May 31, 2015
The big boys came to the South Burnett again on Saturday, turning on some of the best rugby league seen in the region for a long while.
Cherbourg’s Jack O’Chin Oval – sporting a new ground fence erected in record time by Sellwood Constructions from Murgon – hosted the clash between the Ipswich Jets and the Souths Logan Magpies.
A good crowd turned out for the huge day of football, which began with junior matches between Cherbourg and Wondai in the morning followed by an A Grade game between Kingaroy and Monto, the Intrust clash and topped off by a match between the Cherbourg Hornets and Mundubbera.
Cherbourg Council and the Hornets club put on a series of extra attractions as well, including a jumping castle and half-time competitions for the children.
* * *
Ipswich, who are in equal first place on the Intrust Super Cup ladder, went into the Intrust Cup game as favourites but the Souths Logan Magpies proved to be no pushovers.
The Jets opened the scoring with a try to Josh Cleeland which Carlin Anderson converted. Just three minutes later Souths replied when Josh Damen crossed in the corner.
The sides then swapped tries again (Brandon McGrady – Ipswich, and Samisoni Vaioleti – Souths Logan) to take the score to 10-8 in favour of the Jets with 16 minutes left in the first half.
The crowd was enjoying a great display of attacking and defensive football at both ends of the field, when against the run of play Ipswich player Marmin Barba took an intercept and ran the length of the field to score.
The crowd, already going crazy because of the spectacular run, was over the moon when Barba topped off his try with a spontaneous mini-corroboree.
The Jets then scored three more times – including a brilliant chip and re-gather by McGrady for his second try – before half-time. They went into the break leading 30-8.
But Souths Logan, coming off back-to-back wins and showing some recent good form, weren’t about to give in.
Eight minutes into the half Dallas Anderson scored for the Magpies, who then backed that up with a number of attacking runs at the Ipswich line. The Magpies enjoyed a surfeit of possession – earning four or five sets of six in a row – but couldn’t convert this pressure into points because of the rugged Ipswich defence.
With 20 minutes to go, Billy McConnachie scored for the Jets to widen their lead.
The game was then delayed when Souths’ scorer Samisoni Vaioleti broke his lower leg after going for a high ball close to the Jets’ line. The snap echoed around the ground, causing immediate concern to both his team-mates and Jets’ players. Ambulance paramedics stabilised Vaioletti at the ground before he was taken to hospital.
After play resumed, Ipswich went back on the attack, scoring twice before Souths Logan could reply.
With four minutes left, Herschel Gideon scored a consolation try for the Magpies.
The final score looked likely to be Ipswich 46, Souths Logan 20 when, with just 41 seconds left on the clock, Marmin Barba crossed for his third try to take the Jets’ final score to 50.
For Ipswich, tries were scored by Marmin Barba (3), Brandon McGrady (2), Josh Cleeland (2) Carlin Anderson, Chris Walker and Billy McConnachie. Goals were kicked by Marmin Barba (3) and Carlin Anderson (2).
For Souths Logan, tries were scored by Josh Damen, Samisoni Vaioleti, Dallas Anderson and Herschel Gideon. Scott Doyle kicked two goals.
Magpies Player of the Match was Josh Damen.
Ipswich Player of the Match was Marmin Barba.
The special guernseys worn by the players on the day were auctioned after the match. Ipswich were wearing reproductions of the Hornets’ first jumper, while Souths Logan were wearing jumpers with an indigenous theme.
* * *
Burnett Championship
The first of the A Grade matches played in Cherbourg on Saturday was part of Round 1 of the Burnett Championship – the mid-season competition which also involves teams from Monto, Eidsvold, Mundubbera and Gayndah.
The Monto Roos travelled all the way to Cherbourg to take on the Kingaroy Red Ants … but it would have been a long trip home for the visitors after they were defeated 60-14.
Monto got off to a good start, and after 10 minutes the scores were locked 6-all.
