August 17, 2014
Persistent showers and a bitterly cold wind weren’t enough to stop a big day of rugby league semi-finals going ahead in Kingaroy on Saturday.
The major and minor semi-finals were played at TJ O’Neill Oval in all competitive grades from U12s through to A Grade.
The winners of the major semis have now all booked spots in the Grand Finals.
Next weekend, the losers of the major semi-finals will play the winners of the minor semis in Murgon to determine the other Grand Final positions.
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In A Grade, Cherbourg headed straight into the Grand Final when they came up against an under-strength Murgon Mustangs side in the major semi-final.
The game was called off 20 minutes from the end, with Cherbourg ahead 38-14, after the Mustangs ran out of fit players.
It was a sad end to a well-contested game of footie that had fans from both sides screaming encouragement from the sidelines.
But the season’s not over for the Mustangs who will get a second chance in the preliminary final which will be played at their home ground next weekend.
In a tribute to the spirit in which the game was played, the rival teams gathered together at the end of the match before walking off the field side-by-side.
The game had started well for Murgon with brothers Joe and Jameel Sullivan scoring back-to-back tries in the first six minutes of the match.
A few minutes later, Jameel added to the points when he kicked a penalty awarded after a Cherbourg tackle infringement right in front of the posts.
With 20 minutes left in the first half, Murgon led 10-0 but that was soon to change.
Cherbourg started to pile on the points with tries to Keith Gadd, Bernard Hopkins, Alwyn Sullivan and Alex Speedy (2). Unusually, Fred Aubrey’s boot was off-target in the wind and rain, so at half-time Cherbourg led by just 12 points, 22-10.
The Hornets began the second half in a similar fashion with Speedy notching up his third and fourth tries as well as a try to Cecil Sullivan.
Barwoo Fisher, fresh from the U18 major semi-final, then scored a consolation try for Murgon before the game was called off.
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In the A Grade minor semi-final, the Wondai Wolves ended a brave year for the Kingaroy Red Ants with a 28-24 victory after the sides were locked 12-all at half-time.
Kane Stannard put the first points on the board for Kingaroy after six minutes.
Neither side could make headway for the next 10 minutes until Kingaroy broke through again, this time by Brendon Flood. Matt Allen kicked both conversions to have the Red Ants leading 12-0 for most of the half.
But with five minutes left to the break, Tom McDowell broke the ice for Wondai. And with just seconds left, Cody Beggs added to the Wolves’ score. Danny Alberts’ kicks were good, which left the scoreboard locked at half-time.
The second half began just like the first, with early tries to Kingaroy (Chris Congoo and Brendon Flood), followed by tries to Wondai (Tom McDowell and Danny Alberts). All tries were converted which meant the scores were still locked – 24-all – with nine minutes left in the sudden-death encounter.
With three minutes to full-time, Luke Tilney broke the hearts of the home crowd by scoring in the corner to give the Wolves a much-deserved victory.
Wondai will now play the Murgon Mustangs next weekend in the preliminary final to determine who will face the Cherbourg Hornets in the Grand Final.
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Junior Games
In the U12 major semi-final, Nanango defeated Cherbourg 12-10 and are through to the Grand Final.
This was another very close match with the scores level 6-all at half-time.
Blake Shirley and Saxton Hamson scored tries for Nanango, and Joe Smith kicked one goal.
For Cherbourg, Eddie Aubrey and Charles Fisher Bond scored tries and Aubrey kicked one goal.
* * *
In the U12 minor semi-final, Central Burnett held on to defeat Wondai 12-10, after a second half fightback by the Wolves.
At half-time, the Brumbies led 8-0 but Wondai changed gears after the break.
Patrick Hoult scored back-to-back tries, which combined with Albert Dynevor’s conversion, put the Wolves into the lead 10-8.
But with just three minutes to go, Central Burnett crossed again to regain the lead.
Wondai was on the attack again when the full-time siren sounded.
It’s the end of the season for the junior Wolves who put on a terrific display in the second half.
Central Burnett’s tries were scored by Warwick Pearse, Callum Evans and Liam Kenny.
The Brumbies will now play Cherbourg next weekend in the preliminary final at Murgon.
* * *
The Brumbies weren’t so lucky in their U14 minor semi-final against Nanango.
