THE CENTRAL North Under 16s and New England opens still couldn’t score any silverware at the Country Schools Championships at Farrer yesterday but both sides were well represented in the Country squads.

The young Kookaburras went down 3-nil to Far North Coast in the Under 16s final in similar fashion to last year’s decider.

“Last year it was 5-nil so we’re getting better,” CN coach Bernie Williams said.

“We had a chance to win it with a penalty goal early in the second half.

“We did a lot of tackling but when Jamie Sampson got his hands on the ball he was

electrifying.

“He’s the most attacking player I’ve seen in a long time.

“He was well supported by the backs and the forwards.”

A number of the CN players made the Under 16s Country team and the Country Development Squad.

Sampson, Kerrod Alley, Dan Carter, Jack Barker, Ollie Thomson, Jack Hartman, Scott Domis, Matt Blanch and Daniel Earl all made the Country 16s while Carter, Domis, Sampson and Hartman are in the development squad.

“This side was a pleasure to coach,” Williams said.

“Ox (assistant coach Luke Oxford) and I were amazed at the skill level and the attitude of the side.

“They did Central North very proud.”

New England’s Luke Heagney, Toby Crothers, Lachie Creighton, Tom Lomax-Sewell and Will Kimmince also made the 16s side.

The opens final was also a replay of last year and once again Hunter prevailed over New

England.

Hunter won its sixth title in a row with a 17-7 win after the Lions had opened the scoring.

NE team manager Jamie Moore said his side stuck it to the champions and the coaching staff was very pleased with the team’s efforts.

Sam Kahl, Matt Baker, Alex Lavender, Blake Murray, Nick Jones and Mitch McGuire all made the open Country side thanks to that effort with McGuire, Murray and Jones also named in the development squad, along with Max Melville, Blake Thomas, Thomas Hiramatsu, Munro Hall, Lucas Tooth and Alex Frost.

CN’s Michael Jamieson, Blake Reardon, Nathan Nott and Josh Howarth also made the development team.

The Country opens and 16s will play at the State championships at the end of the month while the development squad will tour South Africa early next year.