Sport
13 September, 2024
Wattles Juniors crown another outstanding year
It’s usually the excitement of green and gold donned young rugby league players bringing Platz Oval to life, and it always does, but Sunday saw Wattles Junior Warriors gather in numbers on a magnificent Spring day to celebrate the club’s 2024 and 44th season, bringing the junior league year to a close.
Capping off superb league years were Under 10 William Ehrlich (Junior) and Under 15 Joseph Llewellyn (Senior), both named Players of the Year.
Rikaya Kelk was also duly recognised as Club Person of the Year, among a lengthy list of deserved award recipients.
Club President Aaron Gilmore spoke highly of another great season for our Wattles Junior Club, and acknowledged and congratulated the club’s players, volunteers, sponsors and supporters.
“Our club saw 180 registrations this year, which enabled us to field good numbers in all grades of the Warwick and District junior rugby league competition,” he said.
“It was a year of firsts, that included the first-time girls tackle was introduced in the Warwick and District competition, and also the Draw consisting of 3 rounds to accommodate more football for our players.”
Award winners
All players received participation awards recognising their involve-ment in the past season.
Under 6
Best & Fairest:
Oliver Van Der Poel
Most Improved:
William Byrne
Under 7
Best & Fairest:
Olivia Mullen
Most Improved:
Kaiden Williams
Under 8
Best & Fairest:
Ethan Willett
Most Improved:
James Johnson
Under 9
Best & Fairest:
James Patterson
Most Improved:
Kit Gilmore
Most Improved:
Chaz Daley
Under 10
Best & Fairest:
Hunter Ryan
Most Improved:
Henry Johnson
Best Forward:
Toby Schmidt
Best Back:
Rhys Gascoyne
Under 11
Best & Fairest:
William Visser
Most Improved:
Levi Grogan
Most Improved:
Liam Hoey
Best Forward:
Noah Schwenke
Best Back:
William Berry
Under 12
Best & Fairest:
Jackson McMillan
Most Improved:
Malea Moore
Best Forward:
Leo Thompson-Cleary
Best Back:
Adam Butler
Under 13
Best & Fairest:
Jake Burns
Most Improved:
Noah Hart
Most Improved:
Benjamin Butler
Best Forward:
Cooper Zadow
Best Back:
Jed Hinz
Under 15
Best & Fairest:
Orry Gilmore
Most Improved:
Riley Fitzgerald
Most Improved:
Patrick Baty
Best Forward:
Jack Burton
Best Back:
Benjamin Rauchle
Under 17
Best & Fairest:
Patrick Denny
Most Improved:
Patrick Fitzgerald
Best Forward:
Charlie Spina
Best Back:
Oliver Tigges
Best Back:
Ben Barbierato
Under 15 Girls League Tag
Best & Fairest:
Teeah Davis
Most Improved:
Lily Hinz
Most Improved:
Priseis Williamson
Best Attack:
Zoey Sweet
Best Defence:
Mia Berry
Girls Tackle Under 18
Best & Fairest:
Billy-Leigh Gorringe
Most Improved:
Jessica Bateman
Best Attack:
Alexandria Gilmore
Best Defence:
Hollie Betts
Whole Club
Junior Player of the Year: William Ehrlich
Senior Player of the Year: Joseph Llewellyn
Club person of the Year: Rikaya Kelk
Most Dedicated:
Teeah Davis
Boxer Byrne Encouragement Award:
Malakai Steinhardt
Volunteer of the Year:
Rebecca Steinhardt
Volunteer of the Year:
Belinda Naumann
Supporter of the Year:
Koby De Luca
Referee Medallions:
Malakai Steinhardt
Rylan Saville
Piper Brady
Riley Fitzgerald
Chelsea Bargh
Orry Gilmore
Alex Collie
Alexandria Gilmore
William Peters
Marty May
Jonte May
Bailey Gascoyne
Cooper Zadow
Georgia Death
Jed Hinz
Ty Betts
Until 2025, keep you footy boots clean !!!!!
Gallant Under 15s fall short in Grand Final
Grand Final glory wasn’t to be for Wattles high achieving Under 15 team, with the title of 2024 season premiers won by the Collegians Dragons 18 – 8 and the silverware heading Warwick way.
The two teams had waged a season long battle, Wattles completing the fixture season top of the ladder and minor premiers having lost just one fixture game.
Collegians finished second with two losses and a draw in their fifteen fixtures, but they proved to be big game players in recent weeks.
Wattles went down with a fight in the season decider, and as mentioned by coach Glen McMillan “after some sloppy ball control and having given away some piggy back penalties in the first half, the team defended really well to be only down 8-4 at half time.”
It was Hugh Denny who finished off a classy play to touch down for the Warriors first half try.
Coach McMillan’s half time message was simple and to the point, “cut out errors and get into the grind, and opportunities will present themselves.”
He was on the mark, that’s exactly what happened with the Warriors benefitting from all the momentum in the second half.
Alas a couple of things didn’t go Wattles’ way, with Collegians snatching a runaway try and steering the game in their favour.
Green and gold hooker Orry Gilmore scored a late consolation try to make the scoreline 18 – 8.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the team’s effort and ability to show up for each other” the team Mentor said.
“Orry Gilmore’s defence was special leading from the front, Jack Burton was tremendous across the field, with Joe Llewellyn strong in the middle.
“But every player contributed to the team on the day which I was proud of as their coach.”
Collegians 18 (Thomas Beard, Ali Robinson, Jaidyn Duff, Charlie Kelly tries; Aiden Byrne goal) defeated Wattles 8 (Hugh Denny, Orry Gilmore tries).
- Glyn Rees
