Central North juniors are embracing the sevens game.
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The zone is sending four teams to Coffs Harbour to contest Saturday’s NSW Rugby Union State Sevens U13 and U15 Championships.
The Kookaburras will field a boys and girls side in both divisions, drawing on talent from right across the zone.
Fresh from his coaching duties with the UNE Lions in the inaugural Women’s Uni 7s, Dale Beattie is coaching the U15’s girls and said they have been working steadily for a number of weeks.
“The U15’s are in a bit of a rebuilding phase. We got a lot of new faces,” he said.
“A lot of the girls we had in the programs have gone up to the U17’s.”
The side is still a talented one and shaping up well.
More a common sight out in the middle whistle in hand, Kath Little has the U13’s girls, while Matt Dietrich is looking after the U13’s boys and Peter Henderson the U15’s boys.
”I think we’ve got a pretty good squad,” Henderson said.
“They should be pretty mobile group.”
They had a hit out before the Country Eagles game clash with the Canberra Vikings in Armidale a couple of weeks ago, and have trained well the limited time together they have had.
Henderson said one of the biggest adjustments has been at the breakdown.
“Not over committing to the breakdown is key to sevens,” Henderson said.
“And being able to sight and see space, and shift the ball quickly.”
“Most of the side can do that pretty well.”
They can all tackle pretty well too, which is an important attribute in sevens.
CENTRAL NORTH TEAMS
U13’s Boys: Brock Davies (Narrabri), Jack Rutland (Coonabarabran), Billy Rutland (Coonabarabran), Jack Teague (Scone), Will Kelly (Barraba), Colby Davies (Narrabri), Don Delaney (Narrabri), Lachie Elliott (Tamworth), Lachie Dietrich (Tamworth), George Schmude (Armidale), Nick Adkins (Scone), Yooey Jackson (Coonabarabran).
U13’s Girls: Olivia O’Donnell (Gunnedah), Eliza O’Donnell (Gunnedah), Lucy Ploughman (Bendemeer), Amelia Smyth (Tamworth), Sarah O’Neill (Tamworth), Abbie Kent (Warialda), Ashanti Pennell (Baradine), Jemma McDouall (Barraba), Tomi Gavin (Somerton), Ashlyn Summers (Tamworth), Matilda Hall (Walcha), Amelia Cobb-Johnson (Narrabri).
U15’s Boys: Blake Ryan (Narrabri), Robert Davies (Narrabri), Jhett Butler (Tamworth), Brad Male (Tamworth), Edward Bell (Scone), Mitch Henderson (Tamworth), Blair Maloney (Tamworth), Blake Ginman (Tamworth), Jonathon Morrison (Gunnedah), Mitchell Watts (Tamworth), Harry Snook (Tamworth), Sebastian Pianko (Inverell).
U15’s Girls: Alisha Sleiman (Warialda), Georgia Moore (Quirindi), Ericka Maslen (Tamworth), Jada Taylor (Tamworth), Emma Hall (Warialda), Atalia Walton (Warialda), Lara Graham (Tamworth), Anika Earsman (Tamworth), Kiarah Seagrott (Inverell), Mariah Pennell (Baradine), Milly McEvoy (Coonabarabran), Elly Byriell (Gunnedah).