Townsville Brothers club are celebrating double success with the their Blue and Girls teams taking out their respective titles in the Tassell Trophy Challenge in Cairns on the weekend.
More than 300 players competed in the annual Under 14 Tassell Trophy Challenge at Vico Oval hosted by Kangaroos Junior Rugby League.
The carnival has been held annually since 2001 with teams from throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Northern Territory having participated in the end of season event.
The carnival is also used as a referees development camp and saw match officials from throughout North Queensland, with an average age of 16 years refereeing at the carnival.
Interest in the female participation continues to grow with four female teams contesting the Sandy Tassell Trophy this year.
Brothers Townsville and Southern Cyclones (Cassowary Coast) finished the competition rounds first and second on the ladder and progressed to the grand final with Townsville team taking out the game.
Brothers Townsville Girls 22 (Tries: Brandy Yallop 1, Jahntae Mara 1, Lyzarah Mairu 1, Olivetiola Latu Burfield 1. Goals: Kodi Leysley 3) defeated Southern Cyclones 8 (Tries: Delta Grace 1, Dakota Taputoa 1)
At the end of the pool round games in the boys competition, Townsville Brothers Blue, Innisfail Brothers, Caloundra Yellow and United Suburbs (Townsville) progressed to the semi finals.
Townsville Brothers Blue defeated United Suburbs 32-4 while Caloundra Yellow defeated Innisfail Brothers 12-6 with the winners progressing to the grand final.
For the 11th straight year, an outside team took out the Tassell Trophy Challenge title after Townsville Blue defeated Caloundra Yellow 16-14 in a nail-biting finish.
Townsville Brothers Blue 16 (Tries: Francis Ross 1, Liam Sallaway 1, Jamal Shibasaki 1. Goals: Liam Sallaway 2) defeated Caloundra Yellow 14 (Tries: Chase Paterson 1, Zach Paplauskas 1 Goals: Benji Westwood-Pritchard 3)
Award Winners
Tassell Trophy Challenge Champions: Townsville Brothers Blue
Sandy Tassell Trophy Champions: Townsville Brothers
Player of the Carnival (Boys): Anthony Williams (Edmonton No 13)
Player of the Carnival (Girls): Grace Kennedy (Edmonton No 12)
Player of the Final (Boys): Jamal Shibasaki (Townsville Brothers Blue No 13)
Player of the Final (Girls): Brandy Yallop (Townsville Brothers No 1)
Team Spirit Award: United Suburbs (Townsville)
Volunteer of the Carnival: Tahjah-Ray Dotoi
Most Promising Referee: Angela Lemon (Cairns)
Referee of the Carnival: Alex Reid (Mackay)
Main image: Townsville Brothers Blue won the grand final and were crowned Tassell Trophy champions.
