Sport
12 July, 2023
Local teams compete in Zone 5 Rugby League Carnival
The first week of the July school holidays saw the start of the 53rd annual Zone 5 u35kg/u10 carnival with the host Club being Wynnum Manly in Brisbane.
Nine teams competed with our local boys from Clifton, Allora, Warwick, Killarney and all areas in between representing Central Downs. Other teams came from the MacIntyre, Western Downs, Roma, Wynnum, Charleville, Balonne Barwon and Highfields districts.
The Central Downs boys, coached by Ian Brady, Roy Nott and George Berry, performed admirably finishing 4th overall.
The carnival winners was the undefeated South Burnett Eagles team.
This year The Central Downs started the carnival in grand style, winning a number of athletics carnival events including a few legs of the 100m sprints and winning the first three games before injury and sickness derailed the teams carnival aspirations.
Major award winners for the carnival were Brax Farley (Best Forward) Brodie Trott (Best Back) and James Jenkins (Most Improved).
Three local players Toby Osborne, Brax Farley and Brodie Trott represented the East team in the Jack Dempsey Challenge, which is one of the highlights of the carnival.
Toby Osborne, the team captain was awarded the prestigious Player of the Carnival award, his defensive technique and attacking skills were outstanding. Toby, who is from Killarney has a bright future in Rugby League.
Next year the carnival will be hosted by Balonne Barwon with the venue being St George.
Congratulations to the u43kg team on their success, finishing 2nd this year at their carnival in Wynnum. Coached by Peter Cavanagh, Adam May and George Gall, this side almost replicated their success from last year.
The u12 team were very good with wins against Warwick Colts, Cunnamulla, Balonne Barwon and Macintyre.
A highlight came in defeat with narrow loses to Wynnum and South Burnett in atrocious conditions. The team never stopped trying and had an absolute ball during these games.
Pittsworth player Andie Gall was absolutely dynamic during the week. She played hard in both defence and attack and picked up three player of the match awards.
Our major award winners for the carnival were - Most Improved Tom Peters, Best Back Sunny Gibbons, Best Forward Mac Pauli.
Our City representatives were Mac Pauli, Sonny Gibbons, Andie Gall and Jed Hinz.
Congratulations to Andie Gall who was named Best and Fairest of the Carnival.
Central Downs thank their valued sponsors - Ray Bunch Machinery Warwick, Darwalla, R & F Steel Buildings, Nutrien Harcourts Clifton, Raff Hardware, Allflex and Stockyard Industries.
- Ian Brady
