Cherbourg players and their fans after the grand final win
Cherbourg fullback – and goalkicker extraordinaire – Fred Aubrey was named Player of the Year

August 24, 2013

The Cherbourg Hornets have proven their dominance yet again in the South Burnett rugby league competition, securing back-to-back Grand Final victories in the Premier League competition.

Cherbourg defeated a brave Wondai Wolves side 40-14 at Murgon Sportsground this evening.

The Wolves never stopped trying, fighting back in the second half after the score was 22-0 at half-time.

The Hornets opened the scoring with a try to Alex “Bunyip” Speedy.

The rest of their first half points came from tries to Carl Aubrey (2) and Nathan Gadd. Fred Aubrey kicked three from four.

Within a minute of the re-start, Cherbourg was at it again with Ivan Harrison scoring and Fred Aubrey converting.

But then Wondai, who had been starved of possession, started to get some more time with the ball in the Hornets’ half.

They converted this pressure into back-to-back tries to Robert Christensen and Luke Bond. Luke Hedges kicked one of the goals.

Five minutes later, the Wolves were on the attack again but, unfortunately for their fans, a promising passing movement across field to take advantage of an overlap broke down when the last throw went into touch.

Fred Aubrey then proved again he can also score tries as well as kick goals, scoring two four pointers in less than three minutes, the second of which brought the crowd to its feet, stomping and whistling. He converted both, taking the score to 40-10.

But the Wolves weren’t finished, and with just three minutes left, Shane Cliff crossed for a consolation try to take the final score to 40-14.

Wondai defenders had their hands full … particularly in the first half
Cherbourg’s defence kept the Wolves scoreless in the first half
Alex Speedy celebrates after scoring the opening try for Cherbourg in the Grand Final

Hornets captain Nigel Williams and coach Bernard Hopkins with the trophy; Nigel was named Man of the Match

SBJRL President Terry Conway and SBJRL Secretary Lisa Weir; Terry presented the players with their medallions and trophies

* * *

Central Burnett are through to the Grand Final in U16s after defeating Cherbourg 38-24

Earlier in the day, a string of junior semi-finals were played at Murgon:

  • U12 Major Semi-Final – Kingaroy 18 defeated Cherbourg 8
  • U12 Minor Semi-Final – Central Burnett 28 defeated Nanango 18

Kingaroy are through to the Grand Final; Cherbourg will play Central Burnett next week.

  • U14s Major Semi-Final – Cherbourg 24 defeated Murgon 18
  • U14s Minor Semi-Final – Kingaroy 38 defeated Nanango 6

Cherbourg are through to the Grand Final; Murgon will play Kingaroy next week.

  • U16s Major Semi-Final – Central Burnett 38 defeated Cherbourg 24
  • U16s Minor Semi-Final – Nanango 36 defeated Murgon 26 in extra time (at full-time scores were locked 26-all)

Central Burnett are through to the Grand Final; Cherbourg will play Nanango next week.

* * *

Next weekend’s game times at Jack O’Chin Oval, Cherbourg:

  • 9:00am – U6s  Cherbourg v Murgon
  • 9:00am – U8s Cherbourg v Murgon
  • 10:00am – U10s Cherbourg v Murgon
  • 11:00am – U12s Cherbourg v Central Burnett
  • 12:30pm – U14s Murgon v Kingaroy
  • 2:00pm – U16s Cherbourg v Nanango
Cherbourg’s Trevor Davidson breaks through the Central Burnett line to take the score to 16-all in the U16s major semi-final; Central Burnett recovered to win 38-24

* * *

Murgon U18s have been defeated 38-10 in their knockout Round 2 semi-final in the Bundaberg U18s competition.

They faced Across The Waves at Salter Oval, in Bundaberg.

Coach of the Mustangs Paul Brunjes said man of the match for the Mustangs was try-scorer Keith Gadd.

Last week’s triple try scorer, Arthur Saltner, received a heavy knock and was taken to Bundaberg Hospital for observation but was discharged on Saturday night.

[UPDATED August 27, 2013]

Murgon Sportsground was packed with Hornets supporters for the Grand Final clash

Antwone Alberts, 2, with his dad Patrick Alberts … celebrating another Hornets’ victory

Cherbourg U16s Arthur Bond and Joshua Warren are looking forward to next week
Grand finalists Wondai may have been beaten but they were by no means disgraced in the Grand Final and kept on trying right until the full-time siren
The victorious Cherbourg Hornets with their Grand Final trophy