July 6, 2015
The South Burnett rugby league competition has been thrown wide open after Saturday’s A Grade double-header in Kingaroy.
The Murgon Mustangs, sitting at the bottom of the four-team South Burnett table, halted the Wondai Wolves’ undefeated run in a sometimes fiery encounter which in the end was decided by just four points.
And the Kingaroy Red Ants downed last year’s premiers Cherbourg Hornets in another interesting match – also decided by goals.
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The first game played was the clash between the home-team Kingaroy and Cherbourg.
Cherbourg would have gone into the match favourites as the Red Ants were yet to record a win against a South Burnett team.
But Kingaroy were also confident, coming off three straight victories against North Burnett teams in the Burnett Championship rounds.
The game began after a minute’s silence for four Cherbourg residents who died recently.
When the whistle blew, Kingaroy began strongly after kick-off starving Cherbourg of possession and piling on four tries – including two to Mick Smallwood – in the first 14 minutes.
With the scoreboard reading 22-0, the Hornets were starting to look shaken and their fans were screaming from the sidelines.
Cherbourg’s first points came at the mid-way point of the half when a bomb on the last tackle sent players from both sides scrambling.
Cherbourg’s Edwin Samiak came up with the ball and scored.
The game then settled into a more even contest with neither side gaining ground until Brodie Hatchman increased Kingaroy’s lead by reaching a hand out and putting the ball over the line with four minutes left to the break.
Two minutes later, Samiak scored his second try for the day and Lewis Hopkins converted.
Kingaroy went into the break leading 28-12, but the Cherbourg revival was a pointer of things to come.
Cries of “Get the sting back Cherbourg” greeted the Hornets as the second half began, and Lyndon Hopkins promptly complied, breaking through tackles to score in the corner.
Kingaroy and Cherbourg then took turns at scoring. Ashley Smallwood converted his own try for Kingaroy to extend the Red Ants’ lead to 40-20.
As the clocked ticked by, the Hornets began ramping up the pressure, crossing the Kingaroy line but called back with 17 minutes to go.
Then a try by Nathan Gadd with 12 minutes left breathed new life into the team.
Cherbourg went on a mini-rampage and in the last four minutes scored twice, with tries to Gary Willmot and James Wragge. And the Red Ants only just managed to stop another try attempt by kicking the ball dead.
But time was against the Hornets. Kingaroy withstood their desperate final fling, taking a well-deserved 40-36 victory in an entertaining game of football.
Kingaroy tries were scored by Mick Smallwood (2), Siopau Taufa, Carl Freeman, Brodie Hatchman, Jye Thorley and Ashley Smallwood. Conversions were kicked by Mitchell Crossley (4) and Ashley Smallwood (2).
Cherbourg tries went to Edwin Samiak (2), Lyndon Hopkins, Alex Speedy, Nathan Gadd, Gary Willmot and James Wragge. Lewis Hopkins (2), Alex Speedy and Gary Willmot were the goal kickers.
* * *
The game between the Murgon Mustangs and Wondai Wolves, played under lights, also began with a minute’s silence – for Jack Chambers, the grandfather of one of the Murgon players.
Wondai have been looking almost unbeatable this season but Murgon were having none of this – starting the game with three quick tries – to Gordon Fonua, Peter Bligh and Daniel Georgetown, and taking their lead to 16-0.
With 18 minutes left in the first half, Wondai stalwart Troy Kerkow broke through to put the Wolves’ first points on the board.
Marty Holding and then Kerkow scored again for Wondai ahead of the break to leave the scores locked 16-all at half-time. (Wondai actually crossed the line with just 52 seconds on the clock but it was no try).
The second half began frustratingly for both sides: two Murgon attempts were ruled no tries, and then Wondai was held up over the line.
Wondai fullback Danny Alberts finally broke the deadlock to put the Wolves into the lead for the first time, but it was short-lived.
The Mustangs responded almost immediately. Coby Sullivan grabbed the ball and ran the length of the field at lightning pace to score under the posts, locking the scores again at 20-all.
Gordon Fonua’s kick was on target and Murgon was back in the lead.
The Mustangs then put on back-to-back tries via Danny Edwards and Vincent Watson to extend their lead to 32-20.
With 17 minutes left, the game was suspended while two ambulances crossed the field to assist a Murgon player injured in a “friendly fire” incident with a team-mate in a tackle.
When play finally resumed after a lengthy break, Murgon again crossed the Wondai line but unfortunately for Mustangs’ fans the ball was left behind …
A minute later, Wondai’s Tyrone Murray stole the ball in a one-on-one tackle and scored, cutting the Mustangs’ lead to eight points.
Both sides were fired up for the last 10 minutes and the Wolves were determined in their attack.
With five minutes to go, Ryan Stower scored for Wondai cutting the gap to four. The crucial conversion went wide of the posts.
The last three minutes were full of drama, with a Wondai player dropping the ball in attack, a penalty awarded to Murgon, time-off for a Wondai injury and a penalty to Wondai … but the scoreboard remained unchanged.
At full-time, Murgon had defeated Wondai 32-28.
Murgon tries were scored by Gordon Fonua, Peter Bligh, Daniel Georgetown, Coby Sullivan, Danny Edwards and Vincent Watson. Goals were kicked by Jameel Sullivan (3) and Gordon Fonua.
Wondai tries were scored by Troy Kerkow (2), Marty Holding, Danny Alberts, Tyrone Murray and Ryan Stower. Goals were kicked by Danny Alberts (2).
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Game times for next Saturday (July 11) at Murgon Sportsground:
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- 12:30pm – U14s Murgon v Central Burnett
(NB. Updated time)
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- 1:30pm – U16s Murgon v Central Burnett
(NB. Updated time)
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- U18s Murgon v Cherbourg
(cancelled – Cherbourg U18s have withdrawn from competition)
Burnett Championship finals
- 3:00pm – Cherbourg v Mundubbera (Plate)
- 5:00pm – Wondai v Monto (Cup)
