Junior State Cup Provides Fun in the Launceston Sun

Launceston club Magpies took out the overall Champion Club title at the 2023 TFT Junior State Cup, which was held over the weekend 18-19 February in the sun in Launceston.

Warm conditions on Saturday made it a little tough for players not used to them, but there were still plenty of smiles all over Prospect Park as 350 players, coaches and referees from around the state played with positive vibes the order of the day.

The Under 10 division had three participating teams in the division's second year, and some strong skills and passionate players taking the (half-) field in a round robin. Some of the sport's future stars were spotted with some highly springy knees turning opponents around, and rubbery bodies finding gaps no-one expected. The coaches were also highly supportive, teaching their players some great skills they will need to continue in the sport. There was no championship title decided in this division this year, but 2 Champion medals were given to players from each team after every game, decided by the coaches.

The Boys' and Girls' 12s divisions were held on Saturday only, with some solid touch footy played. Eastern Shore Rebels ran away with the G12 division with strong wins in all their games, led by Player of the Series Sienna Brown. The B12 division had a very tight final, with independent team Live Wires defeating Hazards 2 tries to 1, with no score in the second half building the tension to the final siren. Hazards' Ayrton Myers was the Player of the Final.

In the G14 and G16 divisions new club Magpies were dominant winners of their series (with no finals played). Ruby Jones was adjudged Player of the Series in the G14, and Ali Reynolds won in the G16. In the G18 Magpies won their final over Hazards; Maddison Medwin voted Player of the Final.

The B14 final was a free-flowing, high scoring battle with Bulldogs coming away with a 16-7 victory over Sharks. Samuel Husband was voted Player of the Final, although any number of players contributed to Bulldogs' success. The B16 final was hard-fought, and a closer contest than the 10-3 scoreline showed, with Grasscutters winning over Rebels. Grasscutters' Dane Plakalovic's performance saw him awarded Player of the Final. Condors played with 7 players all weekend in the B18 division, and rounded out their dominant performance with an 8-4 victory over Sharks in their final, led by Player of the Final Blake Harper.

Seven referees received upgrades to level 2 over the weekend; congratulations to Alex Reimer, Emily Turner, Jo Brumby, Aiden Reid, Mel Todman, Bella Colson and Cade Sather. The Referee of the Tournament was awarded to James Dowling.

Overall Results:

Champion Girls Club: Magpies

Champion Boys Club: Sharks

Champion Club: Magpies

Champion Affiliate: Launceston TA

At the event $900 was raised to support research into Motor Neurone Disease.

Next year's Junior State Cup will be at Meercroft Park in Devonport on 17-18 February 2024.