Gold Coast Thunder U18s set sights on hat-trick of McPherson Shield wins after Bundaberg joy

THE Gold Coast Thunder are refusing to dwell on missed representative opportunities as they set their sights on a hat-trick of McPherson Shield crowns in 2019.

THE Gold Coast Thunder are refusing to dwell on missed representative opportunities as they set their sights on a hat-trick of McPherson Shield crowns in 2019.

Despite claiming back-to-back titles at the under-18 South Queensland Championships in Bundaberg at the weekend, the Thunder’s dominance was rewarded with just two players – left-arm offspinner Peter Lynch and all-rounder Tom Watts - in the South Queensland side.

LIONS ROAR INTO FINALS PICTURE

With captain Brad Munro, Mitch Freeman and Charles Parsons all finishing in the top five runscorers for the tournament, the Thunder accounted for Wide Bay, South East Queensland and Darling Downs in their first three outings before falling to Sunshine Coast by two runs in Sunday’s final game.

Left-arm paceman Connor Brown led the way for the Coast with seven wickets, the second-most in the 30-over-a-side competition.

‘BIZARRE’ DRAW CONSPIRES AGAINST DOLPHINS WOMEN

The Gold Coast Thunder’s victorious McPherson Shield side.

While disappointed the Thunder’s run to shield success went largely unnoticed by South Queensland selectors, coach John Kerr said his troops had done themselves proud.

“It was a good weekend. We went there with confidence that we’d be one of the better sides and that was proven,” Kerr said after his fourth campaign at the helm.

“We won it last year and the under-18s had never won the McPherson Shield before last year. Our only player from last year was Brad Munro, who was the captain this year, and did a great job with both bat and ball.

RISING SPINNER RELISHING ROLE

“There’s about five of the 13 (players that are eligible next year). We had two boys picked in the South Queensland Country team … it opens up a lot of pathways to make a Queensland Country team and play state champs and things like that.”