At the mid-way point of the first half, the Roos were within two points after Nick Brereton scored the first of his two tries for Monto.
With Kingaroy leading 12-10, the visitors looked to have a good chance.
At half-time, Monto were well and truly still in the game, behind by just eight points, 18-10, but then Kingaroy changed gears.
During the first 10 minutes of the second half, Kingaroy piled on 14 points before Brereton scored his second try – Monto’s last points for the game.
With the score at 32-14, Kingaroy began to run wild, putting on another five tries before the game was called off 10 minutes early.
The early finish wasn’t to put the Roos out of their misery – it was an attempt to get the featured Intrust Super Cup game starting on time (it didn’t).
Try scorers for Kingaroy were Ashley Smallwood (3), Brodie Hatchman (2), Siopau Tafau (2), Mark Johnson, Pena Tafau, Jayden Jarvis and Mason Francis. Goals were kicked by Brodie Hatchman (4), Jye Thorley (3) and Mitchell Crossley.
For Monto, Nick Brereton (2) and Tyson Mitchell scored tries, and Shane Carter kicked one goal.
|
|
|
* * *
The second local A Grade match on Saturday was played after the InTrust Super Cup, and featured hosts Cherbourg against the Mundubbera Tigers.
This was a game of two halves, and anyone who left at half-time (and there were a few, as it looked like the Hornets had it in the bag) missed out on a spectacular finish and a great game of footie …
Cherbourg had a strong start and after 20 minutes were leading 12-nil.
Then against the run of play, Dylan Wagner managed to ground the ball over the line for Mundubbera in the corner, in a messy looking try that had the local spectators scratching their heads.
The Hornets then crossed the line three more times to be leading 28-4 at half-time and looking to be heading to certain victory.
But the big men from Mundubbera had other ideas – and against all expectations, held Cherbourg scoreless in the second half.
And not only that, like a well-oiled machine the Tigers began to methodically pile on points … in the last 28 minutes they scored four converted tries to bring the scores level at 28-all.
With the clock ticking down, the Hornets passed the ball out to Fred Aubrey for a field goal attempt, which unfortunately didn’t bring the fairytale result the fans would have wanted.
In the end, a draw was probably the right result for an exciting game of rugby league which topped off a great day of action at Jack O’Chin Oval.
For Cherbourg, tries were scored by Kane Liddy, Fred Aubrey, Malachi Wallace, Gary Willmot and Paddy Alberts. Fred Aubrey kicked four goals.
For Mundubbera, tries were scored by Dylan Wagner, Jack West Combo, Loseli Havili, Fredwin Barsah and Fosea Tuaoi. Jack West Combo kicked four goals.
* * *
Other Results
At Cherbourg
- U14 – Cherbourg 50 – Wondai 10
At Kingaroy
- U12 – Kingaroy 12 – Murgon 16
- U14 – Kingaroy 38 – Murgon 0
- U14 – Kingaroy 18 – Chinchilla 12 (friendly)
- U16 – Kingaroy 28 – Murgon 6
At Nanango
- U12 – Nanango 10 – Central Burnett 26
For Nanango, Jaiden Smallwood and Jack Perrett both scored tries, and Perrett kicked one goal. For the Brumbies, Josiah McDonald (2), Max Corfield, Ray Coakes and Henry Havili scored tries, and goals were kicked by McDonald, Corfield and Coakes.
- U18 – Nanango 16 – Cherbourg 24 (Friday night)
At Gayndah
- A Grade – Gayndah 10 – Wondai 46 (Friday night)
At one stage in the first half, the Wolves were ahead 26-nil; at half-time, they led 32-6. For Wondai, tries were scored by Troy Kerkow (2), Tua Peti (2), Cody Beggs, Jack McDowall, Luke Hedges, Tom McDowell and Damon Bull. Goals were kicked by Luke Hedges (5)
At Eidsvold
- A Grade – Eidsvold 42 – Murgon 10 (Saturday)
* * *
