TOOWOOMBA LEADS CHARGE
Garden City players help guide Queensland to titles
TOUCH: Queensland shows no sign of lessening its title stranglehold and a host of young Toowoomba players is leading the charge.
Queensland dominated the recent national championships in Hobart, winning all four titles on offer and dominating traditional rivals New South Wales in the process.
St Saviour’s College student Georgia Bartlett was part of the winning under-15 girls’ team alongside friend and team-mate Matilda Leicht.
“It’s a really good feeling (to win the title),” Bartlett said.
“Beating New South Wales in the final and winning all our games was exciting as well.”
The U15 side scored 122 touchdowns on the way to the title and easily accounted for NSW 7-1 in the grand final.
Clashes between the rivals are traditionally tight and Bartlett admitted to having some nerves before the final.
“We rotated our starting six during the championships,” she said.
“I was a little bit nervous before the final because I was named in the starting six.
“I just wanted to help the team start well because we had to defend first and you don’t want to go behind first.
“Everyone played really well though.”
Taking a 2-0 lead into halftime Bartlett said an excellent second half helped Qld win the title.
“We had a plan for every game,” Bartlett said.
“Everyone knew the plan and played their part.
“I think our strength was we bonded really well as a team, we all got along and played for each other.” TOOWOOMBA STARS: Ben Moore (U15 boys), Ryan Ward (U15 boys), Bailey Deakin (U12 boys), Sam Sheppard (U12 boys), Mitch Dabin (U12 boys), and Kaden Willmot (U12 boys). Al Aston coached the U12 boys team.