Cassowary Coast, junior rugby union players, charged into NQ and Peninsula teams selection

Maria Girgenti

LAST month, Cassowary Coast Junior Rugby Union had a strong contingent of players who represented FNQ Storm teams and trialled in the North Queensland Championships held at Hugh Street and Mike Carney Toyota Park, Townsville.

Under 12 Boys: Eric Roots; Under 13 Boys: Mitchell Bird and Lucian Di Carlo; Under 14 Boys: Michael Hyland, Leo Mauloni, Denan Anderson (captain), Benny Muriata, Jonty Coutts, Bailey Duiker, Brandon Addo, Julian Santarossa, Jack Roots, Digby George, Jackson Solien and Benji Bird; Under 16 Boys: Finn Dryden, Archie Averkoff, Miki Toquero, Ryan Millard and Harvey Kachel; Under 16 Girls: Keilani Bale and Monique George.

Here the FNQ rugby teams took on the Townsville Brolgas in junior age groups from Under 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, and Women’s and Men’s teams.

At the trials, each team played two games over two days.

FNQ Rugby booked out a whole section of the stadium and watched live rugby union action with a doubleheader at Queensland Country Bank Stadium - the Super W Grand Final between Queensland Reds Super W ladies and Fiji Drua, followed by the Queensland Reds Men’s team clash with Waratahs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Cassowary Coast Chargers players gained selection in North Queensland teams who will compete at the Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton from June 30 - July 2.

These championships allow Country- based players to represent their region and vie for Queensland Country Heelers selection.

North Queensland Under 13 Boys

Mitchell Bird

North Queensland Under 14 Boys

Denan Anderson

Alex Greenwood

Michael Hyland

Leo Mauloni

Jonty Coutts

North Queensland Under 16 Boys

Finn Dryden

Harvey Kachel

Five Cassowary Coast Chargers players competed at the Queensland Representative School Sport 17 - 18 years Rugby Union State Championships held at Surfers Paradise Rugby Club from May 25 - 28.

Finn Dryden, Dylan Cunningham, Jesse Catelan, Noah Marolla and Vincent Anau represented Peninsula with pride over the four days.

In Round 1, Peninsula faced Wide

Bay, where the game finished in a 77 draw, and Cunningham received the Player of the Match award.

Catelan received the Peninsula Player of the Match award in the match between Peninsula 15 and Capricornia 25.

Peninsula also faced Met North, Met West, Met East, Darling Downs and Capricornia.

Cassowary Coast Chargers players selected in the Peninsula Under 15 Boys’ team to compete in the Championships from July 20 - 23 at Barlow Park, Cairns, are Denan Anderson, Alex Greenwood, Miki Toquero, Ryan Millard, Jared Spinella, Luciano Finau, Regae Dorego and Dallas Terewaamu, Brodie Masina and Angus Coyne are in the Peninsula Under 12 Boys’ team to play in the Championships in Ipswich from July 27 - 30.

Six Cassowary Coast players are among a squad of FNQ players to participate in Barron Trinity Bulls Rugby Union Club’s inaugural Junior Bulls Barbarians tour of Canberra in September for rugby and personal development.