Southerners claim touch titles

SOUTH Queensland has reasserted their dominance at the Queensland Touch Junior State Championships after winning four championships during yesterday’s grand finals at Queens Park.

The North Queensland Cyclones were unable to play their way to any deciders during the three- day championships, which this year attracted more than 500 players from 33 representative teams.

South Queensland and Border Districts Sharks claimed their sixth- straight crown as champion region after playing five of yesterday’s six grand finals, winning four.

SQBD won the boys and girls divisions in under- 12s and under- 16s, with all games except the under- 12 boys final decided by a single try.

CQ Bulls beat Cobras 6- 0 the girls under- 14 grand final, and also won a nailbiting under- 14 boys final against SQBD 7- 6.

SQBD’s dominance saw them win the Shuker- Williams Trophy for champion region with 52 points, followed by CQ with 46 and SWQ on 30.

The day’s most thrilling finish took place in the girls under- 12 final as SQBD trailed CQ 5- 2 before coming back to score a final- minute winner.

Under 12 merit teams were announced at yesterday’s presentation ceremony, along with junior Cowboys, Broncos and Titans teams in the under 14 and 16 divisions.

Teams were selected from within the boundaries of the Queensland touch regions and selected players will attend a camp on the Sunshine Coast on March 23- 25.