June 4, 2012
The Cherbourg Hornets picked up their sixth straight win for the season – and maintained their undefeated record – by outplaying the Nanango Stags in atrocious conditions at Fred Kassulke Oval on Saturday night.
As the rain came down – and the power failed – the Stags put a brave performance in the A Grade but were eventually defeated 56-22.
After a minute’s silence for Cherbourg resident Ray Fisher, the Hornets’ Fred Aubrey opened the scoring off the first set of six.
Carl Aubrey then repeated the success before Patrick McCallum scored for Nanango. Seven minutes later Patrick scored again, Brodie English converted and the scores were level 12-12 with 15 minutes left in the first half.
But Cherbourg aren’t the competition leaders for nothing. They put on three tries – a double to Nigel Williams and the first of Duane Fisher’s two for the evening – in just seven minutes. As the rain bucketed down, the score at half-time was Cherbourg 28, Nanango 12.
After the break, the Hornets resumed where they’d left off. Cyril Georgetown scored in the corner after a wide across-field kick. The conversion, by Robert Miller, was successful and the score was 34-12.
But Nanango hadn’t given up. Young Patrick McCallum, back on the field with his head bandaged after being treated for a gash, picked up his third try for the Stags. Brodie English converted and the score was now 34-18.
Cherbourg hit straight back, with a try to Nathan Gadd, converted by Robert Miller, and with 27 minutes to go, Cherbourg was now ahead 40-18.
As the rain continued to fall, both sides had problems successfully completing their six tackles. The slippery ball – and Cherbourg’s willingness to throw it around – led to much stop-start play.
However the Hornets’ try-scoring machine hadn’t finished for the night. Carl Aubrey, Duane Fisher and Nigel Williams all crossed the line again for Cherbourg during the last 15 minutes.
Right on the full-time hooter Nanango picked up a consolation try with Drew Jackson crossing in the corner.
Both sides finished a man down after Charlie Bond and Brodie English were sent off for fighting with nine minutes to go, a minor incident in an otherwise very entertaining – if soggy – match.
The earlier U16s game between Cherbourg and Nanango was much closer, with Nanango coming out victors 20-16.
At the mid-point of the second half, the scores were locked 16-all before Nanango’s Josh Ehrlich notched up the winning try.
* * *
Earlier in the afternoon, the Blackbutt Timbertowners secured their first A Grade win for the season by defeating the Wondai Wolves 20-18 at Nanango.
The game opened with a minute’s silence for Ken Allery, a stalwart of Blackbutt rugby league, who died suddenly the night before.
Cody Beggs crossed first for Wondai, but Blackbutt hit back almost immediately with a try to Bryce Holmes.
Keiran Harvey (Blackbutt) and Brad Perese (Wondai) then both scored, keeping the scores tied at 8-all. With just 18 seconds left on the clock in the first half, Harvey scored again and Harley Farrer converted, taking the half-time score to Blackbutt 14, Wondai 8.
Five minutes into the new half, Harley Farrer converted his own try for Blackbutt but that was the last time the Timbertowners troubled the scorer.
Wondai started pressuring the Timbertowners’ defence – on at least one occasion losing the ball close to the tryline – before Luke Hedges finally scored for the Wolves with 18 minutes left to go. The kick was unsuccessful, taking the score to 20-12.
Blackbutt tried to hit back but were looking tired during the last 15 minutes while the Wolves’ defence was solid and their runners looked to have found new wind.
With a little over three minutes to go, the Wolves’ Mat Stumer scored off a good pass, Danny Alberts converted and the final score was 20-18.
* * *
At Murgon, the Mustangs held on to defeat the more-fancied Kingaroy side 44-36 in a closely fought, and high scoring, A Grade match.
Murgon was ahead 24-10 at half-time despite having a player in the sin bin.
The Red Ants came good after the break, winning the second half 26-20 but it wasn’t enough. Murgon again had a player sin-binned with 24 minutes to go – which didn’t help their cause – but they held on, scoring seven tries to Kingaroy’s six.
For Murgon, Caine Liddy recorded a hat-trick with other tries to Charlie Paiwan, Danny Edwards, Justin Cobus and Jameel Sullivan. For Kingaroy, Jayden Jarvis scored three tries, and Dane Bradley, Nathan Champney and Mick Smallwood all scored once. Matt Allen kicked six goals.
* * *
In the U18s, Kingaroy – placed third on the competition ladder – defeated the Murgon Mustangs 26-10 at Murgon.
Jack Schaffer scored a double for the Red Ants with other tries going to Braydon Beston, Richard Ryan and William Bricknell. Scott Evans kicked two goals and Jack Schaffer one. For Murgon, Keith Walsh and Ashley O’Chin both scored tries and Lynda Hopkins kicked one goal.
* * *
Results
Murgon Mustangs v Kingaroy Red Ants (at Murgon)
U12s 16-18
U14s 22-16
U16s 10-48
U18s 10-26
A Grade 44-36
Nanango Stags v Cherbourg Hornets (at Nanango)
U12s 16-8
U14s 6-32
U16s 20-16
A Grade 22-56
Blackbutt Timbertowners v Wondai Wolves (at Nanango)
A Grade 20-18
Wolves’ junior matches played at Mundubbera were scratch matches.
* * *
Next Week
There will be no Junior games because of the Queen’s Jubilee long weekend and the 47th Battalion U15s competition being played in Murgon.
Three A Grade matches will be played in Blackbutt on Saturday:
- Noon – Kingaroy v Wondai
- 1:30pm – Murgon v Nanango
- 3:00pm – Blackbutt v Cherbourg
Two U18s matches will be played at Murgon:
- Hervey Bay Seagulls v Murgon Mustangs
- Kingaroy Red Ants v Across The Waves
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