10 TOP GOLD COAST TEAMS OF 2017
FROM REMARKABLE STORIES OF SPORTING REVIVAL TO CONTINUED DOMINANCE, GOLD COAST TEAMS HAVE SET A NEW BENCHMARK IN 2017. THE BULLETIN NOMINATES ITS TOP 10 SIDES OF THE YEAR
KEEBRA TOP PILE OF BEST
1. KEEBRA PARK HIGH SCHOOL
TWELVE months after the most heartbreaking of losses, the footballing powerhouse claimed the national title with a 25-12 victory over Westfield Sports High in September. Given the school’s illustrious list of graduates over the years, their latest effort is worthy of top billing. ‘MADGE’
2. SURFERS PARADISE DOLPHINS
FOR a second straight year, no Gold Coast District Rugby Union club could rival the Dolphins, who had people searching for record books after going through another season undefeated. That makes 37 games on the trot – and counting.
3.
PACIFIC PINES ORANGE UNDER-14 GIRLS SOCCER TEAM
THE most dominant junior soccer team on the Gold Coast in 2017. Pacific Pines went through the season undefeated, playing 20 games including their 5-0 grand final win over Robina City. Pacific Pines finished the season with a goal difference of 174 after finding the net 186 times. Honourable mention to the under-15 girls Robina City team that also went through the season unbeaten before winning the grand final 3-1 over Palm Beach.
4. GOLD COAST STINGRAYS
THE Gold Coast Stingrays de- feated the Bayside Ravens 22-21 to win their seventh straight Queensland gridiron Sunbowl title at Langlands Park in Brisbane this year.
It was the Stingrays’ 11th Sunbowl in the past 12 years and the club’s 15th since 1994.
The Gold Coast Stingrays maintained their absolute dominance of the Gridiron Queensland competition when they took a seventh successive Sunbowl title in a come-frombehind effort against the Bayside Ravens.
5. NORTHCLIFFE SURF LIFESAVING CLUB
THE Gold Coast surf lifesaving club extended its dominance of the Australian championships when it won the overall pointscore for the 14th time in a row.
6. LLOYD & EDMONDS
THE Coast jockey-trainer combination of Jeff Lloyd and Toby Edmonds gained a cult following among punters across Australia. They had an amazing 30 per cent success rate in the 2016-17 season, winning 66 races, including the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Houtzen.
7. BROADBEACH BOWLS CLUB
STAMPED themselves as the power club in Queensland bowls with a series of groundbreaking wins. First the Bulls
won their inaugural Premier League Queensland crown by beating seven-times winners Helensvale in the final. The Bulls then took the men’s and women’s titles in the state pen- nants carnival and also won the National Club Five-a-Side Challenge at Helensvale.
8. GOLD COAST KNIGHTS
ond-tier to top-tier champions by winning the Gold Coast Premier League championship a year after being promoted from Coast League 1. The Knights did not get the championship-grand final double, losing 2-1 to Broadbeach United in the latter.
9. DJR TEAM PENSKE
THE Gold Coast Knights com- A PARTNERSHIP of two pleted the transition from sec- motorsport giants, Dick Johnson and Roger Penske, the Stapylton-based team emerged as the benchmark Supercars squad in 2017. Despite heartbreakingly missing the coveted drivers title, they were rewarded with the teams championship.
10. NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS
WOMEN won all 12 regular season SBL basketball games (237%) before a 80-34 grand final win over Northside.