state knockouts in recent weeks.
The open rugby union side travelled to Carringbah for the PSSA finals and won two of their three games.
The side defeated Bolwarra Public School 32-19, beat Kingscliff Public School 33-17 and then lost 29-0 to past champions Newport Public School in the grand final.
In the AFL, Valentine lost their first round 20-15 against Deni South Public School but went on to win the playoff for third 30-28 against Griffith Public School.
The strong results follow highly successful campaigns for the school’s junior and open rugby league sides. At the NSW All Schools knockout finals in August, the junior (under-10) side finished second while the open side ran fifth.
Valentine Public School teacher Debbie King said a core group of talented boys featured across the sides.
“They’re pretty amazing how they support and encourage each other across the codes,” she said.
“They’re a fantastic bunch of boys and we’ve had such a great ride this year.
“We’ve had dads come in and put so much time into the teams, obviously the teachers as well, but they’ve come in and coached these boys and taught them how to play the different codes. We’ve had so much success because of it.”
Bill Turner Cup
Westfield Sports High School won both the Bill Turner Cup and Trophy at Speers Point last week after eliminating the two Hunter schools in contention in the semi-finals.
Newcastle High School were knocked out of the Bill Turner Cup (boys) in their semi-final against Westfield, losing 3-0.
Hunter Sports High School lost to Westfield in penalties 4-2 after a 1-all draw could not be broken in the semi-final of the Bill Turner Trophy (girls). Mika Moraoly was the scored in the 28th minute.
The Bill Turner Cup spirit of football award went to Dimitri Filactos of Newcastle High School. The Bill Turner Trophy spirit of football award was awarded to Tiahna Robertson of Hunter Sports High School.
Diocese Report
The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle hosts the NSW Polding Athletics Championships at Hunter Sports Centre Glendale on Friday. More than 800 students will compete and come from the likes of Lismore, Bathurst and Armidale.
Some of the diocese students to watch are: Hope Kuliesa-Keen, St Joseph’s Charlestown; Piper Bowen, Holy Name Forster; Sienna Newton, St John the Baptist Maitland; Eliza Callinan, St Paul’s Rutherford; Olivia Johns, Cessnock; Eve Howard, St James Muswellbrook; Poppy and Phoebe Doran, St Joseph’s Charlestown.
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