April 18, 2013
The Wondai Wolves have firmed as early favourites in the 2013 South Burnett Rugby League competition, after taking back-to-back wins in the first two rounds.
In drizzly and blustery conditions at Nanango, the Wolves downed the Blackbutt Timbertowners 46-16.
Wondai opened the scoring after six minutes when Michael Murray crossed the line and Chris Bond converted.
Blackbutt replied within minutes when winger Chris Clark scored in the corner after a long, looping pass across field by Blake Harvey. Andrew Hewitt added the extra points.
The Wolves (Jameel Sullivan) and Timbertowners (Mitch Olzard) swapped points again before Wondai got the upper hand and put on two quick tries (Shane Borninkohf and Shane Cliff).
At the break, the Wolves led 22-12 but both sides would have been counting their missed chances lost through unforced errors.
Wondai resumed pounding the Blackbutt line after half-time, putting on three tries in 10 minutes (Joe Sullivan, Shane Cliff and Cody Beggs).
A Blackbutt error midway through the half – kicking the ball dead at the restart – set up Wondai to score again, giving Shane Cliff his hat-trick.
The score was now 42-12 but Blackbutt hadn’t stopped trying.
With 16 minutes left, Michael “Freddy” Davies – probably better known these days for his cricket skills – scrambled over in the corner for Blackbutt.
The game then slowed down with neither side seeming to be able to make much headway until with, four minutes left, Blackbutt looked threatening near the corner post. But Wondai defenders forced the ball into touch.
Then with less than 60 seconds left, Jameel Sullivan scored his second for Wondai, taking the full-time score to 46-16.
Last year’s premiers, the Cherbourg Hornets, continued their shaky start to season 2013 in the second A Grade match played at Nanango on Saturday afternoon.
The Hornets, who were narrowly defeated by Wondai in Round 1, just held on to win against a much-improved Stags side.
Nanango began strongly, attacking the Cherbourg line for the first few minutes but unable to turn the pressure into points.
Cherbourg was first to break the deadlock with Thomas Simpson scoring after 12 minutes as the rain started to fall. Fred Aubrey kicked the first of his six goals for the day.
Two minutes later, Aubrey then crossed himself and converted his own try.
Nanango struck back through Jayden Jarvis, and Pat McCallum converted (the first of his five goals).
McCallum then picked up the cue from his goal-kicking rival, scoring himself with a flying dive over the Cherbourg line and converting his own try, levelling the scores at 12-all.
As the day became gloomier and the game slowly tracked towards half-time, the lights were switched on at the Nanango ground.
With about eight minutes to go before the break, the Hornets made some strong runs towards the Nanango line, only to be defeated by desperate Nanango tackling.
Cherbourg finally busted through via Stafford Saltner. Aubrey’s kick was good and the score at half-time was Cherbourg 18, Nanango 12.
Cherbourg resumed on the attack after the break but their first assault ended in failure as the last pass before the line went to ground.
As the conditions deteriorated, so did the handling from both sides.
Nanango was first to score in the second stanza, with McCallum picking up his second try, which he duly converted.
Cherbourg and Nanango then traded tries, Faron Aubrey and Carl Aubrey for the Hornets, and McCallum and Jarvis for the Stags.
The score was Cherbourg 30, Nanango 28 when a tackling indiscretion led to a Cherbourg player being binned for the rest of the game.
Pat McCallum took the penalty kick which evened the score at 30-all with just five minutes left.
A Stags’ mistake, losing the ball on the second tackle, then gave Cherbourg a chance and Carl Aubrey ran away to score. Fred Aubrey’s kick was on target, taking the Hornets into the lead 36-30.
But Nanango weren’t finished and the game was building to an exciting climax in the dying minutes.
A Cherbourg mistake allowed McCallum to take a kick for the line and make up good field position for Nanango. With 24 seconds left, Mick Smallwood made no mistake and scored in the corner for the Stags.
McCallum – whose boot had been so reliable all day – lined up to take the conversion from a difficult position on the sideline after the full-time siren had sounded.
Sadly for Nanango, it wasn’t going to be a fairytale ending and the kick that would have drawn the game was waved away.
Nanango have now put on strong performances in both Rounds 1 and 2 without being able to bring home any points.
Pat McCallum finished the day with three tries and five goals, and was rewarded with a position in the South Burnett squad.
After the conclusion of the two A Grade matches played at Nanango, the South Burnett side which will play in the Wide Bay trials in Monto next weekend was announced.
- Related article: South Burnett RL Teams Named
Murgon scored nine tries in their comprehensive victory.
Round 2 will be played this weekend. The Mustangs are scheduled to take on the Eastern Suburbs Magpies at Murgon from 2:00pm on Saturday.
At full-time the scores were locked 30-all.
Jon Cassidy and Brent Greenslade both scored two tries for Nanango, while Jarrod Bailey and Braden McKee scored one each. Jeremy Ehrlich kicked three goals.
For Murgon, Mitchell Bleys and Neil Collard scored two tries each, while Jordan Lynas and Buddy Stanley score one apiece. Barwoo Fisher kicked two goals, and Jordan Lynas, one.
Murgon U16s have the bye next weekend; Kingaroy are scheduled to play Central Burnett in Mundubbera, while Nanango are drawn against Cherbourg at Blackbutt.
UPDATE April 20: The Kingaroy v Central Burnett game will now be played in Kingaroy
T.J. O’Neill Oval in Kingaroy played host on Friday and Saturday to a Wide Bay Primary School rugby league carnival.
A series of 11-12s trial matches were played featuring players from the South and North Burnett, Gympie, Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg.
On Friday night, a South Burnett XIII also went through its paces.
The games provided an opportunity for selectors to take a look at players ahead of the Zone games which will be played in May.
The Wide Bay team will be picked after the Zone finals.
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Results
Kingaroy v Wondai (at Kingaroy)
U12 Kingaroy 32, Wondai 6
U14 Kingaroy White 42, Kingaroy Red 10
U16 Kingaroy – bye
Nanango v Murgon (at Nanango)
U12 Nanango 36, Murgon 8
U14 Nanango 18, Murgon 36
U16 Nanango 30, Murgon 30
Central Burnett v Cherbourg (at Mundubbera)
U16 Cherbourg forfeited
Central Burnett v Blackbutt (at Mundubbera)
U12 Central Burnett 48, Blackbutt 6
Nanango v Cherbourg (at Nanango)
A Grade Nanango 34, Cherbourg 36
Wondai v Blackbutt (at Nanango)
A Grade 46-16
