DOUBLE HONOURS FOR THE DEVILS
Norths Devils win the Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cup finals.
NORTHS Devils are the newly-crowned Queensland champions following their success in the Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cups at Bishop Park on the weekend.
The Devils Under-16 side over-ran the Townsville Stingers side 42-30, while the Under 18s game, also against Townsville, was a much closer affair, with Bryce Hegarty slotting over a penalty goal after the fulltime siren to clinch the game 20-18.
Leading 18-12 into the halftime break, Norths were looking to stamp their authority over the Under 16s final, but Stingers came out to score two quick tries in the second half to put them in the lead.
However, Norths fought back with tries of their own, including two to Shaquille Blair to seal the victory.
Competition namesake Cyril Connell congratulated the teams on playing an exciting game.
In the Mal Meninga Cup final, Townsville took a slim 6-4 lead into halftime, but after the break the teams were neck and neck to be 18-all with minutes to play.
The pressure was too much for the Stingers, who conceded a penalty that let Norths take the match.
Norths coaching and developing manager Michael Whalley said the club was pleased with the results.
“We are very happy with the result, and it a positive result for our development program.
“We are rapt with the boys; they are a good squad of kids with good attitudes.
“We had a few injuries, so it was also a good sign that we had the depth there.”
The Norths Devils' Under 16 and Under 18 teams will now meet the Parramatta Eels in the ARL quarter finals at Brisbane’s Langlands Park next Saturday, April 25.
Townsville will have to make the long trek to Sydney's Shark Park to play the Bulldogs in Under 16s and Manly in Under 18s.
Whalley said playing the NSW teams, starting with the Parramatta Eels, would present a challenge to the boys.
“It will be a massive challenge for the boys. The NSW competition is an established competition and they are accustomed to this sort of competition. But it will be a great experience for the boys.”
CYRIL CONNELL CUP
GRAND FINAL
NORTHS DEVILS 42 (Nick Flanigan 3, Shaquille Blair 2, Josh Civoniceva, Tom Whyte tries; Anthony Gadd 7 goals) def TOWNSVILLE STINGERS 30 (Malcolm Congoo 3, Jason Toumololo, Chris Grevsmuhl tries; Ric Garcia 5 goals) at Bishop Park.
CONSOLATION FINAL
IPSWICH DIGGERS 30 (Michael Kai 2, Jordan Tighe 2, Heta Manuel, Sam Johnson tries; Jordan Tighe, Heta Manuel, Sam Johnson goals) def CENTRAL COMETS 16 (Whetu Austin, Kurt Mann, Daniel Bertucci tries; Jake McMannus 2 goals) at Bishop Park.
MAL MENINGA CUP
GRAND FINAL
NORTHS DEVILS 20 (Michael Lucas, Aaron Whitchurch, Tyrone Lockrey, Fala Leaaetoa tries; Bryce Hegarty 2 goals) def TOWNSVILLE STINGERS 18 (Kurtis Richie, Jay Lobwein, Nathan Norford tries; Jay Lobwein 3 goals) at Bishop Park.
CONSOLATION FINAL
NORTHERN PRIDE 38 (Ben Hampton 3, Bruce Baragud, Troy Nowlan, Freddie Fauid, Ashley Payne tries; Troy Nowlan 5 goals) def GOLD COAST VIKINGS 28 (Henare Wells, Sam Prendergast, Sione Akaoula, Michael Burgess, Ben Murdoch tries; Jordan Kahu 4 goals) at Bishop Park
Harold Matthews and SG Ball:
The Gold Coast Titans Under 16 and Under 18 teams - featuring Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League players - had been playing in the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions, but they were eliminated from the finals race at the weekend.
Full story here: http://www.titans.com.au/index.php?page_id=804
