Victory gives the spur to ride again
AFTER one weekend of experience in an open Queensland side, Tom Cobon and John Franklin want more of it.
Cobon debuted at open level for Queensland and won the Best Player award as Queensland beat New Zealand to make it five cup wins to New Zealand and four to Queensland.
Cobon and fellow Warwick club member Ben Gall were part of the Queensland team which had 32-5 and 21-14 wins against New Zealand. The team also included Jason Ward, Richard Eton, Shaun Trail and captain John Franklin.
For Franklin, it was exciting to win after his father Chris was in a Queensland team, with Barry Donovan, Bill Abraham, Wayne Roger, Les Eames and Charlie Brook and coach Bob Sargood, which won the first Cooper Cup in 1989.
"We controlled our horses a lot better than the Kiwis. We all played on one of our own horses in one game," Franklin said.
"After the first game against us, the New Zealand team really improved in a game against the New South Wales development side and gave us a good run in our second game."
After playing open polocrosse for Queensland and intermediates in the recent nationals in Darwin, Franklin is hoping to follow his father into an Australian open team one day.
Cobon said it was a great experience to play for Queensland.
"I will take any opportunity to play for Queensland," he said.
Other scores in Cooper Cup weekend matches:
Queensland 2 23 d New Zealand 14, Queensland 1 20 d NSW 14, Queensland 2 20 d Queensland 1 14, New Zealand 17 d NSW 11.
