FOR many, Friday, February 14 is Valentine’s Day; but for junior rugby league fans in Rockhampton, it heralded the start of the 2014 International season.
Victoria Park and Cedric Archer Oval were the venues for Friday night while Bicentennial Oval and Sale Yards Park hosted Saturday’s games.
For the Under 16 and Under 18 teams they were down on numbers with all Capras players stood down from club duties with trials against the Central United Crows being played at Browne Park.
Being the first games of the season; there was always going to be errors and some rusty play by teams. The quality of some of the first round action is a credit to the players and coaching staff.
At Gracemere, Norths started their campaigns well in the Under 13, Under 14 and Under 18 with some solid wins over the Cubs.
Victoria Park saw Brothers taking on each other in the Under 13, Under 14 and Under 16 games. While the Under 15’s Brothers side continued were they left off in 2013 with a hard fought win over Norths and the Yeppoon Under 18’s started their title defence with a come from behind win over Brothers.
Saturdays games at Bicentennial Park saw Emus and Cap Coast Brothers share the spoils, with the Emus winning the Under 13 and Under 15 games while Cap Coast saluted in the Under 14 and Under 16’s and a draw between the two clubs in the Under 18 encounter.
To finish off the weekend games at Saleyards Park were played in some hot conditions, the Sharks started the day well with a win in the Under 13 game while Yeppoon were able to take the two points in the Under 14 and Under 15s plus the also defeated a very short on numbers North’s team in the Under 16s.
Credit must go to the Knights as they ran on with nine players and stayed competitive throughout and was rewarded with the last try of the game.
Next week should see the return of the Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cup players to club duties, this will give them one last hit out before the start their respective campaigns on March 1 in Rockhampton.
Results from Friday night
Cedric Archer Park, Gracemere
U13 North’s 40 Gracemere 4
U14 North’s 32 Gracemere 0
U18 North’s 38 Gracemere 8
Victoria Park
U13 Brothers Blue 20 Brothers White 12
U14 Brothers White 18 Brothers Blue 10
U15 Brothers 30 North’s 10
U16 Brothers Blue 44 Brothers White 10
U18 Yeppoon 34 Brothers 18
Saturday Results
Bicentennial Oval
U13 Emu Park 22 Cap Coast Brothers 10
U14 Cap Coast Brothers 52 Emu Park 0
U15 Emu Park 14 Cap Coast Brothers 10
U16 Cap Coast Brothers 56 Emu Park 0
U18 Emu Park 24 Cap Coast Brothers 24
Saleyards Park
U13 Fitzroy’s 34 Yeppoon 4
U14 Yeppoon 24 Fitzroy’s 22
U15 Yeppoon 38 Fitzroy’s 10
U16 Yeppoon 50 North’s 6
Round 2 draw:*
Tuesday, February 18 - Webb Oval
Under 13 Yeppoon v Cap Coast Brothers
Under 14 Yeppoon v Cap Coast Brothers
Tuesday, February 25 - Webb Oval
Under 15 Yeppoon v Cap Coast Brothers
Under 16 Yeppoon v Cap Coast Brothers
*Day and time to be advised by the clubs for the Under 18 game
Friday Night – Browne Park
4.30pm North’s v Emu Park
5.30pm North’s v Emu Park
6.30pm North’s v Emu Park
7.30pm North’s v Brothers White
8.30pm North’s v Emu Park
Friday Night – Victoria Park
5pm Brothers Blue v Gracemere
6pm Brothers Blue v Gracemere
7pm Brothers Blue v Emu Park
8pm Brothers v Gracemere
Saturday – Saleyards Park
2pm Fitzroy’s v Brothers White
3pm Fitzroy’s v Brothers White
4pm Fitzroy’s v Brothers White
*Due to St Brendan boarders being away this weekend, the games between Yeppoon and Cap Coast Brothers have been split over two weeks and times have yet to be advised.
