NEW SOUTH Wales has defied expectations at the School Sport Australia 15 and Under Girls Championships by finishing day two with an unbeaten record. The state incredibly claimed victories over Western Australia (nine points) and Victoria (13) to head into day three guaranteed a spot in the knockout semi-finals.

The carnival is being played on the Gold Coast, with Queensland now having a separate team for non-affiliated Academy players, as well as a combined Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions Academy team. Victoria – previously Navy and White – has just sent the one team to the 2024 edition, which makes New South Wales’ victory all the more impressive.

In a hard-fought day two contest, New South Wales traded goal-for-goal with Western Australia, after the Sandgropers were coming off a 16-point win over Tasmania. New South Wales, fresh off an inspired win over Victoria looked the goods as well, setting up a tantalising second round match.

Leading at each change but only narrowly, Western Australia secured the win after Amelia Rainbow converted a set shot goal in the final term to give her side some buffer room. Western Australia attacked hard in the second half of the term, with Trista Smoker generating a couple of shots, but one was touched on the line and the other cannoned into the post as she tried to soccer it off the deck.

In the end, the margin was just nine points, though each team had some standouts with incredible bottom-ager Bella Nelson – who played as a double bottom-ager last year – looking a class above at times, while New South Wales had a contingent of hard-running midfielders who also went forward.

Charlie Gibson was outstanding throughout the four quarters for the winners, with the Albury High School talent well supported by the likes of Evie Henley and Genevieve Hynes. Forward Emily Hollingsworth looked dangerous with her craft and contest-to-contest work in the front half.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.2 (14)
NEW SOUTH WALES 1.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.5 (23)

GOALS:
Western Australia: S. Anderson, T. Collard
New South Wales: Q. Neyland, E. Hollingsworth, A. Rainbow

RMC BEST:

Western Australia: B. Nelson, P. Punaivaha, T. Collard, T. Houlihan, M. Power
New South Wales: C. Gibson, G. Hynes, E. Henley, E. Hollingsworth, A. Rainbow

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Pool A

Victoria bounced back from its opening day loss to New South Wales with a 6.5 (41) to 2.7 (19) victory over Tasmania. It knocked the Apple Isle state out of advancing through to the final day’s play, with the winless side set to take on New South Wales tomorrow. Along with New South Wales, the winner of the Victoria-Western Australia clash tomorrow will make it through to the semi-finals.

Pool B

South Australia also remained undefeated in its pool with victories over both Queensland sides. On day one the Sandgropers knocked off Queensland 6.2 (38) to 3.4 (22), before having a big win over the combined Lions and Suns Academy team. Both the home sides are still in contention for the semi-finals however, having defeated the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on the respective days.