There were 310 rugby league players from 17 teams who converged on Vico Oval in Cairns at the weekend (September 23-24) for the annual Tassell Trophy Challenge.
The Under 14s carnival saw 44 games played across the two days.
The Tassell Trophy Challenge is a regular fixture on the junior rugby league calendar with teams from throughout the state enjoying the carnival and Cairns region for their end-of-season trip.
The carnival is also used as a development camp for young referees from throughout North Queensland, with the average age of the officials this year being 16 years old.
At the end of the pool round games, Kawana Dolphins (Sunshine Coast), Centrals Black (Townsville) Ormeau Shearers (Gold Coast) and Kangaroos Blue (Cairns) progressed to the semi finals.
The semi final games saw Kawana Dolphins 12 def Centrals Black 10; while the Ormeau Shearers 10 drew with Kangaroos Blue 10.
The results meant Kawana Dolphins and Kangaroos Blue progress to the grand final.
In that game, the Kawana Dolphins proved too good, taking out the title for 2017 over the hosting club team Kangaroos Blue with the 28-12 result.
Kawana Dolphins 28 (Kurtis Fallon-May 2, Kaelan Bell, Zane Woods, Elliot Smethills tries; Tyler Conroy 3, Kaelan Bell goals) def Kangaroos Blue 12 (Tyreice Baira-Gela, Manihi Maurangi; Robert Clarke, Tamale Yeatman goals).
Player of the Carnival Jake Egan (Mt Isa Wanderers)
Award Winners - 2017
Tassell Trophy Challenge Champions: Kawana Dolphins
Player of the Carnival: Jake Egan (Mt Isa Wanderers No 13)
Player of the Final: Oska Boyd (Kawana Dolphins No 9)
Team Spirit Award: Moranbah Miners (Mackay JRL)
Volunteer of the Carnival: Rob McDougall
Most Promising Referee: Trayeden Fulmer (Townsville)
Referee of the Carnival: Conor Wilson (Townsville)
Referee of the Carnival Connor Wilson
