Townsville Bulletin

RYAN COLLEGE COMEBACK AT SCHOOL CUP

- NICK WRIGHT

THEIR first taste of elite level football, and their first taste of a wet-weather fight.

The AFL North Queensland Schools Cup had it all for Ryan Catholic College, when it produced a mighty comeback for a spot on the podium to end its campaign on a high.

Battling for third in the primary boys age group, Ryan Catholic took on Moranbah State School and was forced to come from behind to triumph.

Down 14-7 at halftime, the youngsters braved the torrential conditions and adversity to win 21-16 and send the squad into a raucous rendition of its victory song.

Ryan Catholic College AFL coordinato­r Vanessa Brage spoke proudly of her players’ efforts, particular­ly given that for a lot of them it was their first appearance at this level of competitio­n.

She said once the students found their feet against a higher quality of opposition — after going down 32-3 against Rockhampto­n Grammar — they thrived up against the skill and elements put in front of them.

“It was absolutely fabulous,” Brage said. “This weather has been horrible today but it was good to see they could pull that together at the end and come away with the win.

“It hasn’t rained for the last three months, so it’s been pretty dry and this was a brand new game. I don’t think they knew what to expect in that first game, which is probably why we didn’t come away with the win. It was so different to what they expected.

“But by the second game they had it figured out and were able to come out on top.”

In the Cup’s grand final, a tense, back-and-forth affair ended up going the way of Whitfield State School, which fended off Rockhampto­n Grammar 11-4.

 ??  ?? Ryan Catholic College's Hayden Bancroft struggles to break free of a tackle against Rockhampto­n Grammar. Picture: Evan Morgan
Ryan Catholic College's Hayden Bancroft struggles to break free of a tackle against Rockhampto­n Grammar. Picture: Evan Morgan

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