Riverina may not have taken out the NSWPSSA AFL carnival crown but there was a silver lining for two of the players.
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Binya Public School’s Harry Rowston and Hanwood Public School’s Oliver Bartter were both picked in the NSWPSSA state team.
The selections came on the back of sensational displays at the state carnival in Nelson Bay last week.
The midfielders – along with fellow Griffith Swans Sam Burley, Tom Bartter and Lucas Irvin – helped Riverina make it through to the grand final undefeated.
Despite the undefeated tag, Riverina’s run to the final wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
Defence was at the fore early on for Riverina as the side only had 47 points scored against them in its opening two games against Polding and Combined Independent Schools (CIS).
Riverina’s carnival then got even tougher as the side took on Mackillop.
Both teams’ radars were off slightly and in the end, behinds were the difference.
Riverina was less accurate on goal but more scoring opportunities saw the boys win 2.7 (19) to 2.4 (16) in a low-scoring affair.
After coming through the opening three rounds unscathed, Riverina stepped things up in the next two games.
The boys notched up their biggest win of the tournament – a 76-point win over Sydney East – before holding Sydney West to just one point in the semi-final.
The final saw Riverina pitted against CIS.
Unfortunately for Riverina, CIS was able to to turn the tables on Riverina,
Despite having just one less scoring shot, Riverina wasn’t able to match CIS who won 8.3 (51) to 3.7 (25).
Harry and Oliver will represent NSW in July at Maroochydore.
RESULTS
Game one: Riverina 4.12 (36) d Polding 3.2 (21)
Game two: Riverina 9.3 (57) d CIS 4.2 (26)
Game three: Riverina 2.7 (19) d Mackillop 2.4 (16)
Game four: Riverina 14.5 (89) d Sydney East 2.1 (13)
Semi-final: Riverina 11.6 (72) d Sydney West 0.1 (1)
Final: Riverina 3.7 (25) defeated by CIS 8.3 (51)