The Northern Inland Academy of Sport’s Tamworth Services Club Rugby League program has returned from their tour of Fiji. The boys growing in stature and experience on and off the field. On the field the boys had two physical games against local sides, the Sabeto Roosters and the West Coast Storm. Despite being slighter in stature, the NIAS boys rose to the occasion and held on for two tight victories.
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Head coach Peter Stevens says he impressed with how the boys played and handled themselves on the field. “The side has been working together for over five months, training for this trip and it is great to see them getting the results and playing such great footy.
“Mark Simon, Jock Brazel and Mitch Henderson have been the stand outs for the side through this tour, leading from the front and taking it to the physical Fijian teams.
Mark Simon, Jock Brazel and Mitch Henderson have been the stand outs for the side through this tour, leading from the front and taking it to the physical Fijian teams.
“It’s great for these boys to experience games against international teams, the Fijians play a very different style to what we're used to, they are very physical but have less focus on skills. That’s where we were able to get the advantage over them.”
The tour wasn’t just about the game time, with the boys visiting a local orphanage, experience a church service and many other local customs. The boys got the chance to interact with the locals and get a taste for their customs. Discovering what life is like in a third world country, away from the comfort of their homes.
NIAS CEO James Cooper says, “It really has been an eye-opening experience and not just for the boys, even the coaches that have come away with us have taken a lot away from this experience.”
The boys spent 8-days in what was, for a lot of them, their first trip overseas. It is opportunities like this that NIAS thrives on. Being able to offer these kinds of opportunities to the athletes and see them reap the rewards.
The second NIAS Awards Night will be held at the Armidale City Bowling Club on the 20th of October. The “Tamworth Services Club” Rugby League program, the “Armidale City Bowling Club” Football program and the “Inland Technology” Tennis program will be recognized at this award ceremony and the NIAS Athlete of the Year will be named. Former Australian Socceroo Jade North will attend as guest speaker.
ATHLETE PROFILE: Emma McInnes
Sport? I’m part of the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club Lone Star Program.
I compete in the Triathlon.
Age? I am 15-years-old.
What are your goals in the sport? I’d like to one day represent Australia in the Triathlon.
Highest Achievement? Seventh fastest female out of 110 at the Kingscliff Triathlon, one of the biggest events in the Queensland calendar.
At the Byron Bay Sprint Triathlon, I finished second in my age division and was the 6th female out of 111 athletes.
Favorite Athlete? Ashleigh Gentle, she was selected as part of the Australian team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
She took second at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Series World Championship.