February 29, 2016
The weather gods smiled on this weekend’s Soccer Sevens Carnival in Kingaroy allowing the big weekend of super short seven-a-side soccer matches to go ahead without a hitch.
And for the third carnival in a row, the Kawana Bananas proved too slippery for the opposition, taking out the hotly contested Men’s competition.
The Soccer Sevens was washed out in 2012 and 2015 but the years in between belonged to Kawana.
It was also the third carnival in a row that their opponents were the orange-clad Merry Men, made up of South Burnett and ex-South Burnett players.
Forty-four teams competed in three divisions this year: Over 35s, Women’s and Men’s.
The carnival, which has been running for more than 30 years, attracts teams from all over south-east Queensland and this year was no exception with teams from Dalby, Bundaberg, Sunshine Coast, Roma, Toowoomba and Chinchilla.
The games were played in a good spirit and even controversies over goals were forgotten in seconds.
Players and supporters, who all stayed overnight for the two-day event, provided a much-appreciated mini-boost to Kingaroy businesses on Saturday night.
* * *
Men’s Competition
Pool A
1. Merry Men
2. Chinchilla
Pool B
1. BG Stingers
2. Agonisms
Pool C
1. Kawana Bananas
2. BG Wannabees
Pool D
1. Nanango
2. Land Yabbies
Quarter Finals
- BG Stingers def Chinchilla
- Merry Men def Agonisms
- Kawana Bananas def Land Yabbies
- BG Wannabees def Nanango
Semi-Finals
- Kawana Bananas def BG Wannabees 3-0
- Merry Men def BG Stingers 3-1
Grand Final
- Kawana Bananas defeated Merry Men 2-1. In a fast-paced game, Kawana was ahead 1-0 at half-time. Merry Men fought back to level but a late goal that slipped past a diving leap by the Merry Men’s goalie gave the visitors the game.
* * *
Women’s Competition
Pool A Results
1. Dalby
2. Chinchilla
Pool B Results
1. Kawana Lady Fingers
2. Spitfires Women
Semi-Finals
- Dalby def Chinchilla 1-0
- Kawana Lady Fingers def Chinchilla 2-0
Grand Final
- Dalby defeated Kawana Lady Fingers 1-0. At half-time, the scores were locked at 0-all despite some strong attacks on goal by Dalby.
* * *
Men’s Over 35s
Pool Results
1. West Wanderers Over 35s
2. Alloway Over 35s
3. Hervey Bay Over 35s
4. Agonisms Over 35s
Grand Final
- West Wanderers defeated Alloway 2-1. Alloway scored first with a goal that Wanderers claimed did not fully cross the line. Wanderers quickly hit back and at half-time the score was 1-all. A reverse header from a Wanderers’ player that squeezed under the bar gave the Toowoomba players the final.
