Local Bulldog named in Mulga Cup All Stars team

Regional grass roots footy carnival held for country kids.

MULGA CUP TEAM: The Wandoan Wildcats team at the U11 Mulga Cup over the weekend. Picture: Teena Doherty

TWO years ago over a couple of beers, Ross Walton and Andrew Short had a vision to create something that Charleville and District junior rugby league could call their own.

The Mulga Cup was born, a carnival that would bring the district together to experience playing the game loved by all in the bush.

Charleville junior rugby league president Ross Walton said the two-day carnival was a huge success, increasing from six teams in 2018 to 11 this year.

"It gives kids opportunities to play football, and it's my way of giving back to the town,” Walton said.

"I grew up playing football here and made some great friends so I wanted to give kids here the same chance.

"I know my kids were really happy to be playing football and come up against some really good competition and show them what they've got.”

Roma Saints had a stellar weekend, securing second, narrowly behind St George Dragons who took out the carnival.

Manager of Roma Saints, Deb Green said the boys improved immensely as the carnival progressed, winning six games and drawing the other two.

"Although it was quite warm and they played four games each day, they were so driven and so excited to play teams from other areas they had never been able to play before,” she said.

"The quality of football being played was really good for such young players and they bonded together as a team.

"The carnival was extremely well run and it's a credit to the organisers what they pulled together.”

The Western Ringers secured third, with St George Dragons taking out last weekend's carnival.

The Wandoan team was made up of players from Wandoan, Chinchilla, Tara and Miles and had a successful day coming third overall.

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Wandoan Wildcats. Picture: Amy Collins

Augathella's Campbell Newell was named player of the carnival, and was awarded the Ken Short Memorial Shield.

With 165 kids, and a total of 350 people descending on the small town, the carnival was a huge boost to Charleville's economy, with every motel in town booked out for the weekend.

"One of my parents went to the RSL and couldn't get in, it was that packed,” Walton said.

"We're so happy that people made the effort to get there and wanted to thank all our volunteers and the local council who got behind it.”

William Bannister from the Chinchilla Junior Bulldogs played an extremely strong weekend of football and was selected in the Mulga All Stars team alongside Alastair MacLachlan, Reade Brazier and Harry Green from Roma Saints and Wilbur Arthur from the Carnarvon Cubs.

The Mulga All Stars Team who will go on to play against a Toowoomba and district side on October 12-13 in Toowoomba.

Originally published as Local Bulldog named in Mulga Cup All Stars team