GRIFFITH High School staff and students dug deep to send their two most talented rugby stars off to compete against the best schoolboys in the state and they didn't disappoint.
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Fifteen-year-olds Mathew Driti and Aistan Fidow were part of the NSW under 16s Combined High Schools (CHS) rugby team that prevailed at the NSW Schools Selection Trials last week.
The two Griffith boys who play for the Blacks under 17 side along with Damian Johnston from Yanco Agricultural High School, proved the Riverina has astounding depth of talent in junior rugby by earning representative colours ahead of players from 400 NSW high schools.
Griffith High teacher and assistant coach of the CHS under 16s team Andre Boon said the boys sizzled in Sydney and wouldn't be surprised if the NSW selectors came knocking.
"Our boys, Mathew and Aistan, were the talk of the game, as was Yanco boy Damian Johnston," Boon said.
"The boys loved, absolutely loved it too. They were over the moon to have an opportunity to play with quality players and in front of selectors for the NSW all-schools team.
"We find out in July whether they got into that team."
The CHS team beat the Combined Catholic Colleges in their first round last Friday, followed by a loss to the Associated Schools of NSW, but picked themselves up to defeat the Independent Schools Association in a thriller .
Griffith High School held a fundraiser in the lead-up to the event to help Mathew and Aistan raise the $400 each needed to play in the competition.
"Both boys had to pay levies and kit fees of $400, so we had a fundraiser for them at school and raised $445 to go towards their expenses and (the sports) council threw in $100 for each boy as well.
"All the staff and students participated in a rugby jersey day and wore their rugby colours to school.
"Everyone here at school was really excited and proud of our boys and so they should be, they showed a lot of strength of character."