THE success of The Riverina Anglican College in the Hardy Shield final is not just about a simple game of rugby league.
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TRAC coach, and head of the PDHPE department at the Wagga high school, Michael Stubbs, has linked the football victory with academic endeavour.
Amid the celebrations of TRAC's triumph in the Wagga Sports Awards last night, Stubbs said the students involved had taken immense inspiration from the team's win.
"It lifted the entire school culture," Stubbs said.
"The boys went back and applied themselves to their studies.
"There is certainly a link between sport and life."
A foundation teacher at TRAC, Stubbs has been at the coalface as the school has developed into a sporting and academic powerhouse in Wagga.
Regarded as the sporting guru at TRAC, Stubbs has guided the fortunes of the school's teams in the Hardy Shield over the years.
In April, his prowess and perseverance was rewarded when TRAC toppled perennial giant Kildare Catholic College 6-4 in the Hardy Shield final.
A decade in the making, the Hardy Shield win was the first by TRAC in the historic schoolboy competition.
After a scoreless opening half, Kildare College snatched the first try when Derek Hay stretched out to score, but the conversion was astray.
With Kildare College up 4-0, man-of-match Ed Ansell set up Lachie Moore for TRAC's sole try 10 minutes later.
Ansell subsequently stepped up and nailed the sideline conversion to put TRAC ahead 6-4 - and onto the Hardy Shield honour roll.
Recalling the occasion, Stubbs said the school population had been thrilled with the stunning result
Likewise, the students were delighted to have been recognised in the Wagga Sports Awards.
"Everyone is really excited," Stubbs said.
"The boss (principal Ian Grant) is over the moon."
Stubbs said the camaraderie in the team has carried the players through learner times.
"Out of the 22 (players), 20 of them have been there since year 7," he said
"They've been together in the under 13, under 14 and under 15 teams in the Country Cup."
Set to hand over the coaching reins to fellow teacher Daryl Lawrence in 2015, Stubbs is adamant predictions of "doom and gloom" for TRAC in the shield next year may be premature.
He says a new wave of young football talent was coming through at the school.
TRAC last night defied outstanding opposition to capture its initial Wagga Sports Awards at the ceremony at the Commercial Club.