TORONTO High School's open age rugby league team have overcome the odds to reach the final eight in the statewide University Shield.
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Toronto downed Kingscliff High School (near Tweed Heads) 22-20 on Thursday to advance to the quarter-finals of the prestigious Combined High Schools (CHS) tournament for comprehensive schools.
Coach Peter Chapman said his charges showed plenty of character and resilience to hold on for the win.
"We were very good in the first half and led 16-4 at half-time then scored in the first five minutes of the second half to lead 22-4," Mr Chapman said.
"Then we made as many mistakes as possible, and leaked points because we were dropping a lot of ball coming off our own line but the boys defended as hard as they could."
The match was played in "relentless rain" and Toronto were without six players.
"They are a determined group and there are no superstars among them," Mr Chapman said.
Second-rower Caileb Gerrard and hooker Jack Buckton were among Toronto's best, the coach said.
"Caileb played the entire game, his defence was strong, and his running with the ball was very determined," Mr Chapman said.
"Jack was also very good for the entire game, and scored two tries from dummy half."
The trio of Jake Berwick (wing), Lachlan McKay (prop) and Bailey Vincent (second-row) were impressive in their debut games.
Some of the parents of the Toronto boys drove eight hours to watch the game.
Toronto High is waiting to learn who its quarter-finals opponent will be and is expecting a home game.
Winger Hayden Sinclair and centre Jayden Grainger are likely to return from injury, Mr Chapman said.