July 29, 2012
Wondai came out eventual victors 42-34 in an evenly matched contest against Nanango in the Burnett Premier League A Grade rugby league game played on Saturday afternoon at Fred Kassulke Oval.
Nanango’s hard-working Pat McCallum opened the scoring with the first of his four tries of the day. But Wolves’ fullback Danny Albert struck right back, with the first of his four tries …
Half-way through the first half the score was locked at 6-all until Alberts unleashed three tries in quick succession (and converted two of them), taking the score to 22-6.
With seven minutes left in the half, McCallum struck again – and Brodie English again converted – which left the score at half-time 22-12.
Wondai went on the attack after the break with an attempted try by Brad Perese disallowed three minutes into the half. Two minutes later, Perese struck again and this time the referee agreed.
But McCallum wasn’t taking any of this, and four minutes late broke through a tackle and sprinted down the field leaving Wolves’ defenders in his wake to score his third try.
Wondai and Nanango then swapped tries again – to Shane Cliff (Wondai) and Shane Williams (Nanango) – taking the score to Wondai 32, Nanango 22.
With 14 minutes left, Luke Hedges converted his own try for Wondai, followed by Shane Cliff’s second try.
However Nanango weren’t finished … scoring three tries in just six minutes. Drew Jackson crossed the line, followed a couple of minutes later by Shane Williams (his second for the match).
Then as the final siren blew, McCallum grabbed the ball and scored his fourth for the day.
The final score showed the Wolves ahead but Nanango actually outscored Wondai five tries to four in the second half.
* * *
At Murgon, Cherbourg continued its undefeated run in the 2012 competition by downing the Mustangs 50-6.
The Hornets have recorded 13 straight victories since the start of the competition – plus two forfeits and the washout round (Round 13) when no A Grade games were played.
Fred Aubrey continued his points spree for Cherbourg, booting home seven goals and scoring two tries. Other try scorers for Cherbourg were Nathan Gadd, Carl Aubrey, Edward Aubrey, Mark Saltner, Thomas Simpson, Nigel Williams and Tyrone Murray.
Steve Simpson scored Murgon’s sole try, which was converted by Lewis Hopkins.
At Blackbutt, Kingaroy confirmed its second position on the competition ladder by defeating the Blackbutt Timbertowners 56-42 in a high-scoring match.
Kingaroy has now notched up five wins on the trot (including a forfeit win against Murgon) and have only been defeated three times this season, in rounds 6,7 and 9 by Cherbourg (twice) and Murgon.
* * *
Both South Burnett teams suffered narrow losses in the Wide Bay U18s competition matches played at Murgon on Saturday.
Competition leader, Bundaberg’s Across The Waves Tigers, defeated Murgon 24-18. Arthur Saltner scored a double for the Mustangs. Other tries went to Ben Kemp and Lehman Brunjes. Brunjes kicked one goal.
For Across The Waves, Harry Hoerler, Isaiah Gala, Mitchel Doherty, Cody Faulkner and Jake Murray all scored tries; Dylan Arnot kicked two conversions.
Bundaberg Eastern Suburbs Magpies had a narrow victory over Kingaroy, 18-16. Jack Schaffer, Chris Ostwald and Sean Hams scored for the Red Ants and Scott Evans kicked two goals.
For Easts, Tyson Knight picked up a double with Ashley Loehr and Kristian Colasimone also scoring. Taylar Barritt kicked one goal.
* * *
Nanango Stags’ U16s played a friendly against the Stanley River Wolves U16s at Nanango ahead of the main A Grade fixture between Nanango and Wondai.
Stanley Rivers, which plays in the Sunshine Coast Junior Rugby League competition, proved too strong for the Stags, winning 32-12.
Josh Ehrlich and Dylan Brownley scored for Nanango, and Brodie Cortes converted both tries.
Results:
At Nanango
U12s – Nanango 48, Wondai 4
U14s – Nanango 58, Wondai 6
U16s – Nanango 12, Stanley Rivers 32
A Grade – Nanango 34, Wondai 42
At Blackbutt
A Grade – Blackbutt 42, Kingaroy 56
At Mundubbera
U12s – Central Burnett 4, Kingaroy 12
U14s – Central Burnett 26, Kingaroy 22
U16s – Kingaroy forfeit
At Murgon
U12s – Murgon 32, Cherbourg 0
U14s – Murgon 18, Cherbourg 24
U16s – Murgon 14, Cherbourg 26
A Grade – Murgon 6, Cherbourg 50
U18s (at Murgon)
Kingaroy 16, Bundaberg Easts 18
Murgon 18, Across The Waves 24
