The City vs Country Carnival is an annual event that sees players from Country Queensland come together to compete against players from the Brisbane Competitions.
City Country Day is a QRU funded and administered program and as such all participating teams are required to meet QRU selection criteria set out to govern this event. In the case of the Country XV and Colts 1 team it was conditional to QCRU involvement that all Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast premier grade players be considered for selection to provide them with the a pathway to the National Academy and Reds. The Country Barbarians and the U19 Colts 2 team will both be selected from players that participated in the recently completed Graincorp Country Championships.
In 2011 the Seniors and Juniors will be played over different weekends. The Seniors on July 2nd during the Premier Rugby Bye and the juniors after the Queensland Junior State Championships in Toowoomba on September 24.
The City vs Country concept has a long tradition and was revived in 2009 with great success, the last time the carnival was contested was in the early 90’s.
2011 CITY COUNTRY DAY RESULTS
Country has regained State supremacy after their victory over City on Saturday night in the curtain raiser to the St.George Reds Semi-Final capping off the annual carnival which commenced earlier in the day at Ballymore.
Queensland Country again demonstrated their improving stature in State rugby circles by defeating their much vaunted City opponents in a hard fought 27-26 affair.
The win was on the back of a very successful Heelers camp at Easter and the subsequent drought breaking win against the NSW Country Cockatoos at Suncorp Stadium earlier this year.
Entering the City v Country clash as underdogs, the Country XV demonstrated the skill, and patience, coupled with plenty of passion, to run out winners 27-26. In an up tempo game, the Country boys matched the cream of the Strategic Airlines Queensland Premier Rugby competition with their own dogged style of play erasing the memories of 2010's emphatic loss.
Outstanding performances from Captain and 2nd rower Johno Bradbury (CQ), backrowers Jay Halevu (GC) and Will Campbell (DD), John Monu (GC) and Stephan Vanderwalt (SC) led the way.
"This was a great performance from a dedicated group of players from Country QLD, guys who are proud of their team and its values, they played with a lot of passion," Country Head Coach Tom Rosewarne said.
"All credit to City for their tenacity, they almost stole the game from us late, but I was proud of the way the boys hung in, the win is real reward for the effort they had put in over the camp, the win gives Country rugby some real credibility, " said Rosewarne.
The annual city country day got underway at Ballymore on early in the day with Country U19 (2) drawing first blood with a 39-15 victory over Suburban U10. Scorers were: Country J Gough E Suavai D Mooney A Warren F Firth T Vinson tries T Vinson pen 3 cons) QSRU (I Tilialo C McGorie tries M Seymour pen con).
City made it one win a piece when the Suburban opens beat the Country Barbarians 28-19. Scorers were: QSRU (G Cochrane A Raiyawa K Ross tries J Tupaea 2 pens 2 cons D Good pen) d Country (S Finigan D Haycock D Lucas tries K Wahlston 2 cons)
The Country U19 (1) then took on the City XV to try and avenge last year’s narrow loss. However, Country failed to finish off promising play and once again fell short losing 20-19. City controlled the ball better and made better use of their possession. Scorers were: City (W Petaia J Klansen G O'Hare L Beauchamp tries Country (Sam Cox Sean Cox T Hindmarsh tries)
Junior City Country Results
U15: City 18 d Country 10
U16: Country 20 d City 13
U17: City 43 d Country 17
City retain the City Country Cup by a margin of 4 wins to 3
2011 TEAMS
To see team lists, please click here.