{"id":169343,"date":"2017-02-09T17:30:20","date_gmt":"2017-02-09T07:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=169343"},"modified":"2020-09-23T21:30:17","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T11:30:17","slug":"cherbourg-challenges-nsw-champs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/02\/09\/cherbourg-challenges-nsw-champs\/","title":{"rendered":"Cherbourg Challenges NSW Champs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cherbourg Hornets, Queensland U16s and support staff in Newcastle (Photo: Alicia Pidgeon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 9, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former South Sydney and Parramatta NRL player Chris Sandow was the Cherbourg Hornets’ “secret weapon” when they played for the honour of Queensland against a NSW side in Newcastle on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

The Hornets, who won the State Murri Rugby League Carnival in September at Redcliffe, faced the Redfern All Blacks, winners of the 2016 Koori Knockout Carnival at Leichhardt Oval.<\/p>\n

The “Awabakal All Stars Interstate Challenge” was part of a big week of rugby league in Newcastle, leading up to the massive Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars\u00a0game on Friday night.<\/p>\n

However, Thursday night’s clash between the best Indigenous teams in Queensland and NSW was also a keenly anticipated match-up.<\/p>\n

Both Cherbourg and Redfern enjoyed success in their local competitions in 2016: Cherbourg took home both the South Burnett premiership as well as the Burnett Cup after wins over the Nanango Stags and the Mundubbera Tigers.<\/p>\n

The Redfern All Blacks (RAB) defeated the Coogee-Randwick Wombats in the Grand Final of the South Sydney District Juniors competition.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for the Queensland visitors, Redfern – with two former NRL players, Nathan Merritt and Dean Widders, in their ranks – proved too strong on the night.<\/p>\n

RAB got away to a strong start, at one stage leading 12-0 but the Hornets fought back and were far from disgraced.<\/p>\n

The final score was 34-12.<\/p>\n

The full game will be broadcast on NITV on Sunday.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dean Widders On The Game<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n