Murrumbidgee Regional High School has picked up their first state title after their under 16s rugby union side took out the Buchan Shield recently.
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The side headed up to Dubbo to take on Tomaree High School, near Port Stephens, on a hot October day with the MRHS side able to come away with a narrow 22-20 victory.
Coach Richard Wiseman was proud of his team's performance, especially the way the boys from the two sites were able to come together.
"It was a good effort for the first state title. Griffith and Wade both had a bit of success, but this is our first as a combined school," he said.
" It was just a good all-round solid team effort. To see both sites able to gell like that was quite pleasing."
Wiseman praised the way his side kept their heads held high event when they were behind coming towards the end of the game.
"Our backs are quite slick, and the Tomaree side were very strong in the backline as well," he said.
"We were able to stay in the game the whole time, and they never dropped their heads, and they kept on pushing. It was quite hot, well into the thirties in Dubbo and they pushed themselves to the limit.
"I thought we were under the pump a bit in the second half when the other side got in front, but they just dug deep and were able to come back strong."
The extent of the MRHS pushing themselves to the limit was clear with their captain Michael Asomua being forced from the field due to heat exhaustion.
"He was our captain and was probably our strongest player throughout the competition," he said.
"We were behind when he came off, and the boys were able to dig deep. He had scored a couple of tries in the first half."
Wiseman thought it was the performance in the semi-final against Farrer Agricultural High which gave his side the belief they would be able to take out the decider.
"We got out to a 20-nil lead in the first half, and everything clicked that day," he said.
"They came back in the second half, but we were able to win by 12 points so that was comfortable, and the boys got a lot of confidence from that performance."
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