By TANIA PHILLIPS
MORE than 2000 adults and even more kids were on hand to watch this year’s Group 18 Junior Rugby League Finals at Cudgen on Saturday afternoon.
It was a colourful affair with fans dressing in their team colours and mascots out in force.
It was also a big day for the home club, Cudgen, who made a clean-sweep of the four divisions they contested throughout the day, and a very special day for the Bryant family of Kingscliff with their three boys Max, Parker and Oscar all playing in winning teams – mum Renee is one of the organisers of the day. The trio – who’s dad played in Cudgen’s last A Grade Grand Final and who’s uncle is former NRL star Matt Seers – triumphed in a day full of Cudgen champions.
Younger boys Oskar and Parker were both men of the match in the Under 10s and Under 11s respectively while oldest son Max took out the Player of the Year in the Under 15s as well as kicking the winning field goal in what was a nail-biting final against South Tweed.
Cudgen had led early but with just two minutes to go South Tweed broke through for the equaliser and then as both teams tried desperately to break the deadlock it was Max Bryant that found room to slot over a field goal with less than a minute on the clock sending the Cudgen fans wild and securing their fourth premiership of the day.
The Tugun club also had a big day on the field snaring all of the other grades including the prestigious Under-16s.
RESULTS
Under 10: Cudgen (Tries: Thomas Weaver, Bailey Roberts and Casey Mansfield. Goals: Thomas Weaver, Oskar Bryant, Caleb Smith) 18 d South Tweed Ospreys (Tries: Noah Johannssen 2) 8. Player of the match – Oskar Bryant.
Under 11: Cudgen (Tries: Jarius Phillips 2, Parker Bryant 2, Gus Rhodes. Goals: Khye Baker, Kirk Matthews, Hugh Easterbrook, Parker Bryant) 28 d South Tweed Ospreys (Tries: Travis Smith, Connar Landers, Damien Rogers. Goals: BrandonTaylor, Luke Chipizuboz, Dylan Cook 18). Player of the match – Parker Bryant.
Under 12: Tugun Blue (Tries: Nelson Grove, Mac Semple 2. Goals: Jackson Amituanai, Fletcher Low, Mac Semple) 18 d Bilambil (Tries: Joshua Bevan. Goals: 6). Player of the match – Nelson Grove.
Under 13: Cudgen (Tries: Ethan Kane, Dillon Pinder, Jack Rixon 2. Goals: Ethan Kane, Lachlan Wylie, Rory Mathews) 22 d South Tweed Ospreys (Tries: Ethan Simpson, Will Styman. Goals: Liam Scaines 2) 12. Player of the match – Jack Rixon.
Under 14: Tugun (Tries: Dillan Alimoana, Matt Morrow, Tavis Rolls, Koen Dovey 2. Goals Ethan Burgess 2, Jake Lucas) 26 d Bilambil (Tries: Harry Fitzhugh, William Jennings-Andrews. Goals Harry Fitzhugh) 10. Player of the match – Koen Dovey.
Under 15: Cudgen (Tries: Ethan Barrow, Corey Kirkham, Lock Toon. Goals: Max Bryant 2, field goal Max Bryant) 17 d Tugun (Tries: Eden Hogg, Austin Campion, Harry Hoy. Goals Kalib Clark 2) 16. Player of the match – Zac Garland.
Under 16: Tugun (Tries: Ethan Roberts, Wade Kavanagh, Josh Kirk 2. Goals: Dylan McCarthy, Cody Walsh 3) 24 d Bilambil (Tries: Brodie Cook, Nathan Halls, Tyson Donnelly. Goals: Alex Fitzhugh) 14. Player of the match – Ethan Roberts.
