Swans and GIANTS Cup run and won

The Swans and GIANTS Cup Open Boys and Girls divisions concluded in Wagga Wagga this week with Kildare Catholic College taking out the Boys competition and Hay War Memorial High School winning the Girls.

High School teams from across the New South Wales and ACT region traveled to Wagga Wagga, following months of competition between schools competing within the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS talent regions.

Schools including Xavier High School, Westfield High School, Lake Ginninderra College, Kildare Catholic College, Finley High School, and Erindale College played off on Wednesday to find the ultimate high schools champion.

In the Open Boys competition final, Kildare Catholic College took on Xavier High School. Xavier had dominated ‘Pool A’, winning both of their games for the day, including an 80-point victory over Westfield High School.

Conditions were wet and woolly in Southern New South Wales, making the run to the finals for Kildare difficult at times. However, they were still able to control two of their three matches to gain a finals birth.

After an even first half, Kildare were able to run away with a 7-point victory against Xavier High School. In their first finals appearance since 2010, Kildare were crowned the Swans and GIANTS Cup Open Boys champions.

On Thursday, the Open Girls division played out with seven schools competing including Hay War Memorial High School,  the Scots College Albury, Mater Dei Catholic College Wagga, St Francis Xavier College, St Francis de Sales Regional College, Castle Hill High School and Thomas Hassall Anglican College.

It all came down to a final between Scots College Albury and Hay War Memorial High School after big tournaments from Semi-Finalists, St Francis Xavier College and Thomas Hassall Anglican College.

An even game ensued with both sides remaining close, however Hay War Memorial High School were able to run away with the match in the second half. Kicking consecutive goals to build a lead, the siren sounded with Hay War Memorial High School 26 points ahead.

As a side led by AFL NSW/ACT Youth Girls star, Jordyn Jolliffe, Hay War Memorial School were handed the Swans and GIANTS Cup for the Open Girls division.

The finals for the Swans and GIANTS Cup Under 15s Girls and Boys competition will take place in the coming months. The finals of the Under 15 Girls competition is set for play at Blacktown International Sportspark on 8 August 2017, and the Under 15 Boys final will be played in Albury on 19-20 September 2017.