The
Catholic Weekly
Online
Sydney
18 January 2004
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Defence the key to Terra Sancta’s strategy
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Defence the key to Terra Sancta’s strategy
Last year’s victorious Terra Sancta team after its 20-nil win against Westfields Sports High School. Photo: Leanne Poulos
By DAMIR GOVORCIN
Attack with your defence … that’s the philosophy Terra Sancta coach Bill Dowers will be instilling into his players as the Quakers Hill college looks to defend its schoolboy rugby league sevens crown at St Mary’s on Wednesday, January 21.
Last year, Terra Sancta won the inaugural schoolboy sevens tournament, beating Westfields Sports High School 20-nil in the final.
The players also didn’t concede a try in their semi-final win over Endeavour Sports High School.
“
Sevens football is noted for its brilliant attacking play, but strong defence
can change the complexion of a match,” says Bill.
“
Last year, we didn’t concede a try in the semi-final and final, which
was a superb effort by the players.
“
Attacking with our defence will be the key to retaining our title.”
In preparation for their 2004 campaign, Bill had the players training 10 weeks before Christmas, doing skills and weight sessions.
Although determined to win the sevens tournament, Bill admits he is looking to the bigger picture.
“
The philosophy of our team is to try to win every competition we compete in,
but I see the sevens tournament as a stepping stone to what lies ahead,” said
Bill.
“
We will be playing in a number of competitions this year so I see the sevens
as an opportunity to work on our ball skills and increase our fitness levels.”
Eight teams will participate in the round-robin tournament at St Mary’s on January 21, with the top two schools playing the final during the NRL World Sevens at Aussie Stadium on January 25.
Only seven players remain from last year’s 23-man squad, but Bill is excited about the prospect of working with some new blood.
“
New players bring enthusiasm and it will be a challenge moulding them into
a good team,” he said.
“
Some of these boys have lived in the shadow of other players, now they have
an opportunity to step up and produce the goods.”
Terra Sancta only began its rugby league program in 1999, but has already produced NRL players like Shane Rodney who played in Penrith’s premiership team last year and Wade McKinnon who has joined Parramatta this year.
Bill is also predicting big futures for Australian schoolboys Heath Le Strange and Steve Meredith, who recently joined the Sydney Roosters.