Gympie boys make national finals

FOUR Gympie futsal players have proven their skills are of a national standard following the conclusion of the 2009 Vikings Futsal School National Titles at the weekend.

The competition was held in Albury, New South Wales, and the Gympie players involved included Ricky Dann, Kurt Rowlands, Mitchell Shivers and Kurt Goss.

Playing as members of the Under 14 Queensland Country team, the side finished runners up after a hard-fought battle.

Teams taking part came from Victoria, Tasmania and even New Zealand, encompassing 1200 competitors. New South Wales pulled out at the last moment.

Queensland Country team manager Kim Webber was overjoyed with the result.

“It was a fantastic effort,” she said. “The boys played really well and I am so proud of their performance.”

Queensland Country played six games in total and overcame Melbourne 2-1 to storm into the final against Queensland City.

Knocking out Melbourne was a major scalp, with Melbourne finishing on top of the ladder while the Queensland side scraped through in fourth.

In the final against Queensland City, Queensland Country had its chances and at one stage led the game 4-3 after drawing 3-3 at half time.

But a last minute surge from Queensland City managed to eclipse the efforts of their country counterparts.

“They scored two goals on us in the last six minutes, so it did slip through our fingers,” Webber said.

Despite painfully falling short of taking out the final, Webber said the Queensland team had every reason to feel great about its efforts.

“Last year the Queensland Country team selected missed the finals, so this is a major improvement in just one year,” she said.

As for why the Queensland Country side performed so well, Webber says recognition must go to the selectors.

“They selected a great group of players that really clicked,” she said.

In addition to the team result, Queensland Country had further reason to celebrate when James Nash State High School student Ricky Dann was awarded an All Star trophy for his performance in goal. And Kurt Rowlands has since been notified that he is to tour England next year with the Australian 15 boys' team.

Dann was busy Tuesday night playing tennis in the pennant competition when he spoke about his whirlwind trip to New South Wales for the nationals.

“It's pretty cool,” he said, still charged with excitement from the big weekend.

Webber said Dann's selection was a major source of pride for the team.