While Bundaberg High won the Bundaberg and District Secondary Schools’ open crown, the remaining titles were shared around with Kepnock snaring the Seconds and 13 years titles, Bundaberg also coming to the fore in 15 years, and North Bundaberg reigning supreme in 14 years.

Kepnock Seconds had not won a game all year, but in the round-robin decider, they overcame Rosedale 10-0 before edging out Bundaberg High 10-4 to win the premiership. Victorious coach Brad Cochran said captain and front rower Scott Robinson and vice-captain and halfback Evan Samways “led from the front in a strong team effort”.

Centre Steve Irwin dazzled with three tries as Bundaberg High overpowered Isis 40-4 in the finale to the 15 years competition. Lock Steve Pedley, who was also outstanding, classy fullback Leighton Little and interchange player Trevor Banks each chipped in with doubles.

Coach John Carmen also praised busy front-rower Chris Tydhoff and utility back Rob Elliott. Isis never stopped trying and were rewarded with a four pointer in the final minute.

North Bundaberg stopped Bundaberg High 26-18 in the 14 years division with coach Ross Warburton citing their low mistake rate as the difference between the two sides.  Warburton described his whole team as excellent, singling out centre Nathan Jensen, forwards Shannon Jones, Nathan McRae, Hayden Drinnan and Russell Hill, and fullback Luke Moroko.

In the 10th Wide Bay Capricorn Shield, Shane Bayntun coolly converted on the stroke of full time to clinch an 18-18 draw for Kepnock High, after Aaron Harvey had grabbed an intercept and sprinted 80 metres to score, in the Seconds clash with Rockhampton High at Kepnock.

But it was not enough for Kepnock to regain the Shield which is awarded annually on the overall results in three divisions: Seconds, 13s and 14s.

Honours were shared, the visitors scraping home 18-16 in the 14 years match and Kepnock prevailing 14-10 in the younger age division. It was the 10th annual challenge between the two schools and Rockhampton as defending champion retained the Shield it had held since 1995.

Fullback Wes Heckendorf had a fine game while lock Dusty Bennett took out the man of the match award.

Kepnock’s 13 years team, the Bundaberg age champion, led 8-6 at the break but had to pull out all stops in defence before getting home 14-10.

Halfback Aaron Kuskey sealed the man of the match award, directing the attack superbly and also topping the tackle count. Hooker Todd Pershouse played a strong running game from dummy half, while Josh Wallace pulled off many big hits in defence and five-eighth Bill Grinham tackled tenaciously.

Chris Hall had the opportunity to level the scores for the Kepnock 14 years side after the full time siren, but his conversion from close to touch just missed. A disallowed try which would have given Kepnock a 10-point lead proved costly, with Mitchell Holdsworth penalised for a double movement before a series of bad handling let the home side down.

Cook was Kepnock’s best with the frontrower repeatedly breaking the first line of defence. Centre Joel McNamara was prominent, while Chris Murray and Hall dominated the team’s scoring.

Kepnock power-broker Matt O’Hanlon was typically magnanimous on his school narrowly missing the 10th anniversary trophy: “(Robert) Brodie’s mob just won .... next year Kepnock”.

Meanwhile Kepnock convenor Ross Priestley was in the gun with O’Hanlon for not ‘organising’ a better result.

Footnote: Matt O'Hanlon won't get the chance to wreak revenge on "Brodie's mob"... not from Kepnock, at least. He has been transferred to Blackwater.

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