Cherbourg captain Nigel Williams raises the A Grade Premiership trophy
A Grade Player of the Final Alex Speedy with Cherbourg Hornets president Warren Collins
(Photo: Marcus Priaulx)

September 1, 2014

Saturday was an historic day for the South Burnett: it was the first time Cherbourg has hosted an A Grade rugby league grand final, and to the home fans’ delight, the Hornets notched up an emphatic “three-peat” victory.

The local derby between the unbeaten Cherbourg Hornets and the Murgon Mustangs was always going to attract a big crowd of vocal supporters to Jack O’Chin Oval on Saturday, and the fans didn’t disappoint.

They packed the stands and marquees erected along the sidelines.

Cherbourg Shire Council and the Hornets club had prepared the playing field to a high standard for the big day of Grand Final action.

Before the A Grade kick-off, many of the players from Cherbourg’s first South Burnett A Grade premiership win in 1980 were presented to the large crowd.

* * *

The Hornets – looking for their third Premiership win in a row – were the red-hot favourites, having sailed through the season undefeated.

True to form, Cherbourg scored first when Daniel Cobbo crossed the line after just two minutes.

Murgon’s Joe Sullivan – who has put the Mustangs’ first points on the board in their last two games – quickly fired back. Jameel Sullivan’s conversion put the Mustangs into the lead.

Both sides then tested each other out with neither making headway until the mid-point of the half when Dennis Sandow broke through and scored.

Fred Aubrey kicked the first of his seven goals for the day to put Cherbourg back into the lead.

Alex Speedy and Cecil Sullivan then scored back-to-back tries to draw the Hornets further ahead and starving the Mustangs of possession.

Eight minutes before half-time, Murgon’s Mullie Watson narrowed the gap to just eight points when he converted Kane Liddy’s try.

But with two minutes left, Cherbourg scored twice more – Cecil Sullivan who picked up a grubber kick from Fred Aubrey and scored, and then with just seconds left, Gordon Fisher planted the ball under the posts.

The Hornets led 30-12 at the half-time break and seemed dominant, although the Mustangs looked dangerous whenever they managed to get some ball.

A Murgon fightback after the break gave fans some hope with tries to Keith Walsh and Jameel Sullivan again bringing the Mustangs to within eight points, 30-22.

In response, Cherbourg changed gears, laying on five tries in less than 10 minutes: Alex Speedy, Cecil Sullivan, Beau Liddy, Fred Aubrey and Bernard Hopkins.

With Cherbourg leading 58-22, Hopkins then surprised onlookers by kicking a field goal to take the lead out to 59-22.

Mullie Watson scored a consolation try for Murgon with three minutes on the clock, to make the final scoreline 59-26.

Murgon’s defence was strong but the Mustangs suffered from lack of possession
The Hornets’ Cecil Sullivan celebrates after scoring his third try

Kane Liddy scores for Murgon

Fred Aubrey gets a pass away for Cherbourg
Alex ‘Bunyip’ Speedy scores under the posts for Cherbourg
The Cherbourg Hornets celebrate their third consecutive South Burnett A Grade Premiership victory

* * *

Some of the large crowd that packed into Jack O’Chin Oval
Heather Carlo, Erica Duncan, Yolandi Gadd and Ja’zariah Alberts were divided over who they were barracking for
In a blast from the past, the A Grade grand final was broadcast live on Radio Us Mob

* * *

U12 Grand Final – Cherbourg v Nanango

Alex Georgetown scores the winning try for the Hornets in U12s
The Stags on attack in U12s

Cherbourg 14 defeated Nanango 10.

Nanango were first to score but at half-time the Hornets were ahead 10-4.

After the break, Saxton Hamson scored his second for the Stags. Matthew Springate’s conversion levelled the scores at 10-all.

With 17 minutes to go, the Hornets’ Alex Georgetown broke the deadlock.

In the dying minutes of the game, Nanango got the ball back and made a strong run down the sideline but Cherbourg’s defence met the challenge and put the ball into touch.

Cherbourg

  • Tries – Arshell Hopkins, Izayha West, Alex Georgetown
  • Goals – Arshell Hopkins

Nanango

  • Tries – Saxton Hamson (2)
  • Goals – Matthew Springate
U12s Grand finalists Cherbourg Hornets and Nanango Stags after the match
2014 U12 Premiership winners  … Cherbourg Hornets
2014 U12s Runners-up … Nanango Stags

* * *

U14 Grand Final – Kingaroy v Murgon

Mustangs’ Cohen Beggs breaks away from the defence to score the first of his two tries

Kingaroy Red Ants 28 defeated Murgon 14.

Murgon were first to score when Cohen Beggs crossed for the first of his two tries. Isaac Nicholson then scored the first of his two tries for the Red Ants to bring the scores back to level.  After a close game, Kingaroy topped off a good season with a good win over the young Mustangs.

