June 30, 2013
It was a day full of surprises in South Burnett rugby league on Saturday, with Blackbutt coming away with a well-deserved win over Wondai, and cellar-dwellers Nanango holding premiership favourites Cherbourg to a 40-all draw.
Fittingly, the Stags and the Timbertowners are both enjoying their centenaries this year.
Their performances this weekend gave fans even more reason to celebrate …
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The first game played at Nanango was between the Wondai Wolves and the Blackbutt-Yarraman Timbertowners.
It started evenly with both sides swapping tries during the opening 20 minutes.
Luke Ruthenberg opened the scoring for the Wolves, followed by Blake Harvey (Blackbutt), Tyrone Mikelo (Wondai) and a second by Harvey (Blackbutt).
With Blackbutt leading 10-8, Wondai’s Jameel Sullivan crossed the line but the referee pulled it back because of a forward pass.
For the next 10 minutes, neither side could make any leeway. Both sides were making mistakes but neither could capitalise on the other’s errors.
But then with 10 minutes left to the break, Wondai’s Troy Kerkow took charge, scoring twice and ensuring that Wondai were ahead 18-10 at half-time.
The Timbertowners came out fresh after the break, with Dylan Gilliland and Ashley Smallwood scoring during the first five minutes. Smallwood’s try pulled Blackbutt back into the lead, 22-18.
But Kerkow then struck for the third time – and with the conversion attempt unsuccessful – the score was locked at 22-all.
Blackbutt’s Joel Smallwood, who has been adding sting to the Timbertowners’ attack for the past couple of games, broke the deadlock.
But four minutes later, the scores were again locked at 28-all after Jameel Sullivan scored for the Wolves and Luke Hedges’ conversion was successful.
Joel Smallwood took it upon himself to again break the deadlock, scoring with just three minutes left on the clock.
The final score was Blackbutt 32, Wondai 28.
Both sides scored six tries in a very even match. Goal kickers for Blackbutt were Andrew Hewitt (3) and Ashley Smallwood (1); for the Wolves, Danny Alberts and Luke Hedges both kicked one apiece.
Nanango fans turned out in force at home to watch the Stags take on competition leaders Cherbourg, but only the most optimistic would have been expecting the match that unfolded.
The Hornets, too, may have been expecting an easy games as they showed up with no reserves on hand. If they were, they were sadly mistaken …
Nanango opened the scoring through Pat McCallum just a minute after kick-off, taking the Stags into an early lead.
Stung into action, Cherbourg retaliated with two quick tries, to Marcus Dynevor and Thomas Simpson.
McCallum then picked up his second after a Cherbourg mistake close to their line turned over possession.
Cherbourg (Nigel Williams) and Nanango (Brett Simpson) then swapped tries. The Hornets were ahead 18-12, with the difference being the accuracy of Fred Aubrey’s boot.
With 12 minutes left in the half, McCallum picked up his third try, planting it under the posts and giving Casey Morris a kick right in front, which he converted. The score was now 18-all.
During the last 10 minutes before the break, Cherbourg (Marcus Dynevor) and Nanango (Brian De La Cruz) again swapped tries.
The score at half-time was Cherbourg 24, Nanango 22 – the difference again being Fred Aubrey’s kicking for the Hornets.
The see-sawing game resumed after the break, with Cherbourg and Nanango again swapping tries: Marcus Dynevor (his third for the Hornets), De La Cruz (his second for the Stags), Casey Morris (Nanango) and Nigel Williams (his second for Cherbourg).
With 30 minutes left in the game, Cherbourg were ahead 30-26 when Nanango took advantage of back-to-back penalties to improve their position and send Mick Smallwood over the line to even the score at 30-all.
Cherbourg struck back, gaining ground easily and sending a long across-field pass to Nathan Gadd on the wing, who had been left unmarked.
Aubrey’s kick was good and the Hornets were back in front, 36-30.
Four minutes later, the Hornets repeated the same trick and Gadd – again with an overlap – scored in the corner. Cherbourg was now 10 points clear and looking confident despite only having 12 men on the field.
To make a game of it, the Stags also dropped their numbers back to 12.
The last 15 minutes were a dream for Nanango fans, with some of the Hornets players looking like walking wounded, and penalties (and luck) going their way.
Jayden Jarvis scored next for the Stags, and Morris added the extra points, bringing Nanango to within four points.
When Fred Aubrey grabbed the ball and ran the length of the field, it looked like Cherbourg were going to seal a victory. But he hadn’t heard the ref’s whistle and play was called back to near his own line.
A minute later, after a series of passes across field, the Stags’ Shane Williams took advantage of good field position to score a decisive try near the corner post on the far side of the field.
The conversion attempt was again unsuccessful, leaving the scores locked at 40-all when the full-time siren sounded, a fitting result after an exciting game of football.
Nanango scored nine tries to the Hornets’ seven, but only managed to land two conversions; in comparison, Fred Aubrey only missed one kick all day for the Hornets.
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Nanango are planning to hold a centenary celebration on August 3. For more information, contact Con on 0419-645-988.
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Murgon had a bye in the Bundaberg RL’s U18s competition.
