Courtesy: News Mail


Qld Country go down in finals

by Vince Habermann

20th January 2012

AN ALL-Bundaberg Queensland Country performed brilliantly to be runner-up in the youth (under-20) men's division of the Australian Vikings Futsal Championships in Hawkesbury earlier this week.

The team suffered its only loss in the grand final, going down to New South Wales 3-1 after having drawn with them in their round-robin clash.

Queensland Country recorded four wins and two draws from its other six preliminary matches to finish second on the ladder before booking its place in the decider with a 3-1 semi-final victory over third-placed Queensland Metropolitan, whom it also beat in the rounds.

The side's goalkeeper Brenton Morrison, who has been a fixture in Australian junior teams over the past few years, claimed the coveted player of the championships award.

He and team-mate Luke Leggett were also chosen in the five-man All Stars team, recognising them among the five best players at the tournament.

First-time coach Ken Davis, also of Bundaberg, said the pair was an absolute stand-out but lauded a "genuine team performance".

"Brenton was just outstanding in goal while Luke was a year younger than most we took down but he just attracted a lot defence and got the ball off the opposition and off-loaded to other guys," Davis said.

"Luke was also our equal-second highest goal-scorer with seven, along with Jason McEwan, one behind my son Brendan Davis."

Davis said his other three players also excelled - captains Sam Meyer and Hayden Lobegeier and his other son Jake.

"I'm very proud of them and we had no weak links - you have five on court at any one time and we went down with seven after the withdrawal of three players from Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and Maryborough," he said.

"That didn't give us much in reserves if injuries hit us, which they did on the second-last day and we were down to six for the last fixture, semi-final and final after Sam got an ankle injury.

"Other teams had 10 or 11 players with full benches but the boys showed tremendous heart and character and fitness, of course, to go as far as they did."

Meyer and Lobegeier have also previously been chosen in Australian teams but been unable to tour because of the costs, and Davis is hoping that a couple of his players will be rewarded with places in another national team which will compete in Brazil or the United States. Lobegeier's mother Fiona, who has managed the team coming through junior ranks, was also extremely proud of the achievement. "We've never been able to win against City (Queensland Metropolitan) but our team beat them twice and the best the team has ever done before is fourth," Lobegeier said.

"Event coordinator Paul Webber said they were the 'talk of the tournament' - they did very well and were commended on their performances on and off the field."




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com