St Paul's Primary School Rutherford has claimed the Pickers Cup with an undefeated run at the annual school competition.
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St Paul's defeated Aloysius Catholic Primary School, Chisholm, Green 16-8 in the grand final of the competition which attracted 15 teams from schools in the Maitland district.
The final at Morpeth was a hotly contested game and St Paul's now progresses to the Newcastle Rebels Challenge Finals Day at St John's Oval, on September 20.
Teams from each of the Newcastle Rugby League clubs will be represented in the competition, with Bellbird Public School to represent the Cessnock Goannas and Kurri Kurri Public School to fly the flag for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.
NRL game development officer Matthew Sharman said the quality of play by the boys and girls involved was excellent.
"The program keeps on growing and the enthusiasm from the youngsters as well as the school representatives is fantastic," he said.
Other schools participating in the Pickers Cup were: Maitland Public School; Metford Public School; Tenambit Public School; Tarro Public School; St John The Baptist's Primary, Maitland; Morpeth Public School; Dungog Public School; Telarah Public School; Thornton Public School, Woodberry Public School; and Beresfield Public School.
Sharman said St Paul's were worthy champions going through the preliminary rounds undefeated and beating Maitland Public School 12-4 in their semi-final before facing St Aloysius in the grand final.
He said St Alyosius should be incredibly proud of their effort in fielding two teams and making the grand final of the competition in their first year of competing in the competition.
St Alyosius Green defeated Rutherford Public School 12-8 to make the grand final.
It was a day of firsts at Mt View Park last Wednesday as well when Bellbird Public School took out their first Kurri Bulldogs/Cessnock Goannas Cup in the annual Newcastle Rebels Challenge Cup.
Bellbird defeated a gallant Kurri Kurri Public School 36-8 in the final.
Sharman thanked the Morpeth Bulls Junior Rugby League Club for their help in running the day and also John, Michael, Kurt and Karlen from the Newcastle Coalfields Rugby League Referees Association for officiating at the event.