Sport
1 September, 2024
It’s all up to the reggies
After first weekend of the 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League finals series, only one of the three senior Wattles sides remains following a close loss for the A Grade side, a nail-biting win for the Reserves and a disappointing end to the season for the Under 19s.
McANTEE REIGNS SUPREME
Sunday’s Toowoomba Rugby League Reserve Grade Elimination Semi-Final certainly wasn’t for the faint of heart, with both the Valleys Roosters and the FarmSpray Wattles Warriors locked at 18 – 18 on the scoreboard at half time, before Wattles snatched a nail biter result in the dying seconds to register a 24 – 20 victory.
Warriors coach Tony Morris lavished praise on his gallant green and gold squad of twenty, as they set up a next stage finals showdown with reserve grade minor premiers the Warwick Cowboys at Gatton’s Cahill Park on Sunday.
“It certainly went down to the wire in warm playing conditions, a tremendous effort by both teams,” the beaming mentor said.
Morris recognised the result as a reward for an out-standing team performance, with a wisp of brilliance by fullback Dale McAntee to touch down in the corner for his ninth season try with ten seconds on the match clock maintaining Wattles’ one step at a time grand final focus.
Warriors’ top grade premiership winner and long serving former Toowoomba Clydesdales representative back-rower Dale Perkins was one to set the example, along with team mates ever-dependable lock forward Nick Morris and hooker Jack Duggan.
The match lead shimmered both ways through the initial stanza, Valleys nippy halfback Harrison Burns nailing first points with a try in the opening minute.
Wattles answered the challenge through Jack Duggan minutes later.
Tries by second-rower Charles Pulsford and fullback Curtly Hammond saw the Roosters ease to a 16 – 6 advantage midway through the first half.
Wattles lifted a gear with centre pairing Lachlan Henry and Braydon Wilson snatching four-pointers in the space of six minutes with the break approaching, levelling the scoreboard ledger.
A Jaren Bender penalty goal with three minutes game time to play appeared to have shunted the Roosters to victory, at least until McAntee rained on their party with his rewarding skirt to the corner.
Wattles face 2024 premiership pace-setters the Warwick Cowboys this weekend, amid Father’s Day celebrations and the first day of Spring.
Wattles 24 (Dale McAntee, Jack Duggan, Lachlan Henry, Braydon Wilson tries; Tom Morris 4 goals).
Valleys 20 (Harrison Burns, Charles Pulsford, Curtly Hammond tries; Jaren Bender 4 goals)
Curtains Fall on A Grade Season
Despite the home ground advantage, the Wattles Warriors first grade team’s 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League season ground to a halt on Saturday evening as they battled desperately with eventual 24 – 22 victors the Dalby Diehards for winning honours in the Elimination Final at Platz Oval.
On the back of an outstanding performance by
front-row skipper Blake Mara, the Diehards rose from half time adversity to earn a place in the next stage of the TRL Finals Series.
Crafty hooker Tommy Hatch impressed throughout in green and gold, as did experienced hands halfback Matt Duggan and veteran fullback Jackson Green.
Dalby try scorer extraordinaire Chris Woodbridge put first points on the scoreboard after barely a minute of play after kicking a loose ball ahead and winning the race easily to score his 34th try for the season.
Wattles steadied the ship in the face of the Diehards onslaught to go to the break leading 22 – 10, through tries by back-rower Tyson Stevens and three-quarters Lachlan Watt, Joe Willett and Matt Christensen.
The second stanza saw the Dalby line-up highlight their superb form coming into the finals series, and tries by giant forward Sam Fermor and winger Max Gaur saw them in hot pursuit trailing the Warriors 20 – 22.
With both teams face to face in a mighty contest running into the final minutes of the game, slick centre Matthew Drews raced through to collect a kick and score out wide to allow Dalby a 24 - 22 winning lead.
Dalby 24 (Chris Woodbridge, Josh Chappell, Sam Fermor, Max Gaur, Matthew Drews tries; Chris Woodbridge, Josh Chappell goals) Wattles 22 (Tyson Stevens, Lachlan Watt, Joe Willett, Matt Christensen tries; Brayden Paix 3 goals)
Door Closes on Under 19 Campaign
Wattles Under 19 side proved no match for fellow semi-finalists the Southern Suburbs Tigers at Platz Oval on Saturday afternoon, finishing behind 18 – 36 in the Elimination Final.
Fullback Lachlan Clement continued his impressive form for Wattles, while forwards Lane Eastwell, Bryce Stewart and Harry Schwenke all provided plenty of go forward.
Winger Koby De Luca was a solid performer on the Warriors left edge, his six goals edging him over the ton total with 104 points for his season.
Souths snatched a 12 – 0 after just six minutes of
play, before Wattles regrouped to level the scoreboard 12 – 12.
Wattles trailed 18 – 12 at the break, before the Tigers shot out to a 30 – 12 lead.
Wattles’ half Hamish Gartery eased through a yawning gap ten minutes before full time for a vital try, but far from enough to reel in their opponents.
Southern Suburbs 36 (Jake Durie 2, Tyson Clarkson, Thomas Fry, Darnell Blades, Ronan Delaney tries; Tait Cameron 6 goals)Wattles 18 (Harry Schwenke, Lachlan Clement, Hamish Gartery tries; Koby De Luca 3 goals)
- Glyn Rees
