TASMANIA and NSW/ACT have started the National Under 16s Division Two Championships off on the right foot, with two wins on the opening weekend. In the three-week series, each of the four sides will play the other three teams, with the first round held at Blacktown.

Tasmania knocked off Queensland by 22 points with North Launceston’s Jackson Callow and Glenorchy’s Jye Bearmanbooting three goals each to be the difference on the scoreboard. North Hobart’s Jye Menzie booted two majors and was named among the best with the other two key goal scorers. But Menzie’s North Hobart teammate Sam Collins was named best on ground in the 11.9 to 7.11 victory, while Launceston pair Toby Upsom and Will Harper – the only two Blues in the team, were also named among the best. For Queensland, Darling Downs’ Jack Briskey and Cairns’ Alex Davies booted two goals each, while the Tweed/Coolangatta’s Sam Clohesy was named Queensland’s best player in the loss. Moreton Bay’s Tahj Abberley, Davies and Wests’ Saxon Crozier were also named among the best for the losers.

In the other game, NSW/ACT were too good for Northern Territory, running away with a 62-point win. Maroubra’s small forward Errol Gulden was the star of the show, booting five goals and was named among the best. Lightly built Manly product Cooper Wilson was the Rams’ best on the day however, booting a goal and always looking busy. Kye Pfrengle, Pierce Roseby and Coopa Steele (two goals) were also named among the best in the victory, while 198cm, 94kg, Jack Cullen was strong up forward booting two goals and also named among the best. For the losers, 14 year-old Andy Moniz-Wakefield was the star, while Brodie Lake, Jamal Lynch and Clarence Baird were also impressive.

Tasmania 11.9 (75) defeated Queensland 7.11 (53)

GOALS
Tasmania: Callow 3, Bearman 3, Menzie 2, Barwick, Davis|
Queensland: Briskey 2, Davies 2, Gates, Johnson, McGory

BEST
Tasmania: Collins, Upsom, Harper, Menzie, Bearman, Callow
Queensland: Clohesy, Abberley, Davies, Johnson, Crozier, Bulley

NSW/ACT 16.9 (105) defeated NT 6.7 (43)

GOALS
NSW/ACT: Gulden 5, Cullen 2, Steele 2, Eynaud 2, Monaghan, Wilson, Roseby, Dunstan, Dignam
Northern Territory: Tipiloura 2, Ford, Jeffrey, Barlow, Rioli

BEST
NSW/ACT: Wilson, Gulden, Pfrengle, Roseby, Steele, Cullen.
Northern Territory: Moniz-Wakefield, Lake, Lynch, Baird, Brock, Rioli

In the Under 17 Futures match, Josh Rayner was the dominant player up forward for NSW/ACT in the Rams’ win over Tasmania. NSW/ACT won by 49-points with Rayner booting five goals in the victory, while Jackson Barling booted three majors, and over-ager George Kendall finished with the two. For Tasmania, Oliver Burrows-Cheng was named the Mariners best, one of seven individual goal scorers on the day. Others named in the best were Jack McCulloch, Bailey Gordon and Tyler McGinniss in the loss.

U17 Futures:

NSW/ACT 14.11 (95) defeated Tasmania 7.4 (46) 

GOALS
NSW/ACT: Rayner 5, Barling 3, Kendall 2, Pope, Conlan, Edwards, Thorne
Tasmania: Burrows-Cheng, McCulloch, Reeves, Viney, Bailey, Peppin, Stuart

BEST
NSW/ACT: Parks, Rayner, Barling, Edwards, Thorne, Whyte
Tasmania: Burrows-Cheng, McCulloch, Gordon, McGinniss, Peppin, Shaw