The latest chapter in the proud history of rugby league at Red Bend College was written on Wednesday, with the Forbes powerhouse claiming the Country Rugby League (CRL) under 15s Country Cup at Apex Oval.
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Red Bend has won countless titles in the past, and now the 2018 outfit sits along those stellar sides after a tough, come-from-behind win over Gosford’s St Edward’s College.
The Gosford school led 10-0 within five minutes in the state final and Red Bend was its own worst enemy due to a string of penalties and errors.
The Forbes school trailed 14-6 at the break but a positive half-time talk from coach Pat Cleal and stellar performances from captain Finnley Neilsen and five-eighth Matt Noakes in the second stanza saw Red Bend go on to win 28-14.
“It was awesome to see them work hard for each other and dig deep to get the win,” Cleal said post-game.
“We said at half-time we were getting out-enthused and the boys rose to the challenge and stepped up … they showed that bit of character.”
Noakes, whose running game was a feature throughout the win, scored his side’s first try after St Edward’s live-wire centre Cameron Steer and winger Aaron Antonio had crossed early on.
Red Bend had lifted in front of a healthy crowd at Apex Oval but Steer’s second set up an eight-point buffer at the break.
Neilsen came into his own in the second half. The hard-running lock crashed over after a quick play-the-ball early in the second half and his second try shortly after had his side within two.
The Forbes side had all the momentum and got in front when Noakes ran and jinked his way across and the five-eighth scored right on the bell after a fortuitous bounce from a grubber to seal the victory.
Cleal said the side relied on Finnley Neilsen, Matty Noakes, Kyle Mawhinney and Darcy Leadbitter, and they had stepped up to the mark and played good footy.
RBCC 15s: Darcy Leadbitter, Oscar Ryan, Toby Miller, Nick Ianni, Joel Wheeler, Matt Noakes, Kyle Mawhinney, Sam Raumati, Billy Phillips, Jacob Bell, Matt Kennedy, Jesse Shorter, Finnley Neilsen, Jake Ticehurst, Dustin Ticehurst, Austin Fay, Harrison Corke, Jack Jones, Daniel Stewart.