All Qld final in U16 titles
It will be an all-Queensland final in the national Under 16 championships at Nudgee on Friday after the state's two teams each beat their NSW rivals in the second day of competition.
Queensland Red gave Sydney Juniors a 13-0 head start before mowing them down with three second half tries to win 21-13.
The Red side laboured under a 9-2 penalty count in the first half which kept them on the back foot until Nudgee College prop Zac Frank crossed for a try off a lineout move and fellow Nudgee flyhalf Cayden Matehaere converted in the tricky cross breeze.
The turning point of the match came when State High speedster Chris Sautia intercepted a Sydney pass and outpaced the defence for a try under the posts, converted by Matehaere.
A deft kick return by Sautia forced Sydney to concede a defensive lineout, which led to a try by Ipswich Grammar hooker Luke Edwards, also converted by Matehaere.
In the next match the fourth seeded Queensland White beat top seeds NSW Schools 22-12 after the two sides were locked at 12-all at halftime.
NSW opened the scoring with an early try but were matched at 5-5 when Gladstone State High wing Liam Law grabbed the first of his two tries for the match.
Soon after the NSW defence was opened up by a scintillating bust by Keebra Park State High centre Ayden Harawira, who beat several defenders before popping a final pass off the ground to try scorer and captain Luke Beauchamp from Marist Ashgrove.
The conversion by Dion Taumata from Keebra Park State High put Queensland out to a 12-5 lead but NSW came back to level the scores before halftime.
A second half penalty by Taumata gave Queensland the lead and then sustained pressure led to Law's second try, skilfully converted by Taumata.
NSW had their opportunities in the half but the Queensand defence was up to the challenge, while the home side's backrow dominated at the breakdown to force turnovers at crucial times.
Queensland Red will play Queensland White for the Rod Macqueen Shield at 11:30am on Friday.
Since the ARU introduced the national titles in 2001, no Queensland side has lifted the Division One trophy.
