Endeavour Sports High School triumphed in the Arrive
alive Cup grand final yet again for its third successive
title with a 16-7 win over Keebra Park High School.
Action began with Keebra Park kicking off to Endeavour
and the attacking probe of Endeavour defused by strong
defence from Keebra in a tug-of-war match.
With 11 minutes remaining in the first half, a break
from second rower Brett Lane straight through the centre
of play and an offload to five-eighth Ryan Carr saw
Carr plant the ball under the crossbar for the first
points of the game, centre Chase Stanley converting
with ease.
From there the favour of play began to turn to Keebra
Park, rebounding strongly after a weakening in their
defence. After an attempted Endeavour charge-down, ruled
as a knock on, Keebra Park five-eighth Robert Lui cut
through the masses straight off the scrum, scoring a
magnificent individual try. After an easy conversion,
the game was locked at six-all.
Keebra Park utilised the half-time break and came out
raring to take over the play. The cracks in Endeavour's
side began to show, with poor handling and penalties
given over to Keebra Park and with it, field position.
In the 11th minute of the second half, Lui lined up
for a field goal and slotted it over from 15 metres
out, giving Keebra Park the upper hand at 7-6.
Endeavour took its chances with the game in the balance
and after an attacking raid saw a player held up over
the line, the ball came to interchange Anthony Cherrington
who made the most of his chances, placing the ball down
with his finger tips.
The conversion attempt by Fepuleai hit the right upright
and it looked as if Keebra Park had a chance of hanging
in. This chance slipped away with the kick-off out on
the full, which gave Endeavour a penalty on halfway
with three minutes remaining.
The match was sealed when a Matt Mundine break led
to Cherrington's second try. "Well, I have pretty
lanky arms and I just used them," Cherrington reflected
after the game. "When you're reaching out, there
is just so much going through your mind."
Endeavour coach, Jeff Hardy singled out Brett Lane,
Matt Mundine and Cherrington as his standout players.
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