A FINE performance by the South Pacific team has got them to within 15 points of the powerful Queensland side in round two of the 2010 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.

At one stage the South Pacific team got the margin under a goal before Queensland pulled away but the result was enough to confirm the talent coming out of the Islander team, many of whom are playing AFL at a competitive level for the first time.

For South Pacific, Larry Nao starred with three goals and was helped with great play around the ground from Theo Gavuri, Greg Aki and Wingti Pena.

For Queensland, Jock Oats, James Ives and Alex Sexton were the best players.

In other round two matches, Tasmania beat the World XVIII by 89 points.

Led by forward Cody Weedon (five goals) and Jesse Lonergan, who was strong through the midfield, Tasmania won 15.18 (108) to 3.1 (19) at Bruce Purser Oval in Rouse Hill.

Sudanese-born ruckman Joseph Lo Buluk dominated the hit-outs to star for the World team, not surprisingly, given he stands 201cm tall.

The World XVIII side lost its most dominant midfielder, Emmanuel Irra, to injury early on and as a result were unable to capitalise on Lo Buluk’s outstanding ruck work. Irra, originally from Uganda, collected 35 disposals in round one.

NSW/ACT defeat Northern Territory by 35 points.

Tasmania    5.3    8.12    12.17    15.18 (108)
World XVIII    1.0    2.0    2.0    3.1 (19)

GOALS
Tasmania:
Cody Weedon 5, Brennon Kendall 2, Kyle Clark, Joby Reynolds, Jimmy Craik, Jesse Lonergan, Samuel O’Byrne, Sam Siggins, Jarrod Hibberd, Bryden Goninon
World XVIII: Peter Ajang, Prince Nematswerani, Sean O’Kennedy

BEST
Tasmania:
Jarrod Hibberd, Jesse Lonergan, Matthew Ling, Cody Weedon, Samuel O’Byrne, Bryce Walsh, Chae Evans
World: Joseph Lo Buluk, Kane Clark, Sean O’Kennedy, Mathias Biron, Alex McPhee, Jono Elliott, Lucas Devincenzi

NSW/ACT    2.3    8.3    11.7    15.8 (98)
NT    4.2    5.4    8.7    9.9 (63)

GOALS
NSW/ACT:
Jackson Dwyer 4, Harrison Butchart 4, Lonnie Hampton 2, Daniel Robinson 2, Lachlan Harper, Zachary Hopper, Joe Redfern
NT: Sam Autio 3, Matthew Cubis 2, Matthew Duffy 2, Braedon McLean, Jake Neade

BEST
NSW/ACT:
Jackson Dwyer, Daniel Robinson, Craig Moller, Harrison Butchart, Lonnie Hampton, Angus Locke
NT: Matthew Cubis, Sam Autio, Jed Anderson, Matthew Duffy, Michael Dunn, Jack Long

Queensland     7.15 (57)
South Pacific     6.6 (42)


GOALS
Queensland:
James Ives 2, Shaun Crook 2, Brody Haberfield 1, Michael Wyld 1, Ryan Johnson 1
South Pacific: Larry Nao 3, John Ikupu 1, Slim Collins 1, Tuaefe Kafoa 1

BEST
Queensland:
Jock Oats, James Ives, Alex Sexton, Tom Davidson, Michael Wyld
South Pacific: Theo Gavuri, Greg Aki, Wingti Pena, Dylan Wolfgramm, Liam Ackland, Slim Collins

For the latest scores, news, fixtures and profiles from the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, please visit www.afl.com.au/u16s