The Stingrays have come up short at the final hurdle in their quest to go back to back in the Australian Post state championships. The Northern Raiders claimed the 2009 title in hard fought grand final at Coorparoo on the weekend. In other results the Western Taipans defeated Country Kookaburras and the South East Bushrangers claimed third place with a win over the Sunshine Coast Power.
The Grand Final was always going to be a great game with the Northern Raiders going in slight favorites over the quietly confident Gold Coast Stingrays.
Unlike their first two games the Stingrays started the game running and full of endeavor to take a 4 point lead into the first break with Raiders matching them across the field. The second quarter probably proved to be the match winner fro the Raiders as they kicked 5 goals to 1 to take a handy 20 point lead into the man break.
After a serve from coach David Ashkar at half time the Stingrays gave everything they could to reduce the lead in the third quarter but the Raiders were equal to the task and at three quarter time the lead had been reduced by only 4 points.
The final quarter was always going to be a test of both teams to see who could finish the game off better and it proved to be an all over team effort form the Raiders that enabled them to keep the Stingrays scoreless while kicking 4 goals 5 behinds to run out comfortable winners by 45 points.
For the losers Michael Barnes and Brodie Grant never stopped trying through the midfield and Josh Milani gave his all in the ruck and up forward. For the victors Aaron Fabian had his best game for the championships and was assisted by the Raiders running brigade of Ed Kimble, Luke Edgecombe and Bill Driffield.
A squad will now be selected from the carnival to take on the Gold Coast Football Club on Tuesday 31st March in an opportunity to push for inclusion in the GCFC training squad, please see the scorpians website on wednesday for a full list of the squad.
2009 “Australia Post” State Under 18 Development Championships
Final Round Results
Play off for 5th and 6th : Western Taipans 11.6.72 def. Country Kookaburras 7.7.49
Goals: Taipans - Jonathan Proud 7, James Pennycuick 1, Sam Usherwood 1, Callum Carseldine 1, Scott Clarke 1 Kookaburras- Jye Bohm 2, Matthew Pendlington 2, Matt Sondergeld 1, Josh Marriot 1
Best: Taipans- Sean Yoshiura, Scott Clarke, Jonathan Proud, Sam James, Sam Usherwood Kookaburras- Jye Bohm, Stanis Susave, Nathaniel Congoo, Matt Sondergeld, Jake Goldsmith
Play off for 3rd and 4th : South Eastern Bushrangers 10.13.73 def. Suncoast Power 7.9.51
Goals: Bushrangers- Blane Delbridge 2, Dom Russo 2, Ben Jaenke-Cain 1, Nick Proud 1, Jake Evans 1, Daniel Mowat 1, Brandon Stewart 1, Tom Hickey 1 Power- Mitch Scholard 2, Jackson Ryan 1, Nick Lancaster 1, Alistair Baker 1, Jack Parkes 1
Best: Bushrangers - Ethan Reading, Dom Russ, Blane Delbridge, Chris Thompson, Frazer Neate, Byron Spurling Power – Todd Panoho, Jack Hendrie, Harry Wilson, Lanze Magin, Trent Manozne, Alistair Baker.
Grand Final: Northern Raiders 14.10.94 def. Gold Coast Stingrays 8.1.49
Goals: Raiders – Richard Harrison 4, Adam Hughes 2, Aaron Fabian 2, Grayson McIvor 2, Ed Kimble 1, Matt Nickerson 1, Tim Beavan 1, Tom Henderson Stingrays – Joe Barrile 2, Josh Milani 2, David Melie 1, Adam Clarke 1, Rhys Nossiter 1, Michael Barnes 1
Best: Raiders – Aaron Fabian, Ed Kimble, Luke Edgecombe, Bill Driffield, Mark Leddy, Will Bradley Stingrays – Michael Barnes, Josh Milani, Joe Barrile, Brodie Grant, Adam Clarke
2009 Coaches Award Winners
Country Kookaburras Stanis Susave
Western Taipans Scott Clarke
Suncoast Power Todd Panoho
South Eastern Bushrangers Dominic Russo
Gold Coast Stingrays Michael Barnes
Northern Raiders Ed Kimble
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