The SEQ Under 16 pre-season competition wrapped up on the weekend and now the participants will await the announcement of the region’s representative training squad.
The Under 16 training squad of approximately 50 players will be named on Wednesday April 10, with the group to assemble for a hit-out at Beenleigh Multi Sport grounds on Wednesday, April 24.
SEQ Chairman Brad Tallon was impressed with the standard of play over the pre-season competition’s four rounds.
“This program has gone from strength to strength over recent years and is now a real showpiece of the player development pathways that the SEQ Board has been working hard to achieve,” Tallon said.
“It is a great opportunity for the players to showcase their talent and continue to develop their skills in what were very entertaining games to watch.”
The final round of the pre-season competition took place at the home of the Brighton Roosters on a slippery and rainy afternoon.
Consistent showers across the afternoon produced difficult conditions for players in their last hit-out in front of the SEQ selectors and coaches, but once again it was the Gold Coast sides who impressed with both Gold Coast White and Yellow picking up wins.
GAME 1: IPSWICH V GOLD COAST WHITE 2pm
Gold Coast White scored an early try over Ipswich in a willing Game 1 clash where both sides appeared keen to finish with a win.
The Coast extended this margin to 10-0 after another good backline movement and added a third try right on halftime to lead 14-0 at the break.
Both teams were solid in defence in the second half and a Diggers try after 10 minutes excited the Ipswich supporters.
However, the Diggers were unable to close the gap any further and the Gold Coast held on to a deserved 14-4 victory.
Gold Coast White 14 (Jay Marsters, Carsen Patu, Kruz Rimene tries Syris Schmidt goal) def Ipswich 4 (Orlando Swain try)
GAME 2: BRISBANE GREEN V GOLD COAST YELLOW 3pm
In Game 2, it was Gold Coast Yellow who scored first - but Brisbane Green hit back to trail only 6-4 in the first half.
Yellow were able to extend their lead shortly before the break with a nicely constructed try to lead by eight.
The Gold Coast carried that momentum into the second half and ran riot, scoring a further six tries to record a dominant 44-4 win.
Fullback Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira bagged a double for his side and five-eighth Connor Te Kani slotted six of his eight conversion attempts.
Gold Coast Yellow 44 (Tuvalli-Afoa Khan-Pereira 2, Brodie Desmond, Caleb Gould-Waiariki, Bailey Martin, Tyreese Pati-Sialapae, Lucan Robb, Kaleb White tries Connor Te Kani 6 goals) def Brisbane Green 4 (Dennis Wani try)
GAME 3: BRISBANE BLUE V BRISBANE RED 4pm
In the Game 3 Brisbane derby, it was Blue with back-to-back tries who jumped out to a handy 10-0 lead after 10 minutes.
Red reduced this gap to 10-6 and looked to be settling into the challenge, but a late try to Blue saw the score line 14-6 at the halftime break.
The Blue side’s performances have been inconsistent throughout the competition but an early try in the second half saw them click into gear and Red could not hold them.
Brisbane Blue went onto to add another three tries for the term to record a comfortable 34-6 victory.
Brisbane Blue 34 (Daniel Ah-Chong, Prinston Esera, Ezra Howe, Mustafa Kaya, Ezra Mam, Devin Pule'Anga, Jonathan Van Aswegen tries Mustafa Kaya 2, Ezra Mam goals) def Brisbane Red 6 (Tuhirangi Ratana try Aiden Severns goal)
