The Australia Post Queensland Scorpions have opened their 2011 NAB Australian U18 Championships campaign with a 57-point loss to division one heavyweights South Australia at Blacktown Olympic Stadium in Sydney
AUSTRALIAN U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday 4 June 2011
The Australia Post Queensland Scorpions have opened their 2011 NAB Australian U18 Championships campaign with a 57-point loss to division one heavyweights South Australia at Blacktown Olympic Stadium in Sydney.
Midfielder Peter Yagmoor (pictured) and tagger Richard Newell were standouts for the Scorpions as they went down 6-7 (43) to 14-16 (100).
According to AFLQ Talent Manager Bob Batty, the Queenslanders were competitive early and pretty much matched the Croweaters for endeavour but were out-classed by a side that was “too clean and too good”.
“We had our share of ball but we had too many turnovers and missed too many targets going forward,” Batty lamented.
“It’s a bit of a reality check but we were beaten by 110 and 120 by the division ones sides last year so from that point of view we’ve cut it in half.”
SA kicked the last two goals before halftime to lead 7-8 to 3-4 at the long break and took control of the game when they out-scored the Scorpions 3-7 to 1-1 in the third term.
Queensland held their own in the final stanza, which favored SA 4-1 to 2-2 but the damage was done.
Yagmoor, who started on the wing and worked through the midfield, was judged the Scorpions’ best by coach David Ashkar, ahead of Newell, who tagged SA captain and trump card Chad Wingard.
Small defenders Josh Wagner and Henry Joyce also did well for Queensland with wingman Andrew Boston and utility defender Chris Murphy.
Vice-captain Jackson Allen was a late withdrawl when the coaching and medical staff elected not to risk his suspect calf in a 10.15am start on a surface a little slippery due to a heavy due.
Allen is expected to be fit to play against Victorian Metro at Visy Park (Carlton) next Saturday.
Fraser Thompson was the other member of the 24-man travel party not to play. Instead he joined the Gold Coast Suns Reserves in the game that followed the Queensland – SA game.
Match Details
Queensland 2-3 3-4 4-5 6-7 (43)
South Aust 5-2 7-8 10-15 14-16 (100)
Queensland Goals: Adam Oxley 2, Lachlan Russ, Fraser Thurlow, Sam Cabrera, Jackson Starceevich.
Queensland Best: Peter Yagmoor, Richard Newell, Josh Wagner, Henry Joyce, Andrew Boston, Chris Murphy.
