BATHURST’S Drew Hope and Henry Miller have been rewarded for their standout performances for Polding at the recent NSW PSSA Rugby Union Championship by being named in the state’s representative side.
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Hope, of Assumption School, and Miller, of Saint Philomena’s School, helped Polding to a fifth place result and as a result earned selection to the next representative level.
The pair, both 12, now venture to the School Sports Australia Under 12s Rugby Union Championships starting on the 30th of September in Darwin.
Hope and Miller were the only two boys west of the Blue Mountains to be selected in the state team, and two of just three Polding players chosen from the recent Salamander Bay tournament.
“This was my first year of playing for Polding,” Miller said.
“It was really exciting when they called my name.”
Miller has been playing rugby for over seven years and his latest selection for the second rower adds to a strong run of results and representative honours in that time.
Hope, who has only been among the rugby scene for around a year, was surprised to land a spot in the state side.
“I was amazed. I didn’t think that I could get in,” he said.
“I didn’t really think that I could go for it, but my teachers said to me that I should give it a go.”
Despite his limited experience Hope showed he was more than up for the challenge, playing a pivotal role in the Polding side at lock.
The Bathurst boys and their Polding team-mates made a superb start to their PSSA Championships campaign when they knocked over both South Coast and Hunter to the tune of identical 19-0 scorelines, topping their pool.
Polding then went down to Sydney North (12-33) before bouncing back against Sydney East (29-7).
Hope and Miller once again knocked over South Coast to the tune of 19-0 to lock up fifth spot in the 13-team competition.
The Bathurst boys and their families are asking for anyone interested to come on board and sponsor this month’s journey to the Top End.