Sport
31 August, 2024
Wattles Under 17 Cruise to Preliminary Final
The business end of the 2024 Warwick & District Junior Rugby League season commenced in earnest on Saturday at Stanthorpe’s Sullivan and Crisp Ovals, with Wattles Juniors Under 13, 15, 15 Girls League Tag and Under 17 teams in action aiming up for premiership glory.
The ’Farm Spray’ Wattles Under 17 boys outfit handed out a 64 – 12 knock-out semi-final walloping to the Tenterfield Tigers thus winning the right to advance to next Saturday’s Preliminary Finals.
Wattles finished in third place on the Under 17 premiership ladder, behind the Goondiwindi Boars and unbeaten Minor Premiers the Collegians Dragons.
Saturday saw the Warriors the dominant force running in twelve touchdowns to two, classy lock forward Charlie Spina and winger Jack Phelan both collecting a hat trick each.
With a season total of eight tries to date, Phelan has had a busy year turning out as a wing finisher in both Under 17 and Wattles senior club’s Under 19’s when matches didn’t clash.
Wattles 64 (Charlie Spina 3, Jack Phelan 3, Oliver Cooper 2, Ben Barbierato, Harry Marshall, Will Rauchle, Patrick Denny, Billy Peardon tries; Billy Peardon 5, Ben Barbierato 3 goals) defeated Tenterfield 12 (Darcy Rolph, Bryce Riley tries; Jack Giddy 2 goals).
Nutrien Harcourts Clifton Under 13 - Wattles Under 13 team were very unlucky to go down to the Tenterfield Tigers 30 – 28 in Saturday’ knock-out semi-final.
The Tigers ran in six touchdowns to Wattles five in a very evenly contested match.
Having finished the season in fourth place on the premiership ladder, the tight loss saw the curtain fall on the Wattles Under 13 side’s 2024 season.
Coach Rylan Saville said “the team had a tough grind of game, very back and forth.”
“They were down by twelve points with twenty minutes to go, assumed the lead but lost on the full-time siren by two points.
James Christensen, Noah Hart, Jade bailey, Jed Hinz and Jake Burns were all outstanding throughout.
Tenterfield 30 (Thomas Tarrant 3, Jackson Chapmen 2, Cody Chisholm tries; Jackson Chapman 3 goals) defeated Wattles 28 (Jade Bailey 2, Jed Hinz, Jake Burns, Nate Murdoch tries; Jake Burns 4 goals).
Drayton Medical Centre Under 15 - After a near season without blemish, Wattles Minor Premiership winning Under 15 line-up were bottled up in the final fixture Round 44 – 8 by the Collegians Dragons, and it was the determined Dragons who finished on top again in last Saturday’s Major Semi-Final 28 – 10.
Wattles got away to a positive start against the Dragons, a match that boasted plenty of intensity.
The Warriors held a 10 – 4 lead just prior to half time before their opponents scored to see both teams head to the break level at 10 – 10.
Silly errors in the second stanza by Wattles along with defensive lapses allowed the Dragons prime field position and they banked their opportunities to run away victors.
Player of the Match Bailey Naumann was very strong in the middle, along with Patty Baty and Orry Gilmore, while Ben Rauchle was always a threat at fullback.
Collegians 28 (Jaiden Duff 2, Aiden Byrne, Ali Robinson tries; Aiden Byrne 3, Blake Jeffries goals) defeated Wattles 10 (Paty Baty, Ben Rauchle tries; Ty Betts goal).
All In Electrical Under 15 Girls League Tag - The George Berry coached girls league tag side were well aware of the pressures of a knock-out semi-final, but took the field quietly confident after quality performances in recent weeks and took the honours 12 - 6.
A try in the opening minutes to Georgia Death provided an ideal start for Wattles, before the first half settled into a very even encounter with outstanding defence from both sides.
Stanthorpe scored their only points through a converted first stanza try, finally breaking the Wattles line after multiple sets.
While they started the new half trailing 6 - 4, Wattles lifted the standard with a much-improved game, completing well and putting together sets along with an impressive kicking game.
Tries by Mia Berry and Rikaya Kelk lifted the score to the winning 12-6 margin in Wattles favour.
“The full-time siren was a welcome sound” said Coach Berry, “sealing the win for the girls in green and gold.”
“Wattles engage in another knockout final this Saturday against Collegians, for this very young team who play a level of football beyond their years and experience.”
Preliminary Final Fever - Saturday will see the Goondiwindi Boars Rugby League Club host the Warwick & District Junior Rugby League Preliminary Finals.
Gilbert Oval, Goondiwindi -- 31-08-2024
Under 15 GLT Wattles v Collegians
Under 15 Boys Wattles v Tenterfield
Under 17 Boys Wattles v Goondiwindi
Under 18 Girls Wattles v Tenterfield
Diary Note: Wattles Junior Rugby League Club Presentation Day, 10 am Sunday 8th September, Platz Oval Clubhouse.
Glyn Rees
