April 29, 2012
Bad weather may have kept the crowd down but spectators who braved the cold and rainy conditions in Kingaroy on Saturday enjoyed some of the most exciting senior rugby league played in the South Burnett this year.
The Cherbourg Hornets set off at a stinging pace in their game against the Wondai Wolves with Keith Bone scoring within seconds of the kick-off.
Wondai quickly hit back with a try to Luke Hedges – the first of three he scored for the Wolves in the first half.
Cherbourg scored twice more but Wondai continued to pressure their line and dominated possession in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
Right on the siren, Luke Hedges scored his third try – which Danny Alberts converted – and the sides went into the dressing sheds tied at 14-all.
In the second half, the Hornets came out refreshed and after just five minutes Cecil Sullivan scored his second try for the match. Nathan Gadd then scored again for Cherbourg off the next set of six. When Tyrone Murray converted, the score was suddenly Cherbourg 24, Wondai 14.
With about 22 minutes to go, Cherbourg’s Andrew Fisher was sin-binned for 10 minutes. Wondai took advantage of the Hornets having a man down and Brad Perese scored. Luke Hedges’ conversion took the score to 24-20.
Four minutes later Cherbourg hit back but Wondai quickly replied … the score now was Cherbourg 28, Wondai 24.
Then with just seven minutes to go – and Cherbourg back to full-strength – the Wolves’ Tom Engle crossed over the line for his second try and the scores were even again: 28-all.
In the last three minutes, and despite desperate Wondai defence, Tyrone Murray scored his second try for the Hornets which was converted by Cecil Sullivan.
The final score was Cherbourg 34, Wondai 28.
In the second Seniors game played at TJ O’Neill Oval, the Blackbutt Timbertowners – coming off a loss to Kingaroy – took on the Murgon Mustangs.
This was another exciting game, with just four points between the sides at half-time.
Blackbutt kicked off the scoring with a quick converted try, but Murgon responded almost immediately although their kick was unsuccessful.
With 19 minutes left in the first half, Murgon’s Mitch McDonell scored and Lewis Hopkins converted, taking the score to Murgon 10, Blackbutt 6.
Murgon then struck again with a try to Justin Cobbo which Hopkins again converted but Blackbutt immediately fought back and with eight minutes to half-time, the Timbertowners’ Michael Davies scored and Shannon Smallwood converted, narrowing the gap.
But this wasn’t the end of the first half action. With six minutes left on the clock, Blackbutt’s Jamie Whyte took off down the field, passing to Keiran Douglas who scored underneath the posts. The kick by Shannon Smallwood was successful and Blackbutt was now in the lead: Murgon 16, Blackbutt 18.
But Murgon struck back again, with Luke Bond scoring and a successful kick by Lewis Hopkins.
The half-time score was Murgon 22, Blackbutt 18,
Just a minute into the second half, Murgon’s Danny Edwards thrilled the crowd by managing to hold on to the ball after a spot of juggling and scored in the corner. Lewis Hopkins’ kick was successful and the score was Murgon 28, Blackbutt 18.
Four minutes later, after a quick tap penalty, Blackbutt’s Josh Mayer scored and the score was Murgon 28, Blackbutt 22.
With 20 minutes to go, the Timbertowners went close to scoring again when Blake Harvey ran three-quarters of the length of the field before kicking ahead to Shannon Smallwood on the fly. Smallwood kicked again and weighted the ball nicely under the posts but failed to pick it up cleanly.
But just three minutes later, Harvey attacked again and scored himself. The conversion by Harley Farrah was successful and the scores were even at 28-all.
Murgon kept on attacking but good defence by the Timbertowners kept them out. As Murgon began to visibly tire, Blackbutt scored three times in quick succession, taking the score to Murgon 28, Blackbutt 42.
But the game wasn’t over yet. And after a scrum win, Luke Bond scored for the Mustangs. The kick was unsuccessful so the final score was Murgon 32, Blackbutt 42.
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Unfortunately the third match of the proposed triple-header – Nanango v Kingaroy – did not eventuate when the Stags forfeited their second match for the season.
It was disappointing for everyone as Nanango had performed well against Wondai in the last round, and the clash with Kingaroy had been widely anticipated by both Stags’ fans and the Red Ants’ home crowd.
* * *
In the U18s, Kingaroy defeated the Maryborough Wallaroos 40-28. Kingaroy’s Sean Hams and Jack Schaffer scored four tries apiece and Schaffer also kicked four goals.
For Maryborough, Chris Reid scored two tries.
There was no junior league because of 47th Battalion duties at the Wide Bay Junior Carnival in Gympie.
Next round: There will be no Senior games played in the South Burnett due to the 47th Battalion Carnival being played in Bundaberg. The South Burnett team will face Bundaberg at 10:15am on Sunday (May 6) at Salter Oval.
[Updated with correction May 1]
