Steel caps swapped for studs in annual battle
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The Clermont Sportsgrounds will come alive tomorrow, featuring players from seven mines in the region, fighting it out for bragging rights in this year's Battle of the Mines carnival.
The annual carnival sees miners swap their work boots for footy ones and has been played for more than a decade between mine sites across the resource-rich region.
The round robin competition will feature 12 men's games played between the Moranbah Mustangs, Kestrel Rhinos, Oaky Creek Gladiators, Clermont Hunters, Grosvenor Gators, BMA Blackwater Vikings and Linked Mining Blair Athol All Stars.
In a new development for 2018, four women's teams will also play in a round robin competition with the Clermont Huntresses, BMA Maidens, Grosvenor Gator Girls and Kestrel Rhinos set to battle in the inaugural women's division.
"I'm just really looking forward to bringing all the players together for a great day of rugby league for the whole family," said co-organiser Justin Barrett.
"We have a really great, passionate group of organisers from across the different teams who love their footy and their cooperation just makes it so easy for us to host the day."
Just like previous years, all money raised will go to worthwhile charities with the RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service again a beneficiary.
A partnership with mental health charity Mates in Mining has also been formed to raise money for mental health literacy in the mining sector.
"The RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue is an integral service for our regional community and their support is crucial during times of medical crisis," Barrett said.
"Also, as we saw with R U OK Day on Thursday; it's important we focus our attention on the mental health and wellbeing of all our workers on mine sites across the country and our partnership with Mates in Mining allows us to do this."
Games kick off at 10am tomorrow (Saturday, September 15) at the Clermont Sportsgrounds.
For those who can't make it, all games on the main field will be live streamed on the Clermont Battle of the Mines Facebook page.
BATTLE OF THE MINES DRAW
| FIELD 1 | FIELD 2 | |||
| TIME | DIV | GAME | DIV | GAME |
| 10am | M | Moranbah Mustangs v Kestrel Rhinos | M | Clermont Hunters v Grosvenor Gators |
| 10.40am | M | BMA Blackwater Vikings v Linked BA All Stars | M | Oaky Creek Gladiators v Bye |
| 11.20am | W | Clermont Huntresses v BMA Maidens | W | Grosvenor Gators Girls v Kestrel Rhinos |
| 12pm | M | Clermont Hunters v BMA Blackwater Vikings | M | Moranbah Mustangs v Bye |
| 12.40pm | M | Grosvenor Gators v Linked BA All Stars | M | Kestrel Rhinos v Oaky Creek Gladiators |
| 1.20pm | W | BMA Maidens v Kestrel Rhinos | W | Clermont Huntresses v Grosvenor Gators Girls |
| 2pm | M | Moranbah Mustangs v Oaky Creek Gladiators | M | Grosvenor Gators v BMA Blackwater Vikings |
| 2.40pm | M | Clermont Hunters v Linked BA All Stars | M | Kestrel Rhinos v Bye |
| 3.20pm | W | BMA Maidens v Grosvenor Gators Girls | W | Clermont Huntresses v Kestrel Rhinos |
| 4pm | Men's Pool A 1st v Pool B 2nd | |||
| 4.40pm | Men's Pool B 1st v Pool A 2nd | |||
| 5.20pm | Women's Final - Ladder #1 v Ladder #2 | |||
| 6pm | Men's Final - Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 | |||
