Richmond, Hughenden, Julia Creek junior footballers at 2018 Gorden Tallis Cup

Hughenden Hawks representative, Ricky Sumner, proudly announced that of the five years a combined Tiger Hawks team had been taking part in the Gorden Tallis Cup for under 10s, this was the first year they’d fielded a full team of 17.

In the past they’ve relied on additions from Townsville clubs to make up the numbers.

“This is the first year we’ve been solid, thanks to Julia Creek coming on board,” he said.

Children from Julia Creek are this year playing under the Richmond Tigers banner.

It was a great effort from an area where only the two teams, the Hughenden Hawks and Richmond Tigers, play each other in the north west junior competition.

Apart from that, Ricky said they tried to participate in cluster days with other regions.

“We take any invitation we can get to play football,” he said.

“The great thing is football is alive, especially with the hard years and the drought and everything.

“It keeps people’s hopes up and they have fun and they’re loving it.”

The Tiger Hawks was one of 64 teams from the length and breadth of the state taking part in the 17^th annual Gorden Tallis Cup in Townsville.

The 2018 Cup was won by the Gladstone Wallabies, 16 defeating the Cairns Brothers, 12.

In the Reg Matthews Cup competition, Coomera Cutters Silver defeated Burdekin Blue 12-4, while the Jannita Dunn contest was won by Brothers Paddy’s, defeating the Western Lions Kings 12-8.

Rounding out the results, Rochedale Tigers defeated the Calliope Roosters 24-4 in the Wally Tallis section.