The Stags – helped by a try-scoring rampage by Thomas Springate and Luke Matthews – overpowered Central Burnett 52-22 to knock them out of the finals.
At half-time Nanango led 26-12.
Nanango’s points came via tries to Jakeb Mead, Springate (4), Dan English (2) and Matthews (3). Springate also kicked four goals. William Packer and Joseph Labdouni kicked a goal apiece.
For the Central Burnett, Damon Bust scored three tries and Jayden Starksey and Michael Briggs, one each. Ryley Drayton kicked one conversion.
* * *
In the U14 major semi-final, the Kingaroy Red Ants defeated Murgon 20-18 in a closely fought tussle that had the home crowd at TJ O’Neill Oval on the edge of their seats.
At one stage in the first half, the Mustangs led 12-0 before Zac Walters put the first points on the board for Kingaroy.
The half-time score was Kingaroy 4, Murgon 12.
Kingaroy powered on after the break and with 11 minutes to go, the scores were even 12-all before Tom Pratt kicked a conversion from the sideline to put the Red Ants into the lead for the first time, 14-12.
But Murgon weren’t finished yet. A converted try by Cohen Beggs put the Mustangs’ noses back in front until the last two minutes when Kingaroy scored again.
Kingaroy try scorers were Zac Walters (2), Andrew Champney and Brandon Logan. Tom Pratt kicked two goals.
Murgon’s tries came from Cohen Beggs (2) and Bronson Fogarty. Goals were kicked by Mitch Wilson (2) and Jarell Sullivan.
Kingaroy is now through to the Grand Final, while Murgon will face Nanango in next weekend’s preliminary final.
* * *
The home crowd also had something to celebrate in the U16 minor semi-final when Kingaroy proved too strong for Nanango, defeating them 22-10.
The half-time score was 16-6.
The Stags’ first half points came as the result of good defence. A Nanango tackle knocked the ball loose on the first tackle when the Red Ants were close to the line and looked certain to score. Gaining possession, Nanango quickly sent the ball upfield in a series of passes which resulted in the Stags’ first try.
Kingaroy’s points came via Isaiah Gray (two tries) and Mitch Case (one try). Kirby Rubesaame scored one try and kicked three goals.
For Nanango, Dexter Calvert and Tyson Keating both scored a try, and Lachlan Jones kicked one goal.
* * *
Murgon are through to the Grand Final in U16s after they downed the Cherbourg Hornets 20-10 in the competition’s major semi-final.
Cherbourg remained scoreless for most of the first half, before Lloyd Saltner finally broke the drought for the Hornets.
Right on half-time, Murgon’s Barry Tatou-Fewquandie kicked a penalty after a Cherbourg indiscretion in front of the goal, taking the half-time score to Murgon 8, Cherbourg 4.
Murgon try scorers were Dylan Wilson (3), Barry Tatou-Fewquandie, Elwyn Fewquandie and Ben Coughlin; Tatou-Fewquandie kicked one goal.
For Cherbourg, Lloyd Saltner and Errol Simpson scored tries and Jakeel Gadd kicked one conversion.
Cherbourg will now play Kingaroy next weekend in the preliminary final to determine the second grand final spot.
* * *
A last-minute try by Stuart Robinson gave the Mustangs a 14-12 victory over Nanango in the U18 major semi-final.
This was a very even match which tested both sides.
At half-time, the Stags were ahead 6-4.
Murgon try scorers were Barwoo Fisher, Stuart Robinson and Mitchell Bleys; and Trevor Davidson kicked one goal.
Nanango’s points came from tries to Brodie Cortes and Jack Warden, and Rhyse Simpson kicked two goals.
Murgon is now through to the U18s Grand Final while Nanango will play the Cherbourg Hornets in the preliminary final next weekend.
* * *
The Grand Final of the Central Burnett rugby league competition – which shared joint rounds with the South Burnett this year – was played on Saturday at Mundubbera.
The Mundubbera Tigers defeated the Gayndah Gladiators 29-26 in a closely fought match.
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Game Times For Next Saturday at Murgon:
- 9:00am – U12s Cherbourg v Central Burnett
- 10:00am – U14s Murgon v Nanango
- 11:00am – U16s Cherbourg v Kingaroy
- 12:30pm – U18s Nanango v Cherbourg
- 2:00pm – A Grade Murgon v Wondai
