Roos chase trophy
THURINGOWA State High are ready to make it rain down tries at Mike Carney Toyota Park this weekend for the Townsville Festival of Rugby Sevens teenage competition.
The Thuringowa Joeys are the defending champions in the under- 15 girls division while the school will also field two teams – the Roos and the Goats – in the under- 17 girls.
Thuringowa’s rugby sevens program has blossomed from barely enough players to make up a team three years ago to squads of up to 50 players for each age group.
The Roos will hope its third time lucky in the under- 17s with a few players from Thuringowa’s inaugural sevens teams chasing their first trophy before they graduate high school.
“It would be an honour to finally win after three years. It’s been a lot of fun, but we want to come out on top this time,” said team captain Lurleen Blackman.
“I just love the non- stop pace and the relationships that you build with each other. I’m always trying to get girls to come along and play.”
Head coach Mitchell Bebb said Thuringowa’s sevens success was a credit to the girls’ dedication.
“To have two senior teams is a pretty big achievement, especially from a smaller school,” he said.
“The program’s really driven by them. I’m fortunate enough to be able to coach and work with them, but the girls are the ones who drive the success of the program.
“I know there’s that burning desire to try and pick up a trophy before they finish school and they’ve got the talent there.
“Our under- 15s are the defending champions from last year, so they’ve got a little bit of weight on their shoulders, but regardless of the result it’s just good to get the girls playing contact sport.”