A CHANCE to take on the top under-19s talent from across the country awaits Bathurst’s Cole Mutton after he was named in the NSW All Schools Boys Open Team.
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Mutton’s impressive performance at last week’s NSW All Schools Tournament in Glenwood caught the eye of selectors, who named the left back into the NSW All Schools White side for the upcoming Tri-State Series.
The Bathurst player and his CHS 1 team enjoyed an undefeated run in the boys under 19s division at the All Schools Tournament.
Unsurprisingly, Mutton’s team dominated the selections with 15 of the 32 available spots going to CHS 1 players.
Mutton was pleased with the way he played across the three NSW All Schools Tournament matches and thought he could be in with a shot of selection.
“I was hoping I could get in. Because they were picking two teams I knew that would increase my chances,” he said.
“We played CIS and we beat them 4-0, and I played that whole game. On the second day we played CHS seconds. We beat them one nil and I played half of that game. We won our last game [against CCC] 3-1 and I played another full game there.”
Mutton joins the NSW White team, the second string side behind the Blue outfit.
The announcement of a spot in the All Schools representative group continues an excellent 2017 for Mutton.
The Bathurst defender has also enjoyed a great run of results at under 18s club level, with NSW Premier Leagues 1 outfit Sydney United 58 FC.
“At the moment we’re sitting in third and on a good run of nine games undefeated, so we’re in great form at the moment,” Mutton said.
“It’s been incredible. When I first went over last year my coach Tony Sekulic really helped me a lot. It was great to play in a harder competition and this year it’s just stepped up to a whole new level.”
Mutton now prepares for the Tri-State Series against the nation’s top junior talent. He’ll take on NSW Blue, Queensland and South Australia.
“The Australian Schoolboys left back is there again, and that’s my position, so the goal for me is just to play really well,” he said.
“It’s incredible knowing I’ll be playing against and marking people in that Australian Schoolboys team. I’ll get the chance to take on the NSW firsts team as well.”
The upcoming series will be Mutton’s highest honour in the sport since representing NSW in 2015 at Canberra’s National Training Centre Challenge.
The four-team interstate series will take place over August.