Keebra
Park SHS 31defeated Palm Beach
Currumbin 30 in Alfred E. Chave
Challenge
A truly great schoolboy game was
witnessed at the Southport Tigers
ground on the Gold Coast, Tuesday
afternoon.
The final of the Alfred E. Chave
Under 15 Broncos Challenge was
decided, when Mark Campbell Keebra
Park SHS, potted a field goal to
snatch the inaugural Shield out of
the hands of Palm Beach Currumbin SHS
[PBC] in the last seconds of the game.
Keebra were behind on the scoreboard
for the entire game,
It was a fight back similar to one
of the many Queensland State of
Origin 'come from behind' wins.
Bronco's and Queensland State of
Origin coach, Wayne Bennett, was not
at the game, but he would have been
proud of the never say die attitude
of the Keebra Park boys. Bronco's
organiser Peter Nolan said Wayne is
the driving force behind the concept
of this year's competition.
Keebra Park were never in front,
except for the last two seconds. The
game began with PBC receiving the
ball and after the two first sets or
at the three minute mark, PBC led 10
nil.
PBC although having better field
position for the majority of the
first half were unable to give Keebra
Park the knock out punch and only led
20 -10 at half time.
Keebra Park realised that if they
scored straight after the break they
were in the game with a chance.
The axiom that you must go forward
and you must win the forward battle
to win games was proved correct again
during the second half of this game.
A young giant of an Under 15
player Absolom Manavaikai and his
front partner Nathan Wright took on
the forward pack of PBC and
repeatedly ripped into them in the
centre and came out the other side
several times, allowing Keebra Park
to score tries.
Although still not in front, they
continued to score points, but Keebra
Park at times conceded easy turnover
of the ball allowing PBC too also
score points.
The game was locked together at 30
all in the dying minutes with Keebra
Park receiving the ball and having to
go 90 metres to score. They took the
ball the length of the field to kick
the field goal from in front and
about 20m out, as the referee blew
full time.
Keebra Park captain Tim Leary
accepted the Inaugural 2002 Alfred E.
Chave Trophy from the sponsor, Tony
Joseph's son, Anthony.
Anthony said "My father Tony
has been a member of the Bronco's
since their inception in 1988 and he
was thrilled to be apart of the
Broncos Challenge; his company was
looking for a long-term association
in developing the game at the
grassroots level with the Brisbane
Bronco's."
Football manager of the Keebra
Park team Peter Craig said "The
Broncos Challenge has been one of the
great successes of the Rugby League
calendar for schools in 2002, and
with the indication that more schools
will take part in 2003 the Alfred E.Chave
Challenge will rise to be a major
asset in the development of young
stars for the game in Queensland".
Peter Nolan Brisbane Broncos
Development said " Broncos
recruitment manager Cyril Connell was
impressed with the standard of
football and of the talent on show."
Both he and Cyril were looking
forward to the expanded competition
next year with hopefully more Rugby
Union playing schoolboys experiencing
the game of Rugby League.
With more schools from the Gold
Coast, Brisbane and Ipswich areas,
which school will be the second to
have their name engraved on the
Alfred E. Chave Trophy in 2003?
