May 28, 2012
Cherbourg proved too strong for the Red Ants in their much-anticipated A Grade rugby league clash in Kingaroy on Saturday afternoon but the game was much closer than the final score would suggest.
Kingaroy drew first blood, with Dane Bradley scoring just two minutes after the kick-off in the corner.
The Hornets struck back immediately with a quick try to Fred Aubrey. Aubrey was one of Cherbourg’s many stars on the day, booting home seven conversions as well as scoring this early try.
The rest of the first half was all Cherbourg, with two tries to Duane Fisher; and Charlie Speedy, Gerard Prior and Cecil Sullivan also scoring.
The half-time score was 30-4 and it looked like it could be a bloodbath.
But Kingaroy came alive in the second stanza. Minutes into the half, they came close to scoring before relaxing and letting Cecil Sullivan in for the second of his three tries for the match.
This stirred the Red Ants into action and they clocked up three tries in just eight minutes – to Lachy Brown, Tom Chapman and Luke Evans. Matt Allen converted all three and the score was suddenly looking a lot more respectable at 36-22.
A mistake by Kingaroy at the re-start allowed Carl Aubrey in. Fred Aubrey converted and Cherbourg pulled away again to 42-22.
But Kingaroy weren’t about to quit and just four minutes later Tom Chapman scored his second try which Matt Allen converted, bringing the margin back to 14 points.
Cherbourg then picked up the pace with Carl Aubrey scoring his second for the day, and Duane Fisher and Cecil Sullivan both picking up their third, taking the score to 58-28.
With two minutes left on the clock. Mick Jarvis scored a consolation try for Kingaroy taking the final score to 58-32.
While the Red Ants were outplayed in the first half, they went head-to-head with the Hornets in the second, with both sides scoring 28 points.
* * *
While it was all Cherbourg in the A Grade, the roles were reversed in the U16s.
Jye Hopkins scored an impressive six tries for Kingaroy and Cherbourg failed to put any points on board during the first 40 minutes.
The half-time score was 38-0; at full-time it was Kingaroy 58, Cherbourg 12.
* * *
At Murgon, the Mustangs and Wolves fought a tough battle in the A Grade which ended in a 36-all draw, and saw three Murgon players and one Wondai player spending 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Try scorers for Murgon were Chris Bond, Daniel Georgetown, Eddie Aubrey and Joe Sullivan. Cain Liddy scored a double. Joe Sullivan kicked four goals and Jameel Sullivan, two.
For the Wolves, Danny Alberts got a hat-trick and Shane Cliff scored twice. Other tries went to Matt Stumer and Brenton List. Danny Alberts kicked four goals.
* * *
ARL Senior National Development Officer Steve Belsham will be conducting two holiday clinics in the South Burnett during the school holidays.
The first will be held on June 26 in Blackbutt and the second in Murgon on July 5.
Both clinics will run from 9:00am-1:00pm and will cost $40.
* * *
RESULTS
Kingaroy Red Ants v Cherbourg Hornets (+ Blackbutt juniors) (at Kingaroy)
U12s 30-4
U14s 16-32
U16s 58-12
A Grade 32-58
Central Burnett Brumbies v Nanango Stags (at Gayndah)
U12s 14-16
U14s 10-30
U16s 24-28
Blackbutt Timbertowners v Nanango Stags (at Blackbutt)
A Grade 32-38
Murgon v Wondai (at Murgon)
U12s 42-10
U14s 58-10
A Grade 36-all draw
U18s
Hervey Bay Seagulls 18, Kingaroy Red Ants 20 at Eskdale Park, Maryborough
Western Suburbs Panthers 60, Murgon Mustangs 28 at Salter Oval, Bundaberg
