Big win for Maribyrnong boysBy LIAM TWOMEYMore
12th September 2012 11:20:49 AM
Maribyrnong College won the Bill Turner Cup last week. Picture: CONTRIBUTED
MARIBYRNONG College has written itself into the history books after becoming the first-ever Victorian School to win the prestigious Bill Turner Cup.
The soccer competition involves schools from across the country and has previously been won by some of the most prestigious and well-recognised sporting schools in Australia.
Maribyrnong has now placed itself in that category after defeating Sydney-based school The Hills 4-0 in the competition’s grand final last week.
Team manager Amy Jackson said it was an outstanding effort to come away with the win.
“At the end of the day we were up against two of the most prestigious sporting schools in the country so I think for Maribyrnong it just speaks volumes that they are in the same league as some of these schools that have produced sporting champions like Michael Clarke, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton,” Jackson said.
“I think it is great for the school’s reputation.
“Going into the semi-final on the Tuesday we were treating that like the grand final. They had a really solid performance. They didn’t play their best in the semi and I think the nerves were a factor. The guys were able to settle down and found their way through and then were able to bring that into the game yesterday.”
Team captain Jayden Anderson was rapt with his side’s performance across the tournament and said getting a good start was the key to winning the grand final.
He also credited the coaches at Maribyrnong for the work they have done with the players.
“We had something to prove because we are the first Victorian team to ever be in the finals so a lot of the guys lifted and it’s really good for the school. Everyone has just improved out of sight,” he said.
“The program is great. All the coaches, the facilities, it is all excellent. It allows us just to do what we do best.”
The accolades don’t stop there for the school with Damian Rastocic named best on ground in the final while Ardian Vuniqi was awarded player of the tournament honours.
“That puts us in the mix to say that we are one of the best under 15 schoolboys teams in the country which is a pretty good effort considering the program has only been running for five years,” Jackson said.
“We are looking at heading overseas to enter the boys in a tournament over there so it is all happening for them.”