QUEENSLAND COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS | WRAP UP

12 teams with representatives across 7 Regional areas came together for the 2019 Queensland Country State Championships, hosted by Cairns at the beautiful Tobruk Memorial Pool over the weekend.

With the new addition of the Cairns region to the 2018 Championships, the Reef Sharks were out in full force, entering two teams in each gender to the competition. This boosted the quality of the competition while demonstrating their efforts in the last 18 months to develop a strong culture within such a new club.

While it was hot on pool deck, there was plenty of action in the water. All teams had the opportunity to play each other in the rounds, before moving towards the pointy end of the competition.

Both Gold Coast Blue and Gold teams were represented in the Semi Finals, where the top 4 in the women’s competition were so close, anyone could have taken home the title. The Gold Coast Gold team showed their experience after battling it out against Cairns Black to put them in Gold Medal Contention.

The second semi-final played host to Gold Coast Blue and Sunshine Coast on Saturday afternoon, with Sunshine Coast coming away with a one-point win to send them to the Gold Medal Match.

While the men did not play Semi Finals, Gold Coast went through undefeated to the ‘big dance’ where they would encounter Sunshine Coast Gold. Cairns Black, Townsville and Sunshine Coast Blue finished on a three-way-tie, where it was only 1 point separating each team on goal difference to put Cairns Black and Townsville in stead for the Bronze Medal.

To ensure all teams played on Finals Day, the Cairns Blue men and women had a splash to showcase the incredible spirit and culture that have been developed in the club.

The composite Mackay/Gold Coast team took on Sunshine Coast Blue to play off for 5thposition, where the speed and fitness of the young Sunshine Coast side too strong for the veterans.

The Gold Coast Blue Experience was too strong against the Cairns Black Women to fight for the Bronze Medal, whereas the Cairns Black Men were able to take home some silverware against Townsville for 3rdPlace. The Tournament MVP Shuhei Fuyaka was instrumental for the Cairns side in their final match.

The girls Gold Medal Match came down to the last minute, where it was goal for goal throughout the match until Tournament MVP Paris Bromfield put the deciding goal away to win Sunshine Coast the championship, with Tyler Baillie also named as the MVG.

In the men’s gold medal game, Sunshine Coast Gold were a side of young players who weren’t able to match the experience that was in the opposition in Gold Coast. MVG Thomas Romejin was a brick wall in the cage, with Sunny Coast unable to find the back of the net in the first or fourth quarters to give Gold Coast the title of Country Champions.

We would like to wish all nominated athletes good luck in vying for selection to represent Queensland Country at the Australian Country Championships, held at Miami Pool on the Gold Coast in May.

A big thank you to all players, officials and support who came up to enjoy everything that Cairns had to offer, which created an enjoyable culture and country spirit across the weekend.