Kingaroy

  • Tries – Isaac Nicholson (2), Jesse Smith (2), Connor Sullivan, Joe Steffenson-Grant
  • Goals – Tom Pratt (2)

Murgon

  • Tries – Cohen Beggs (2), Mitch Wilson
  • Goal – Bronson Fogarty
Kingaroy Red Ants and Murgon Mustangs after their U14 Grand Final (Photo: Marcus Priaulx)
2014 U14 Premiership winners … Kingaroy Red Ants (Photo: Marcus Priaulx)

* * *

U16 Grand Final – Cherbourg v Murgon

Barry Tapau-Fewquandie scores for Murgon just before half-time
Action from the U16s grand final 

Murgon 26 defeated Cherbourg 18.

Errol Simpson opened the scoring for Cherbourg but Murgon replied with four tries in a row. At half-time Murgon led 22-10. Murgon was first to score in the second half and then withstood a strong Cherbourg fightback.

Cherbourg

  • Tries – Errol Simpson (2), Lloyd Saltner, Steve Langton
  • Goal – Ralph Gyemore

Murgon

  • Tries – Barry Tapau-Fewquandie (2), Maurice Fisher, Brendon Stanley, Joe Perrett,
  • Goals – Dylan Wilson (3)
Maurice Fisher scores for the Mustangs
2014 U16 Premiership winners … Murgon Mustangs
2014 U16 runners-up … Cherbourg Hornets

* * *

U18 Grand Final – Murgon v Nanango

The high-flying Murgon Mustangs proved a handful for the Stags in the U18 Grand Final

Murgon 56 defeated Nanango 12

In the U18s Major Semi-Final, Nanango went down to Murgon by just two points so the repeat match just two weeks later promised to be a close affair.

But the week off for Murgon – and Nanango’s tough match against Cherbourg last week – obviously took its toll on the Stags.

Murgon opened with four back-to-back tries before Nanango put its first points on the board.

At half-time, the Mustangs led 34-6.

Murgon resumed its attack after the break, putting on four more tries to Nanango’s one.

Murgon

  • Tries – Aaron Graham (2), Stuart Robinson (2), Coby Sullivan, Lehman Brunjes, Thomas Cowburn, Trevor Davidson, Jarrabah Davidson, Matthew Wallace
  • Goals – Trevor Davidson (6), Stuart Robinson (2)

Nanango

  • Tries – Jarrod Bailey, Luke Thornhill
  • Goals – Rhyse Simpson (2)
Jarrabah Davidson scores for the Mustangs
Aaron Graham scores the first of his two tries for Murgon
2014 U18 Premiership winners … Murgon Mustangs

* * *

Trophy Presentations

U12 Player Of Final – Alex Georgetown (Cherbourg)

U43kg Player Of The Year – Kaylynn Saltner (Murgon)

From left, U12s Hornets captain Selwyn Cobbo with the Premiership shields, U43kg Player of the Year Kaylynn Saltner and U12 Player of the Final Alex Georgetown

* * *

U14 Player of the Final … Isaac Nicholson

U14 Player of Final – Isaac Nicholson (Kingaroy)

U13 Representative Player of the Year – Kaia Williams (Nanango)

U14 Representative Player of the Year – Cohen Beggs (Murgon)

2014 Junior Eagle – Kaia Williams (Nanango)

* * *

U16 Player of Final – Barry Tapau-Fewquandie (Murgon)

U15 Representative Player of the Year – Dawson Cross (Central Burnett)

U16 Representative Player of the Year – Logan Bayliss-Brow (Kingaroy)

Referees’ Player of the Year – Errol Simpson (Cherbourg)

Most Improved Player of the Year – George Fisher  (Cherbourg)

South Burnett Encouragement Award – Billy Moss (Kingaroy)

2014 Senior Eagle – Dawson Cross (Central Burnett)

Top row, from left, U16s Premiership trophy, U16 Player of the Final Barry Tapau-Fewquandie, U15 Representative Player of the Year and 2014 Senior Eagle Dawson Cross; bottom row, Referees’ Player of the Year Errol Simpson, U16 Representative Player of the Year Logan Bayliss-Brow and South Burnett Encouragement Award winner Billy Moss with South Burnett RL president Greg Pomfret

* * *

Top row, U18 Player of the Final Stuart Robinson, U18 Player of the Year Brent Greenslade; Bottom row, Murgon president Ricky Collard with the Club Championship trophy; and Delegate of the Year Alan Robinson  

U18 Player of Final – Stuart Robinson (Murgon)

U18 Player of the Year – Brent Greenslade (Nanango)

* * *

A Grade Player of Final – Alex Speedy (Cherbourg)

Senior Representative Player of the Year – Shane Cliff (Wondai)

* * *

Club Championship – Murgon 100 points

Club Championship Runner-Up – Nanango 95 points

Delegate of the Year – Alan Robinson (Nanango)

Scott Kapernick was presented with lifetime membership of the SB Referees Association

Senior Representative Player of the Year … Shane Cliff

  

 

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