St Matthews U13s Show Spirit and Sportsmanship at NRL Country Cup in Bathurst last week. 

  

Mr Elston and Mr Tooney proudly led the St Matthews U13s side to the NRL Country Cup Rugby League tournament at Jack Arrow Oval in Bathurst, where the team displayed determination, resilience, and excellent sportsmanship across two spirited fixtures.

  

Drawn in a tough pool with Lithgow High and James Sheahan Catholic High School, the day began with a testing match against a well-drilled James Sheahan side. St Matthews started strongly, applying early pressure through direct attacking runs that earned them a penalty and a repeat set. Capitalising on this momentum, a slick final-tackle play saw Lachlan Ramien crash over for the opening try. Sebastian Campton coolly slotted the conversion to give St Matt’s a 6-0 lead.

  

Despite the early dominance, lapses in defensive discipline — particularly repeated offside infringements — allowed James Sheahan extended possession and territory. The pressure told, and the opposition ran in four unanswered tries, taking the match 22-6. Credit to the St Matt’s boys, who never dropped their heads and continued to compete until the final whistle.

  

Game two brought a unique challenge. Lithgow High, also coming off a loss to James Sheahan, were struggling with reduced numbers and mounting injuries. In a fine example of sportsmanship, St Matthews lent Lithgow three players, ensuring both sides could enjoy a full and competitive match. The merged teams played out an entertaining contest, with the combined St Matt’s/Lithgow side edging the match 12-6. Under tournament rules, the forfeit meant St Matthews were awarded the win.

  

More importantly, the boys embodied the values of the St Matthews Way — resilience, humility, and fairness — making the school proud both on and off the field. Their behaviour and effort highlighted the growing potential in this age group, with promising signs for future competitions.

Well done to all the U13 boys — a fantastic day of rugby league played in the right spirit!