Tashara
Larry Dwyer (12)
What a great weekend of Rugby at Sunnybank who hosted this year’s Queensland 12yrs Schools Rugby State Championship. The Championship was held over three days and saw eight school regional teams playing in two pools for a spot in the finals.
What makes this championship differ from the recent U12’s Development Carnival at TSS is that players do not necessarily need to be registered rugby union players. This opened up the competition to numerous rugby league players including a number of Qld State Rep Players.
My only concern regarding this is when League props are selected and then suffer during the carnival due to lack of scrummaging skills. Some league-props however, may learn and adapt quicker than others, but I do feel that this is a safety issue that should be addressed.
Pool A included last year’s winners Met North, but the big danger this year in Pool A was going to be Met East who were in possession of a very potent backline with a number of those Qld League Rep players previously mentioned. Pool A also included; Peninsula and the Sunshine Coast.
Pool B was probably a little more evenly spread with all teams expected to perform well. Met West (last year’s runners up) seemed like the team to beat along with South Coast, although both Capricornia and Darling Downs arrived with plenty of spirit.
Day 1:
Pool A: Met East stamped their intention with a convincing win over last year’s champs Met North 42-0. Met North fought well in the forwards and appeared to have the edge at times with their ability to get to the break down quickly, but Met East were just too strong in the backs. Sunshine Coast showed they could be a contender with an easy win of Peninsula 45-7
The day’s second round in Pool A saw Met East annihilate Peninsula 79-0 and Met North gaining their first victory over the Sunshine Coast 19-7.
Pool B: South Coast knocked over Met West in an arm wrestle game but the boys from the south had too much fire power in their backline and eventually ran away comfortable winners 21-12. Capricornia also had a hard fought win over Darling Downs 17-14.
Second round for the day saw South Coast score their second win against Capricornia 31-21 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated. Met West also found their strides by comfortably winning their first game of the championship against Darling Downs 19-7.
Day 2:
Last of the Pool matches in the morning saw Met East Continue to dominate by defeating Sunshine coast 29-0 and Met North easily accounting for Peninsula 28-0.
Pool B saw the South Coast continue their undefeated run by defeating a gallant Darling Downs 12-7 with a try in the dying seconds to the Coast. Met West comfortably defeated Capricornia 43-12 to see them move into a semi final game against the undefeated Met East.
Semi Finals:
Met East continued their dominant performance by easily accounting for their Met West brothers 40-7 and the South Coast played their best game of the Championship by comfortably defeating Met North 29-5.
Day 3:
Grand Final – The two undefeated teams play off to take the prize. Met East were the heavy favourites against the improving South Coast. Both teams occupying the two biggest sets of centres and both featuring talented no. 10’s.
South Coast dominated early possession and created a couple of opportunities but just lacked speed out wide. Met East took advantage of their great defence and counter attacked back down the field to see a try by some good forward work. Met East scored a second try by moving the ball out wide from a kick that failed to find touch. The Met East back line was able to kick across field for a waiting unmarked winger to go in for their second try.
The second half saw much of the same thing. Met East once again scoring out wide but it was South Coast who answered back quickly with a pick and go try just wide of the posts.
Met East were once again forced to go wide to find their space, and why not, they had size and speed to burn which resulted in their fourth try on the final siren. A much deserved win to the best team at the Championship 24-5. The South Coast should be proud of their performance which stood up and defended their line through multiple phases and never gave up.
Final Standings:
1. Met East
2. South Coast
3. Met West
4. Met North
5. Capricornia
6. Sunshine Coast
7. Darling Downs
8. Peninsula
I have DVD copies off all South Coast games including the Grand Final if anyone was interesting in obtaining a copy, please let me know.
13. Jack Kelly, South Coast
What makes this championship differ from the recent U12’s Development Carnival at TSS is that players do not necessarily need to be registered rugby union players. This opened up the competition to numerous rugby league players including a number of Qld State Rep Players.
My only concern regarding this is when League props are selected and then suffer during the carnival due to lack of scrummaging skills. Some league-props however, may learn and adapt quicker than others, but I do feel that this is a safety issue that should be addressed.
Pool A included last year’s winners Met North, but the big danger this year in Pool A was going to be Met East who were in possession of a very potent backline with a number of those Qld League Rep players previously mentioned. Pool A also included; Peninsula and the Sunshine Coast.
Pool B was probably a little more evenly spread with all teams expected to perform well. Met West (last year’s runners up) seemed like the team to beat along with South Coast, although both Capricornia and Darling Downs arrived with plenty of spirit.
Day 1:
Pool A: Met East stamped their intention with a convincing win over last year’s champs Met North 42-0. Met North fought well in the forwards and appeared to have the edge at times with their ability to get to the break down quickly, but Met East were just too strong in the backs. Sunshine Coast showed they could be a contender with an easy win of Peninsula 45-7
The day’s second round in Pool A saw Met East annihilate Peninsula 79-0 and Met North gaining their first victory over the Sunshine Coast 19-7.
Pool B: South Coast knocked over Met West in an arm wrestle game but the boys from the south had too much fire power in their backline and eventually ran away comfortable winners 21-12. Capricornia also had a hard fought win over Darling Downs 17-14.
Second round for the day saw South Coast score their second win against Capricornia 31-21 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated. Met West also found their strides by comfortably winning their first game of the championship against Darling Downs 19-7.
Day 2:
Last of the Pool matches in the morning saw Met East Continue to dominate by defeating Sunshine coast 29-0 and Met North easily accounting for Peninsula 28-0.
Pool B saw the South Coast continue their undefeated run by defeating a gallant Darling Downs 12-7 with a try in the dying seconds to the Coast. Met West comfortably defeated Capricornia 43-12 to see them move into a semi final game against the undefeated Met East.
Semi Finals:
Met East continued their dominant performance by easily accounting for their Met West brothers 40-7 and the South Coast played their best game of the Championship by comfortably defeating Met North 29-5.
Day 3:
Grand Final – The two undefeated teams play off to take the prize. Met East were the heavy favourites against the improving South Coast. Both teams occupying the two biggest sets of centres and both featuring talented no. 10’s.
South Coast dominated early possession and created a couple of opportunities but just lacked speed out wide. Met East took advantage of their great defence and counter attacked back down the field to see a try by some good forward work. Met East scored a second try by moving the ball out wide from a kick that failed to find touch. The Met East back line was able to kick across field for a waiting unmarked winger to go in for their second try.
The second half saw much of the same thing. Met East once again scoring out wide but it was South Coast who answered back quickly with a pick and go try just wide of the posts.
Met East were once again forced to go wide to find their space, and why not, they had size and speed to burn which resulted in their fourth try on the final siren. A much deserved win to the best team at the Championship 24-5. The South Coast should be proud of their performance which stood up and defended their line through multiple phases and never gave up.
Final Standings:
1. Met East
2. South Coast
3. Met West
4. Met North
5. Capricornia
6. Sunshine Coast
7. Darling Downs
8. Peninsula
I have DVD copies off all South Coast games including the Grand Final if anyone was interesting in obtaining a copy, please let me know.
13. Jack Kelly, South Coast
