Australian Schoolboys kick off tour with massive win

The Australian Schoolboys began their tour of Europe with an emphatic win over the England Combined Regional Academies at Derwent Park, Workington on Wednesday evening.

The Australians won 86-6 over a team comprising players from the North West, North East and Midlands academies.

Workington Town full-back Theerapol Ritson scoring the Academy team’s only try of the evening.

“I can’t fault the boys at all,” said Combined Regional Academies coach Dave Clark.

““There were a lot of positives. We had two great camps and they gave their best.

“There were no heads down and no fault in effort at all. Our bench players wanted to get back on the field, which was pleasing to see.

“They could have easily sit down and not bothered, so it shows the character of the players and they were really keen to get out there and have this experience.

“Our two props were 17-years-old, we had players from the Midlands and North East which are regions which are not famous for rugby league.

“But this is what the regional Academies are all about. It’s a big achievement for them. We are reaching our targets with players going on to play at a higher level.

“It’s something the players will never forget, it was a great opportunity for them to play against the Australian kids.

“And it’s a great reward for the three regions to come together and make history playing a game against a touring side.”

The Australians’ tour of England continues with a game against the Wigan Warriors Academy, on Saturday November 29 at Solid Strip Community Stadium, Wigan.

They will also play the Leeds Rhinos Academy at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Tuesday December 2.

They will then play England’s Academy in two Test fixtures at Leigh Sports Village, Leigh on Saturday December 6 and Friday December 12 before travelling to France to play two fixtures to end their tour.

England Combined Regional Academies (Academy, professional club and community club in brackets)

Theerapol Ritson (Cumbria, Workington, Ellenborough Rangers)
Joseph Hambley (Cumbria, Barrow, Ulverston)
Shane Toal (Cumbria, Barrow, Ulverston)
Hanley Dawson (Cumbria, Gloucester All Golds, Millom)
Lewis Davey (North East, Gateshead, Cramlington Rockets)
Alexander Bielby (North East, Durham Tigers)
Jordan Johnstone (Cumbria, Kells)
Ben Gray (Midlands, London Broncos, Leicester Storm)
Brandon Moore (Cumbria, Castleford Tigers, Ellenborough Rangers)
Sam Luckley (North East, Gateshead, Walton Eagles)
Daniel Bleek (North East, Gateshead, Peterlee Pumas)
Matt Davies (Midlands, London Broncos, Leicester Storm)
Calum Farrer (Cumbria, Wath Brow Hornets).

Interchange:
Dylan Bale, Midlands (Coventry Bears, Leicester Storm)
Lewis Thompson (North East, Cramlington Rockets)
Trae O’Sullivan (Midlands, Coventry Bears)
Patrick Hargreaves (North East, Whitley Bay Barbarians)
Zach Clark (North East, Gateshead, Jarrow Vikings)

Australian Schoolboys (school and professional club in brackets)

Gideon Gela (Kirwan State High School Townsville QLD, North Queensland Cowboys)
Braden Robson (St Francis Xavier College Hamilton NSW, Newcastle Knights)
Tevita Cottrell (Patrician Brothers College Blacktown NSW, South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Latrell Mitchell (Marist College Pagewood NSW, Sydney City Roosters)
John Olive (Endeavour Sports High School Caringbah NSW, South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Jayden Brailey (Acquinas Catholic College Menai NSW, Cronulla Sharks)
Brock Lamb (St Mary’s College Maitland NSW, Newcastle Knights)
Luciano Leilua (Endeavour Sports High School Caringbah NSW, St George-Illawarra Dragons)
Jack Cogger (Mackillop Catholic College Warnervale NSW, Newcastle Knights)
Oliver Clark (Terra Sancta College Schofields NSW, Penrith Panthers)
Tom Amone (The Hills Sports High School Seven Hills NSW, Parramatta Eels)
Hame Sele (Kingsgrove High School Kingsgrove NSW, St George-Illawarra Dragons)
Ashleigh Nisbet (St Gregory’s College Cambeltown NSW, Cronulla Sharks)

Interchange:

Connor Tracey (Woolooware High Woolooware NSW, Cronulla Sharks)
Jacob Liddle (Wadalba Community School Wadalba NSW, West Tigers)
Tyrell Fuimaono (Patrician Brothers College Blacktown NSW, Parramatta Eels)
Nat Butcher (Macellin College Randwick NSW, South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Keegan Hipgrave (Palm Beach Currumbin State High School Palm Beach QLD, Brisbane Broncos)
Keenan Yorston (Wavell State High School Wavell Heights QLD, Cronulla Sharks)
Jacob Host (De la Salle College Revesby Heights NSW, St George Illawarra Dragons)

England Combined Regional Academies 6 (T: Ritson; G: Johnstone 1)

Australian Schoolboys 86 (T: Lamb 2, Cottrell 2, Brailey, Cogger, Mitchell 3, Olive, Sele, Liddle, Gela, Yorston, Tracey, Butcher; G: Lamb 8, Leilua 2, Host 1).

Attendance: 561