Rutherford Technology High School is gaining quite a name for its recent achievements in Rugby League, becoming the team to beat.
The Rutherford Technology High School team has powered its way through the University Shield which is contested by all State schools in NSW, defeating Muswellbrook High School, Whitebridge High School and Newcastle High School to get this far.
The team has also made its way to the top of the Hunter Region competition and is now set to take on Kingscliff High School in the Inter Regional Final series. The game is scheduled for 24 July 2007 at Maitland Sportsground.
The 2006 team got through to the corresponding round last year, going down to Coonabarabran. Several of the 2006 team are in the current team, planning to build on last year’s experience to win the 2007 Final.
Training sessions are helped by the involvement of a number of teaching staff who have been associated with professional football. These include Shaun Skuthorpe, an ex Knights Junior who has also played for Penrith and Sydney. Luke Miller who was also a Knights Junior, and Dave Thomas an ex North Sydney Junior.
Fellow teacher Paul Johns coaches the team that competes in the Buckley Shield. As a player he played representative football in the junior Country and NSW Rugby Union teams, played grade league with Kurri Bulldogs, Gilgandra Panthers, Group 14 and played grade Rugby Union for Barraba and Maitland.
Following their win over Maitland High 40-18 in the Semi Final of the Buckley Shield the Rutherford team will contest the Regional Final against Bass High School on Thursday 26 July 2007. With star players Geordie Connelly, Daniel Curtis, Justin King and Jay Smith on the field it’s sure to be a fast moving game.