FOUR Peninsula players were named in state teams yesterday after the side's outstanding efforts at the Queensland School Sport 15 years rugby league championships at Redcliffe.

Peninsula captain Jack Svendsen, a Gordonvale High School second-rower, and Trinity Bay High centre Kelvin Lowe were named in the Queensland Maroons, the state’s top side.

Vice-captain Jessie DiMaggio, a lock from Good Counsel College, was named in the Queensland White side, along with Tully interchange player William Inu.

All four will play at the national 15 years titles in Brisbane in June-July.

Peninsula lost its final two games of the tournament at the weekend to finish fourth overall.

After winning its opening two rounds, the boys made the semi-finals but faced tournament favourite and eventual champion South Coast on Saturday.

Peninsula lost 50-8 with winger John Sesar and second-rower E J Fa’aofo crossing for tries.

Manager Mario Mlikota said the result was slightly disappointing given the level Peninsula had reached in its 20-4 win against Capricornia on Friday.

"We were pretty flat. They came out of the gates well and we were 16-0 down after eight minutes," Mlikota said.

"We had very little ball in the first half and errors crept into their game."

Interchange player Jarrett Sherman was named Peninsula’s player of the match with strong efforts from Clifford Beetham, Jayden Hodges, Arlen Treston, Lowe and DiMaggio.

Yesterday, Metropolitan North scored a try in the final two minutes to break a 16-16 deadlock and win the playoff for third 22-16. Peninsula again suffered a slow start with Met North scoring in the first two minutes but fought back to tie the game up in the closing stages.

Mlikota and Peninsula coach Darren Blooranta sang the praises of their young charges, who headed into the tournament with just three practice sessions under their belts, given the logistics problems involved in getting the Peninsula squad
together.

Semi-finals: South Coast 50 (K Smith 2, C Cullen, M Beddow, F Fotuaika, B Wilson, J Greber, M Manuel-Dunlop, T Feeney, B Wilson tries; K Tekini 4 goals) d Peninsula 8 (J Sesar, EJ Fa'aofo tries). Playoff for third: Met North 22 (J Watson, S Blair, BJ Burgess, J Leedy tries; A Gadd 2, J Levy goals) d Peninsula 16 (WJ Leger, J Hodges, W Inu tries; M Grimes 2 goals).

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