This new competition brought together teams from NSW EREA schools in a gala day, with each team vying for the honor of being crowned Rice Cup champions.
Despite having some solid sessions against our school academy sides in the lead-up to the day, our boys found the level of football from some of the schools challenging, as we faced schools that play together on weekends and had just finished their main season. This meant that many of the teams were well-drilled and had a level of cohesion that we were unable to match. Additionally, we had dropped from five reserves to two before the day had even started, as several of our players fell ill. To their absolute credit, the boys showed enthusiasm and teamwork to overcome these challenges, with several players having to fill positions that were completely foreign to them at short notice.
Our first match of the day was against a talented and fiery Lewisham team that was well-drilled and controlled the pace of the game effectively. We had a couple of early chances, but injuries to both of our central defenders left us with just the bare eleven by halftime in our first match of the day. Ultimately, despite fighting hard, we were beaten 2-0, with a few good chances going begging early on. The scoreline was kept reasonable, however, thanks to some excellent goalkeeping from Blake Paulley.
Our second match was less kind to us. We started the match with no substitutes and several players trying new positions for the first time. While we had some promising counter-attacking moments that showcased our potential, we were unable to capitalize on them and couldn’t make the necessary defensive stops, ultimately losing 5-0 to Edmund Rice Wollongong.
With morale low, the boys were reminded of their strength in the face of a challenging situation. This lifted their spirits, leading to a gritty, resilient performance in their next match against St Patrick’s Strathfield, which was by far their best performance. The boys confidently held the opposition at bay in defense and created multiple chances up front. We could hear the frustration building in the opposing team as the score remained 0-0 late in the game, with many parents and players visibly becoming irate at the challenge our boys were presenting. Unfortunately, a late and questionable penalty was awarded to the opposition, leading to a final result of 1-0. Despite the disappointment, the boys were pleased with their efforts, showcasing football much closer to their true potential by narrowly losing 1-0 to a penalty to the team that ultimately went on to win the entire competition.
After finishing last in our pool, we played a friendly match against the second team from Edmund Rice Wollongong, which had placed fourth in their pool. This game was for the “wooden spoon” of the day. The boys enjoyed a much more relaxed and fun match, which ended in a 1-1 draw after Austin Tebbutt scored a stunning goal from outside the box on the left side of the field to equalise from an early deficit. We decided to settle the game through a penalty shootout. Our takers were Henry Swinbourne, Tom Bayss, Blake Paulley, and Hayden Young. A fifth taker was not needed, as all of our boys successfully scored their penalties, and Blake was able to save one of theirs, with another shot missing the goal completely. This meant we won our friendly penalty shootout 4-2.
Despite facing a very difficult time in our matches, the boys displayed impeccable sportsmanship and character throughout the day, competing in the true spirit of the game. It was a pleasure to work with them this year, and I hope they will fondly remember their involvement in the first-ever Rice Cup in our College’s history.
The Team:
Jack Batty, Thomas Bayss, Finnegan Clifford, Elliott Firman, Jeremy Gerber, Jamie Griffiths, Leo Grogan, Riley Nebauer, Blake Paulley, Ethan Rowell, Henry Swinbourne, Austin Tebbutt, Hayden Young
Mr Buxton – Coach
Mr Ryan – Manager
