The Rockhampton and District Junior Rugby League are looking forward to hosting the sixth-annual headspace Charity Shield tomorrow (Friday, April 6) and Saturday, April 7 at Victoria Park, Rockhampton.
After last year’s carnival was washed out due to flooding, the organisers have been watching the progress of the reformed cyclone in the north and are confident the carnival will not be interrupted, unlike last year.
This year, there will be nine boys sides and five girls sides participating over the two days.
The boys teams will play four games in the round games with the semi-finals and three divisional finals to be played on Saturday afternoon.
All sides will participate in at least one finals game with the Division 1 finalists to play for the prestigious Charity Shield.
Boys teams participating include: Beaudesert Kingfishers, Maryborough Wallaroos, Gladstone Valleys, Gladstone Wallaby’s, Emerald Brothers, Rockhampton Tigers, Cap Coast Brothers, Norths Rockhampton Knights and Rockhampton Brothers.
The girls will play tomorrow only due to the NRL girls camp in Gladstone over the weekend.
All girls sides will play each other with the top two sides after those rounds to play for the very first Girls Charity Shield.
The girls sides participating include: Central Highlands, Gladstone, Rockhampton Brothers, North Rockhampton Knights and Rockhampton Tigers.
In a first for the carnival, former North Queensland Cowboy and current Central Division Wellbeing and Education Manager David Faiumu will educate all players with welfare sessions for the participating teams.
The carnival will also see local ex-NRL players, PJ Marsh (Broncos / Eels), Jamie Simpson (South Sydney) and Justin Loomans (Cowboys / Souths) join Faiumu at this year's event.
Tomorrow’s carnival will kick off at 9.50am with an official opening by Rockhampton Regional Councillor Tony Williams.
The first game will kick-off at 10.30am, with the girls final at 5pm to conclude the day.
Saturday commences at 9.30am, with the divisional finals at 1.25pm and the Shield Final at 3pm.
The pool games be played in 12-minute halves, with the finals being 15-minute halves.
2018 CHARITY SHIELD DRAW
Friday, April 6
| Time | Main Field | Top Field |
|---|---|---|
| 10.30am | Brothers v Gladstone (G) | CH v Tigers (G) |
| 11am | Rocky Brothers v Emerald Brothers (B) | Beaudesert v Valleys (B) |
| 11.30am | Norths v Tigers (G) | Wallaroos v Wallaby's (B) |
| 12pm | Rocky Brothers v Tigers (B) | CH v Brothers (G) |
| 12.30pm | Gladstone v Tigers (G) | Beaudesert v Cap Coast Brothers (B) |
| 1pm | CH v Norths (G) | Norths v Wallaroos (B) |
| 1.30pm | Valleys v Cap Coast Brothers (B) | Emerald Brothers v Tigers (B) |
| 2pm | Gladstone v Norths (G) | Norths v Wallaby's (B) |
| 2.30pm | Rocky Brothers v Wallaroos (B) | Tigers v Brothers (G) |
| 3pm | Tigers v Wallaby's (B) | Emerald Brothers v Norths (B) |
| 3.30pm | Rocky Brothers v Beaudesert (B) | CH v Gladstone (G) |
| 4pm | Emerald Brothers v Valleys (B) | Brothers v Norths (G) |
| 4.30pm | Tigers v Cap Coast Brothers (B) | |
| 5pm | Girls Charity Shield Final (1v2) |
Saturday, April 7
| Time | Main Field |
|---|---|
| 9.30am | Norths v Valleys (Main Field) |
| 9:30am | Wallaby's v Cap Coast Brothers (Top Field) |
| 10am | Wallaroos v Beaudesert |
| 11.30am | Finals Game 1: 8 v 9 |
| 12pm | Finals Game 2: 5 v 6 |
| 12.30pm | Finals Game 3: 2 v 3 |
| 1.25pm | Division 3 Final: 7 v Game 1 Winner |
| 2.10pm | Division 2 Final: 4 v Game 2 Winner |
| 3pm | Charity Shield: 1 v Game 3 Winner |
*Michael Fletcher is the QRL correspondent for the Rockhampton and District Junior Rugby League.
