Junior rugby league players make promising start to season
RUGBY LEAGUE: Keen Rockhampton junior rugby league players took to the field over the weekend, to kick off round one of the 2013 junior season.
After more than 600mm of rain flooded most grounds in the area, curators did a fantastic job to restore grounds to an excellent standard, allowing games to go ahead as planned on Friday and Saturday.
Rugby league personality Michael Fletcher said all clubs were back in action including the Rockhampton Tigers, Gracemere, Fitzroys, Norths, Yeppoon, Rockhampton Brothers and the Capricorn Coast Brothers as well as new adition, Emu Park.
"We also saw a new club, Emu Park Emus join the competition and if the support for their only game on Friday night is anything to go by, they will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the competition," Fletcher said.
With the new year there were always new faces joining the competition and with the Central Capras under-16 and U18 sides playing the Mackay Cutters on Saturday afternoon, some of the U16 and U18 sides were running low on numbers.
"It was pleasing to see a number of the under-15 players taking the step up to fill in for the under-16 sides. They will gain plenty of benefit playing a grade up and that will improve the standard of football in the coming years when these players step up for representative duties," Fletcher said.
The Rockhampton Junior Rugby League again has another busy season ahead along with the international season now in progress and the U6-U12 Mini Mod Season which will commence after the Easter School Holidays.
Fletcher said the juniors would also again hold the U14 boys Rhys Wesser Shield on April 11 and 12 at Victoria Park.
"Nominations are open with the application form available on the QRL website with nominations closing Thursday, February 28," he said.
"Rockhampton will again host the Central Queensland Capras trials for under-13, 14 and16 on June 8 and 9 at Browne Park."
He said the Rockhampton and District Junior Rugby League thanked Rockhampton Leagues Club and Rockhampton Senior Rugby League for their support.
