State Success for Rocky Region Schools as Local Fixtures Reach Conclusion

Despite absences by some leading players in the first week of the final series in the top-grade fixture competition there were still some very good matches and, in reality, the teams that won through to the grand finals this week would probably have been the same if all players had been available for the semis.

Work and school commitments put big holes in some teams with one needing to forfeit due to all three players being unavailable and suitable substitutes not being on the fill-in list. The lucky part for organisers was that situation left players, who ended up in the second section based on team results from the regular season, available to sub in the first division matches. 

This all meant that the two semi-finals in the top division were able to be played with full compliments of participants and in the first semi Joel Coughlan’s minor premiership outfit won through for a shot at the title this week after they ousted Jakob Baker’s side.

The second semi-final resulted in Matthew Pettett’s team holding out a strong challenge by Dane Coughlan’s side, that was minus its captain who was out of town on a work assignment, but had a capable sub in James O’Sullivan.

The grand final this week sees Joel Coughlan, Ann-Louise Stewart and Oliver Wright pitted against Pettett, Pam Clarke and Hilton Kane.

The state finals of the annual Queensland Schools Championships took place at the impressive South Pine Sports Centre at Moreton Bay last Friday. Some school-teams that figured prominently in the regional play-offs at Rockhampton late in October were able to make the trip to participate in these state finals.

Cooper Bulow and Tom Tonkin of Rockhampton High School, and members of the city’s club, picked up the silver medal in the open boy’s division in the recent regionals at Rocky won a bronze medal when they played in the top division at these state titles last Friday and this was a great result considering the level of competition.

Gladstone’s Faith Baptist Christian School had two competitive girls’ teams that also did well at the regional competition and they were both drafted into second division at the states and both sides enjoyed success. Emily Sauvageout and Felicia Salvador combined well to be awarded the silver medal while school-mates Lola Howells and Alice Falls collected the bronze medal.

The Hopes Division that caters for children under twelve years of age saw plenty of future champions of the sport grace the Moreton Bay courts and the team that won the regional play-offs at Rocky figured in the final at the state comp and won the silver medal after a great final. Brothers, who appear to have great futures in the sport, Aken and Yalindu Wadanambilage Don were representing Gladstone Central State School. Their family only moved to Central Queensland a few months ago when the boys took up membership of the Rocky association and attend coaching sessions and junior activities when able to do so.