Camden High School retains Robert Montgomery Shield following thrilling final day | Photos, videos

Cowra High School trailed by six points overnight meaning they required four victories more than Camden to edge ahead on Friday, with junior and senior mixed touch football, tennis, chess, senior girls and boys softball, the super quiz and junior and senior boys basketball and senior girls basketball remaining.

Results continued to see-saw, but Cowra swept the junior and senior super quiz while both the senior boys and girls basketball sides scored victories giving Cowra every chance.

The students and staff gathered at 1.15pm for the official announcement, revealing that both Cowra and Camden had notched 15 victories and were all-square on 30 points after three days of competition.

Because Camden held the Robert Montgomery Shield the visitors retained it for a further 12 months.

"It's been a great few days guys, the weather has been fantastic a little cool if anything.

"The competition has been fantastic,” Cowra exchange coordinator Steve Johnstone said.

Cowra’s captains Lucy Wilson and Jackson Oliver thanked Camden for the three days of competitive sport.

"What an outstanding effort from both sides,” Jackson said.

"We thank you Camden High School for travelling all the way, and proving to Cowra your level of talent displayed in all the sports.

"The ability, dedication and determination shown from both teams was simply amazing," Lucy added.

"And well done all the students of Cowra who matched the level of talent from Camden."

Camden exchange coordinator Lyndall Deery invited Cowra to Camden in 2018 for the 47th year.

She praised the event on its ability to promote friendships and experiences.

"1999 was my first visit to Cowra. Unfortunately this is my final year as a teacher. It has been a great experience,” Mrs Deery said.

"You create bonds and experiences. It's developed friendships that I'll carry on forever as you guys will too.

"On behalf of our principal we would like to officially invite Cowra High School back to Camden next year for the 2018 Camden-Cowra exchange,” she said.

Cowra High School principal Charles Gauci gladly accepted.

"I do accept that challenge becuase we came so close this year and I know we're going to bring the shield back next year,” he said.

“We're going to have the strongest field we've ever had. It's been an incredible few days here. This is about sportsmanship. It's incredibly tough on the field but always played in the best spirit.

"Off the field it's great to see everyone get along really well."

Cowra has gotten off to a flying start in the annual Robert Montgomery Shield Competition against Camden High School, winning both junior and senior footy on Wednesday night. 

The Cowra junior boys held on to beat Camden 20-8 whilst the senior boys won comfortably 46-24. 

Cowra/Camden exchange coordinator Steve Johnstone said the boys put on an impressive display in both games. 

“Both games went Cowra’s way so we got off to a good start,” he said. 

“They were well attended, there was a big crowd apart from the cold weather.” 

Mr Johnstone said despite the size and variety Camden offered in their junior side, the Cowra boys managed to hang on to get the win. 

“It’s always hard to beat Camden in the juniors,” he said. 

“They are a much bigger school than we are at the moment and they’ve always got big teams and fairly well drilled teams but anytime we beat them in juniors rugby league is a good win for us.

“It was a fairly tough game last night so our boys did really and our boys are a young side and a small side but they are a good side.”

On the other hand, Mr Johnstone said the seniors have been dominant against Camden in the past two years and expected the boys to win on Wednesday. 

“We’ve beaten Camden in the last two years in the seniors boys and I didn’t see any reason why that would change this year and they came through and they won fairly comfortably in the end as well,” he said. 

Mr Johnstone said a number of players stoodout, including Jesse Murray who scored a hat trick, but it was a good performance all round from the group.  

“Toby Apps played well as always, Noel Ryan had a good game but generally across the park, most of the boys played to their standard if not higher,” he said. 

The competition runs from Wednesday until Friday afternoon, with both schools competing across a number of sports. 

At the time of publication, Cowra had recorded wins in girl’s volleyball, however lost girl’s cricket, girl’s junior soccer and boy’s volleyball.