THREE teams remain undefeated in the School Sport Australia 15 and Under Boys Championships heading into the final round of the group stage. In Pool A, the superior team has been Victoria Navy who have wasted no time posting by wins over South Australia and Tasmania to go to the top of the table and book their semi-final spot.

Victoria Navy is coming off a 132-point shellacking of Tasmania on Monday, which backed up their 65-point victory over South Australia on day one. In the victory over Tasmania, Vic Navy averaged five goals per quarter, storming to a 20.13 (133) to 0.1 (1) win.

Darcy Harrington (four goals), Mitch Toner (three) and Arki Butler (three) did the most damage on the scoreboard that game, while Butler, Lachlan Hicks and Jordan Knapp were named among the best in the win. Ted Banks-Smith was the pick of the Tasmanians on a tough day for the Apple Isle side.

The contest was a little tougher against South Australia, but the Victorians still kicked away with seven goals to two in the second half to secure a 12.8 (80) to 2.3 (15) win. Harrington (four) and Toner (two) were the standouts, with Levi West and Jack Surkitt the pick of the Navy players in the big win. Naite Slade and Kodah Edwards were the better South Australians.

South Australia bounced back from its day one loss with a commanding win over New South Wales on day two, winning 16.8 (104) to 4.7 (31). After a relatively tight start, the Croweaters put the foot down and stormed away with eight goals to two in each half to record an easy 73-point victory.

Edwards was one of three players with three goals, as Dougie Cochrane and Memphis Webb also proved threats up forward. Defender Jack Gordon was outstanding in defence for the winners, while Mason McGroder was the pick of the New South Wales players.

The other day one match saw New South Wales post a strong 71-point win over Tasmania. The Bluebirds kicked away after quarter time to boot 10 goals to nil and secure the 12.10 (82) to 1.5 (11) win. Ben Pignatelli kicked three goals for the winners, while Callum Padman and Maclean Coble booted two goals. Ben Barwick kicked Tasmania’s sole goal, while Riley Walters was the best-on for his state.

GROUP A LADDER
1 Victoria Navy 2-0 (1331.25%)
2 South Australia 1-1 (107.21%)
3 New South Wales 1-1 (98.26%)
4 Tasmania 0-2 (5.58%)

Western Australia and Victoria White have already both booked their spots in the semi-finals after commanding wins over Queensland and Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The Sandgropers defeated Queensland 94-0 on day one, before cruising to a 99-13 victory over ACT on Monday. Victoria White dominated ACT on Sunday with a 105-3 win, before rolling Queensland by 40 points in the closest match of the group stage thus far.

The most impressive aspect of the West Australian team was its spread of goalkickers, with Thatcher Simmonds slamming home five goals in a best on ground performance against the Maroons, while Lorenze Cole kicked the four majors. Against ACT, it was Saul McCann and Matthew Edgelow who provided the most scoreboard pressure with three goals apiece. Jayden Clarke and Lucas Robinson are the two West Australians to be named in the best both games.

Thomas Lincoln leads the Victoria White goalkicking with six goals across the first two games. Blake Newton was best-on against the ACT then kicked a couple of majors against Queensland, while Oliver Thomson, Bart Leeton and Billy Wigmore have all converted multiple goals in a game. Newton, Harvie Cooke and Diesel Back were named among the best in both games.

It has been tough going for Queensland but improvement was shown with a competitive start against Victoria White. The Maroons will head into the match against Tasmania as favourites with Taj Murray named best-on against Victoria, and Archie Hill the pick of the bunch from the West Australian loss. Eligible Hawthorn father-son Cooper Hodge has been among the better players in both Queensland games.

Alexander Churches is one of only two goalkickers for the ACT named among the best in the loss to Western Australia, with Ewan Hyde kicking the other major. Three ACT players have been named in the best for both games thus far with Isaac Dixon, George Covey and Ben Turvey holding their own in the tournament.

GROUP B LADDER
1 Western Australia 2-0 (1484.62%)
2 Victoria White 2-0 (607.14%)
3 Queensland 0-2 (15.72%)
4 Australian Capital Territory 0-2 (7.84%)