August 25, 2014
The Murgon Mustangs aim to paint the town blue and gold this week after getting teams into the A Grade, U18s, U16s and U14s rugby league grand finals.
The club hosted the Preliminary Finals at their home ground in Murgon on Saturday and fans had plenty to cheer about – including witnessing the thrilling conclusion to one of the best games of rugby league played in the South Burnett for many a year.
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It was cold, windy and wet – and the game lasted an amazing 100 minutes – but no one could complain they didn’t get their money’s worth after the thrilling conclusion to the A Grade Preliminary Final between Murgon and Wondai.
The sudden-death match was to decide who would face Cherbourg in the Grand Final next weekend and both the Mustangs and Wolves were determined to fill the slot.
Wondai drew first blood when Kobi Meehan pounced on a loose ball to open the Wolves’ account after nine minutes of intense play.
Danny Alberts’ kick hit the posts and bounced away, an unlucky moment that Wondai fans could later rue.
Two minutes later, Wondai was in again via Luke Hedges. This time Alberts’ boot was on target and Wondai led 10-0.
It wasn’t until the midway point of the first half that Murgon put their first points on the board, with Joe Sullivan scoring under the posts. Jameel Sullivan added the extras to bring Murgon closer.
Kane Liddy then scored twice for the Mustangs to put the home side ahead at half-time 16-10.
Wondai went on the attack after the break and were next to score via Damien Kinsella. Alberts’ kick brought the tally back to 16-all.
Wolves’ coach Shane Cliff then put his side back into the lead 20-16.
With 18 minutes left, Murgon lost a player to the sin bin for 10 minutes but this didn’t faze the Mustangs who managed to score while he was off: against the run of play Kane Liddy got a hat-trick with a runaway try in the corner.
With the conversion missed, the scores were again locked 20-all with 10 minutes to go.
Two minutes later Kinsella was awarded a try for the Wolves after the ref consulted with the touchies. Alberts’ conversion was on target and Wondai was back in the lead 26-20.
But with just three minutes left until full-time, Ben Kemp scored for Murgon. Jameel Sullivan landed the pressure kick, locking the scores at 26-all after 80 minutes of football.
This put the game into extra time. Five minutes would be played each way. If the scores were still locked, another fives minutes would be played each way. If they were still locked after this, it would go to golden point …
After a failed field goal attempt, Wondai were first to score in extra time via Rory Mackenzie. Alberts converted and at the end of the first five minutes, Wondai led 32-26.
After changing ends, Murgon went on the attack. Chris Bond chipped and regathered to run away. Jameel Sullivan’s conversion brought the scores back level.
Wondai again tried to break the deadlock with a field goal which was again unsuccessful, meaning the scores were still locked 32-all at the end of the second five minutes.
After play resumed in the second lot of extra time, another Wondai field goal failed but with one minute left in the first five minutes, Danny Alberts grabbed the ball and scored. His attempted conversion, after the siren blew, was unsuccessful.
Changing ends, it was Murgon again who were chasing the points. With just two minutes left, Jameel Sullivan crossed the tryline making sure he improved the position for his kick while carefully skirting the deadball line.
Sullivan’s extra effort paid off and he put the conversion over the crossbar, meaning Murgon had seized the lead, 38-36, with just one minute left on the clock.
After a game of football that locals will probably be talking about for years, the Mustangs headed into the Grand Final while the Wolves were left planning their end-of-season drinks.
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A minute’s silence was held before the start of the A Grade match to mark the recent death of Proston resident Ron Schultz, 84.
The former Wondai player was selected as hooker in the South Burnett Team Of The Century, announced in 2008.
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Nanango overcame a second half fightback by Cherbourg in U18s preliminary final to end the Hornets’ 2014 campaign with a slender two point win.
The Stags will now face Murgon in the U18s Grand Final.
Brodie Cortes put Nanango’s first points on the board. The conversion by Rhyce Simpson set the scoreline to 6-0 where it remained until the last 10 minutes of the first half when Steven Langton scored for the Hornets.
A few minutes later, Shane Tilley replied for the Stags. At half-time Nanango led 10-4.
The Hornets fought back after the break with tries to Michael Aubrey and Jai Watson putting Cherbourg into the lead 16-10.
But with 15 minutes to go, a 40/20 kick by Nanango turned the Hornets around and built up the Stags’ momentum.
With four minutes to the full-time siren, a Dillan Lacey try put Nanango within spitting distance but the conversion was waved away.
Strong Cherbourg defence then kept Nanango’s next run out but right on full-time Luke Thornhill put the Stags back in front to finish the game 18-16 at the final hooter.
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In the U12s preliminary final, the Cherbourg Hornets overwhelmed the Central Burnett Brumbies 36-6 to earn a Grand Final spot.
Cherbourg’s tries were scored by Jamia Hopkins, David Hopkins, Eddie Aubrey, Arshell Hopkins, Billy Isaacs and Selwyn Cobbo (2). Goals were kicked by Clifford Dynevor, Eddie Aubrey, Eugene Dynevor and Arshell Hopkins.
Central Burnett’s points came from a try to Falon Havili which was converted by Liam Kenny.
Cherbourg will now play Nanango in the U12s Grand Final.
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In the U14s, the home crowd celebrated when the Murgon Mustangs galloped away to a win over the Nanango Stags, 40-26.
Murgon’s try scorers were Bronson Fogarty, Jake Wilson (2), Orlyn Fisher (2) and Cohen Beggs (3) and Mitch Wilson kicked four goals.
For the Stags, Thomas Springate scored a try and kicked three goals, while Dan English and Luke Matthews each scored two tries.
Murgon will now play the Kingaroy Red Ants in the Grand Final which should be an edge-of-the-seat match after their recent major semi-final clash where Kingaroy emerged victors by just two points.
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In the U16s preliminary final, Cherbourg defeated Kingaroy 28-12 after leading 12-8 at half-time.
Try scorers for the Hornets were Ralph Gyemore, Errol Simpson, Sebastian Fisher, Kahdeem Murray and Steven Langton. Jakeel Gadd kicked four goals.
The Red Ants’ three tries were scored by Mitchell Case, Bailey Nichols and Shorty Munt.
Cherbourg will now play Murgon in the U16s Grand Final.
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Times for next week’s games at Cherbourg:
- 9:00am – U6s/U8s
- 10:00am – U12 Grand Final – Nanango v Cherbourg
- 11:15am – U14 Grand Final – Kingaroy v Murgon
- 12:30pm – U16 Grand Final – Murgon v Cherbourg
- 2:00pm – U18 Grand Final – Murgon v Nanango
- 3:30pm – A Grade Grand Final – Cherbourg v Murgon
