HENSCHKE Primary School proved the standout performer at the Paul Kelly Cup gala day at Jubilee Park on Thursday.
Henschke took out the girl’s final in resounding fashion and also progressed through to the next stage in the boy’s division.
Henschke proved far too good for Lake Albert Public School in the girl’s final, prevailing 8.9 (57) to 2.2 (14).
They took out their boy’s semi-final over Holbrook Public, 5.5 (35) to 1.3 (9).
Fellow prominent Wagga sporting school, South Wagga Public, took out the other boy’s semi-final with a tight win over Mater Dei Primary, 3.4 (22) to 3.1 (19).
Henschke and South Wagga Primary will now meet in the boy’s regional final.
Henschke’s girls progress through to the Southern NSW final later in term two in Wagga.
Southern NSW AFL development manager Marc Geppert said there was some great football on display.
“The standard was very good this year,” Geppert said.
“The day was huge, we had 40 teams, both boys and girls, around 500 kids in total with 10 grounds running.
“The competition in the boys was of a very high standard and the girls was pretty good too.”
For the first time, organisers introduced a non-competitive division to encourage extra participation.
Geppert said it proved worthwhile.
“It’s about more participation, a lot of schools don’t like going up against the really strong schools.
“This way, they got to have a kick and a bit of fun.”
Due to a clash with the NSW PSSA state carnival, the date of the final between Henschke and South Wagga is in question.
The final is traditionally held as a curtain raiser to the Carroll Cup final at Robertson Oval but will be up for the two schools to ultimately decide.
Geppert said it should be a “very good” final.
Full-time
Boys semi-finals
Henschke Primary 5.5 (35) d Holbrook Public 1.3 (9)
South Wagga Public 3.4 (22) d Mater Dei Primary 3.1 (19)
Girls final
Henschke Primary 8.9 (57) d Lake Albert Public 2.2 (14)
