Representative schoolboy rugby league
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REIGNING Dave Sheldrick Shield champions Leeton High School will commence the first round of finals in its University Shield campaign this week.
Leeton High will take on Woonona High School in Wollongong on Thursday morning for the chance to progress in the knockout tournament.
It will be the first game the school has played since winning the Leeton competition in the second round of the Dave Sheldrick tri-series at the end of March.
That win was the first time in 29 years Leeton High had progressed past the local rounds after along period of dominance by Yanco Agricultural High School.
The winner of the Leeton competition is then drawn to play the best public school winner of the Griffith schoolboys competition, with that winner then playing the best public school in the Wagga competition.
However, Leeton High received a forfeit in both cases.
Coach Dave Killen had hoped for more match time in the run to finals.
"It would have been nice to get those games behind us before we play," Killen said. "I was speaking to the Woonona coach and they're in the same boat as we are in.
"They haven't got past the first round in forever."
Many of the Leeton High players are experienced juniors with representative experience and play together at Group 20 club level.
They will be captained by Tereapii Nikoro and Rhys Wilesmith.
The team has trained every Monday and started coming together twice a week since returning after school holidays.
Many of the plays have been devised by the side's experienced players and guided by co-coach Gary Wilesmith.
Killen is expecting a tough contest on Thursday.
"I think it's going to be pretty even," he said. "I think they're going to be as strong as us. There's not going to be a lot in it.
"Everyone in the team is experienced, they have all played before. The kids are getting excited about it."
The winner of this week's game will play Fairfield High School in the next round.