SHOAL Bay schoolgirl Zoe Smith has taken another giant step on her exciting rugby journey.
The talented Hunter Sports High School student covered herself in glory at the Australian Schools and Junior Rugby Championships last week on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast – helping the NSW under-16s All Schools women’s rugby team bring home the Sevens national title at the Kawana Sports Precinct.
It was another outstanding feat by 16-year-old Zoe, who earlier this year received the Port Stephens Council Sportsperson of the Year Award during Australia Day celebrations for her meritorious achievements on the rugby field.
The boom hooker turned in powerful performances throughout the tournament and proved a key figure as NSW toppled the number one Queensland team 26-24 in a pulsating championship final.
“Being crowned national champions is an amazing feeling and to upstage our main rivals Queensland for the trophy makes the victory more sweeter,” an ecstatic Zoe told News Of The Area.
“Our preparation couldn’t have been better and all the girls put in plenty of hard work and showed tremendous spirit to achieve our goal.”
After lifting the national Sevens title, versatile Zoe stayed on for the 15-a-side component of the championships where she represented NSW Country with distinction as a flanker.
She scored the only two tries in her team’s 12-10 loss to NSW City first up and played strongly in wins over Queensland Country, South Australia and Queensland City as the girls finished runners up in the 15-a-side format.
It was a huge honour for the Nelson Bay Gropers junior product, who dreams of one day pulling on a Wallaroos jumper for the Australian women’s rugby side.
Last year, the super-fit Smith etched her name in the Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Club record books when she became the first female Gropers junior to chalk up 100 matches for the club.
A feature of Zoe’s play is her copybook defence, ball skills and high work rate – traits she has carried into the girls’ rugby ranks over the past three seasons.
She is also a promising middle with the All Schools, Hunter Hornets and Nelson Bay representative touch football teams and helped the all-conquering Souths Lions club capture the Hunter Junior League Women’s Tackle Under-16 Division One premiership last season as a strong running prop forward and winger.
By Chris KARAS
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