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| Hayden Fepuleai with a one handed off load in last years Dragons Vs Sharks thriller at IKI Stadium (Photo : ourfooty media ) CHeCK ouT THe ACTioN |
DRAGON JUNIORS ARE PICKED FOR 2009 SEASON
Story By : BY MICHAEL CARAYANNIS 
Photo By : 
FOLLOWING on from invitation-only trials, St George Dragons has announced its train-on squads for next year's S.G. Ball and Harold Matthews season.
The trials held at OKI Jubilee Stadium last month were well-attended, with the bulk of players chosen from St George junior clubs.
Players will start pre-season training on November 10 and complete six weeks of pre-Christmas training, before resuming in early January.
Newly-appointed junior representative manager Neil Lovett said he expected both sides to improve throughout the year.
``Not only is St George embarking on an exciting new page in terms of coaching staff to manage the 2009 junior representative teams,'' Lovett said, ``but St George Illawarra Dragons are introducing an entirely new development concept, called the Dragons High Performance Unit, which will provide a better pathway for the development of our young players through the ranks of St George Illawarra.''
Former St George great Graeme Wynn will coach the under 16 Harold Matthews side, assisted by former Cronulla S.G. Ball coach Mick Marton.
Tony Carson will coach the under 18 S.G. Ball side.
Former St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers player Warren Carney and Ben Haran who used to work with the Melbourne Storm will be among the skills coaches.
St George 1979 premiership winner Michel Sorridimi will manage the Harold Matthews side. Reece Simmonds (S.G. Ball) and Adam Sargent-Wilson (Harold Matthews) will coach Illawarra.
Harold Matthews squad :
ANDERSON Brent, ARAOUZOU James, BAILEY Hayden, BIDDLE Nicholas, BROWN Patrick, CARRION Daniel, CARROLL Neerim, CROSS Steven, DUNCAN Chris, FEPULEAI Hayden, GLYMIN Kiti, GRAY Kawana, LaMANNA Daniel, LEATIGAGA Joey, MAANA Jordan, MACPHERSON Tikirahi, MIRCESKI James, PIGGOTT Rikki, POLITONI Ekiaki, SEFO Anthony, SERU Kemueli, SROUR Amin, STANLEY Jamie, STOWERS Vincent, TANGALOA Rangi, TAUTE Mark, TEROI-FEPULEAI Taylor, UHI Joe.
SG Ball squad :
AYAD Zachariah, BAZZI Mohammed, CHERRINGTON Jared, CIASCHETTI Ernie, DUNN Nathan, FOSSE Blake, GARCIA Peter-James, GILLIES Kane, GORDON Doug, GREEN Nathan, HARRIS Dion, HARTNEY Matthew, KELLY Dion, LEI Morgan, LEILUA Joe, MALLYON Kyle, MUSOLINO Ben, PICKERD Luke, PULEIKU Sam, RAMEKA Terrence, SULTANA Andrew, TAURA Stanley, TOURNAY Ray, UHI Atunaisa, UHI David. |
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| On the burst: A Kingsgrove Colts player slips a pass in the final against Riverwood Legion. Picture: Chris Lane |
GLORIOUS JUNIORS
Story By : Michael Carayannis
On the burst: A Kingsgrove Colts player slips a pass in the final against Riverwood Legion. Picture: Chris Lane
HURSTVILLE United dominated the St George Junior Rugby League finals on the weekend, winning four of the 18 titles on offer and finishing runners-up in one more.
St George Junior League president Chris Books said the standard of football over the weekend was at its highest level for some time.
``It was the best grand final weekend we can remember,'' he said.
``One of the best things was that almost all clubs were represented over the two days.''
A crowd of over 4000 people watched the matches over the two days.
``Although it was a bit of a shorter season due to things like wet weather it was a successful year,'' Books said.
``We have had good growth in numbers and have had two division in the majority of age groups for the first time in a number of years.'' Senior Club Champions Hurstville United finished the day with four premiership victories.
The club comprehensively won the under-9 division two match and picked up three more hard-fought wins in the under-12, under-13 and under-19 matches.
The biggest victory of the weekend went to the impressive Kingsgrove Colts Blue under-10 division one side.
The team defeated Riverwood Legion 50-0 in a tough game for the Legion boys.
The Colts dominated their age-group all year, losing just one game.
The Colts also had success with their under-11 division two team, which fought through knock-out matches for the entire semi-final series to win the premiership over Arncliffe Scots 22-18.
Kingsgrove Colts president Peter Goddard said that winning the two premierships and retaining the Junior Club Championship capped the most successful season ever for the Colts.
``This achievement will be a great platform for our 50th anniversary celebrations next year,'' he said.
``Having five teams in grand finals and the resounding wins in the under-10s and 11s shows how strong the Colts have become and the contribution the club has made to junior rugby league in the St George district.''
The Scots had their own success, coming from behind to defeat Kingsgrove in the under-16 match while having a four-point victory over Renown United in the under-10 division two final.
Earlwood Saints celebrated the day in style with two wins from two matches, led by a 52-10 win in the division two under-14 match over Arncliffe.
SCOREBOARD
Under 9 (ii): Hurstville United Blue 24 Arncliffe Scots 0; Under 9 (i): Renown United White 18 Brighton Seagulls 16; Under 10 (ii): Renown United 24 Arncliffe Scots 28; Under 10 (i): Kingsgrove Colts Blue 50 Riverwood Legion 0; Under 11(ii): Arncliffe Scots 18 Kingsgrove Colts Red 22; Under 11(i): Kogarah Cougars 46 Kingsgrove Colts Blue 12; Under 12: Earlwood Saints 24 Hurstville United 28; Under 13 (i): Kingsgrove Colts 24 Hurstville United 26; Under 13 (ii): North Ryde 26 Concord-Burwood 12; Under 14 (ii): Earlwood Saints 52 Arncliffe Scots 10; Under 14 (i): Dundas Shamrocks 16 Five Dock 10; Under 15 (ii): North Ryde 4 Penshurst RSL 28; Under 15 (i): Five Dock 16 Holy Cross 30; Under 16: Kingsgrove Colts 14 Arncliffe Scots 16; Under 17 (ii): Brighton Seagulls 10 Renown United 16; Under 17 (i): Holy Cross 30 Concord-Burwood Maroon 16; Under 19: Penshurst RSL 18 Hurstville United 22; A Grade: The Grove 28 Hurstville United 18 |
