2002 Schools National Champions

Schoolboys Tournament

Day Two of competition saw Western Australia come away with nothing to show for their dominance over the Australian Capital Territory. The was the Territorians that opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a speculative shot from close to the half way line which caught the West Australian goalkeeper well out of position. The hosts' then went all-out-attack in an attempt to find an equaliser but were unable to make the most of their numerous opportunities. The Australian Capital Territory killed off the match with a rare attacking foray five minutes from full-time which left the local players, and supporters, devastated. Elsewhere, New South Wales were 3-0 victors over Victoria, and South Australia and Queensland fought out a tense 3-3 draw.

After a rest on Tuesday, the Western Australian Schoolboys returned to action with an all-important clash against Queensland on Wednesday morning. Having hit the up-right and crossbar in the opening 5 minutes, Western Australia were stunned to be the ones a goal behind at the break. But their fortunes took a dramatic turn for the better in an amazing 15-minute period early in the second half which produced three goals. Sweeper Dean Apelgren put the two teams on level terms before Adam Calleja and Nick Ward game Western Australia a two-goal buffer. Queensland fought back strongly and, although they reduced the deficit, it wasn't enough as the home State collected maximum points to keep themselves in the hunt for a medal. Other Day Four games saw the Australian Capital Territory go down to Victoria by 0-1, while New South Wales defeated South Australia.

Western Australia came up against Queensland on Thursday in what turned out to be a very entertaining match. After a scrappy and scoreless opening half, things really kicked into life when Victoria took the lead shortly after the re-start. Skillful midfielder Bright put Western Australia back on level terms when the scored from a free-kick, only for Victoria to pick up the tempo and race away to a 3-1 lead with time fast running out for the hosts. But with just four minutes left on the clock big defender Gilchrist pegged a goal back, and deep in stoppage time Igor Arsovski earn his side a point by making it three-all. In the days other action, the Australian Capital Territory accounted for South Australia 3-1 and Queenland toppled New South Wales 4-2.

The previous days' results teed-up a thrilling end to the Schoolboys competition with five of the six states - New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Queensland - in with a very real mathematical chance of taking out top honours. But dreams of a hometown triumph were dashed as Western Australia crashed 0-3 to a New South Wales side which ran away with the game in its final twenty minutes. Queensland accounted for the Australian Capital Territory 3-1, while Victoria recorded a 3-2 win against South Australia. The final couldn't have been much tighter, goal difference required to separate New South Wales and Victoria after they finished level on points with the trophy going to the former.

Schoolboys Squad

Schoolboys Results

Schoolboys Table

Schoolgirls Tournament

Monday's round of game was a tough test for five of the seven Schoolgirls teams who played twice in the space of a few hours. Western Australia held tournament favourites New South Wales scoreless for much of the opening half of their clash, but the powerful Blues side went into the break a goal up with a late strike. New South Wales piled on the pressure in the second half and ran away with the match 4-0. South Australia (3-1) and Queensland (7-0) also claimed maximum points from their morning fixtures with the Northern Territory and Victoria respectively.

That afternoon Kylie Woodfin put Western Australia in front against South Australia, who were back on level terms by the half-time break. In what was a superb team perfomance, Western Australia lifted their workrate in the second period to control the match. A superb free-kick by midfielder Ashley Kane put the host State in front, and when Kylie Woodfin scored her second of the match the three points were safely in the bag. New South Wales racked up 15 goals with reply against the Australian Capital Territory, while Northern Territory defeated Victoria 2-0.

The Australian Capital Territory were on the receiving end of another hiding on Day Three of competition, this time Western Australia romping their way to a 9-0 victory. The hosts' were lead by Ciara Conway and Carys Hawkins both netting twice with goals from Kylie Woodfin, Pilcher, Dawson, Ashley Kane and an own goal making up the final score. South Australia bounced back from the previous afternoon's loss with a 4-3 result against Victoria, while New South Wales were surprisingly held to a draw by Queensland.

Round Five of the Schoolgirls competition saw big wins to Queensland (10-0) and New South Wales (11-0) over the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory respectively. Western Australia settled quickly against Victoria before running out winners by 4-2 courtesy of a Townsend double and other goals from Conway and Kane. The hosts could have taken the match out by a greater margin but instead opted to ease off in the second half with the result enough to put them in contention for the silver medal.

Western Australia's hopes of taking out the runners-up position for the fourth consecutive year came to a crashing halt on Thursday afternoon when they were unlucky to go down 0-1 to a strong side from Queensland. New South Wales continued to score seemingly at will, their 6-0 win over South Australia leaving them as a sure bet to clinch their tenth successive trophy. And honours were shared in the days' other fixture which saw the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory contest a one-all draw.

The final day of Schoolgirls action saw Victoria on the receiving end of a 0-12 mauling by New South Wales. Queensland kept the pressure on their southern rivals by defeating the Northern Territory 6-0, while the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia battled out an entertaining 1-1 draw. New South Wales and Queensland finished on equal points at the top of the table after six games, New South Wales awarded the trophy because of their superior goal difference having scored 49 and conceded once over the course of the tournament. Although they had the bye on Friday, Western Australia claimed the bronze medal.

The naming of the Australian Schoolboys and Schoolgirls squads at the closing ceremony resulted in twelve players from the home state being called up for national representation. Goalkeeper Alan Mattecucci, Ward and Apelgren were named in the Australian Schoolboys squad that will travel to the United Kingdom this December. In addition, Bright, Gilchrist and Hedges were included the shadow squad. Kane was the Schoolgirls sole representative in the Schoolgirls squad that will also play in the U.K. at the end of the year, while Stacey Woodfin, Conway, Langley and Pilcher are on stand-by in the shadow squad.

Schoolgirls Squad

Schoolgirls Results

Schoolgirls Table