July 19, 2015
The Mustangs reined in Kingaroy’s winning streak in A Grade league in a very close game at TJ O’Neill Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Murgon and Kingaroy went try-for-try for the first 40 minutes.
At half-time, the Red Ants were ahead 14-12 after three tries apiece – and the score could have been 14-all but for Murgon’s last conversion attempt, taken after the siren, hitting the upright and being waved away.
The windy conditions could be blamed for all but one of the goal attempts by either team in the first half being unsuccessful.
Murgon also had at least three other opportunities in the half to score, crossing the Red Ants’ tryline just to be called back.
However, the Mustangs got off to a good start in the second half when Gordon Fonua scored, putting the first points on the board and taking the lead for the first time.
But Kingaroy quickly replied, with back-to-back tries by Mick Smallwood, Jye Thorley and John Judge to take the Red Ants to a 28-18 lead midway in the second half.
But the Mustangs had plenty of time left and they put it to good use. A try by Daniel Georgetown under the posts cut back the Kingaroy margin.
And then with six minutes left, Peter Bligh crossed to bring the score to 28-all. Chris Bond put on the extra points to give the Mustangs a narrow lead.
This looked shaky when Kingaroy mounted a promising attack with three minutes left, but the move broke down with a forward pass.
With less than a minute on the clock, Murgon’s Barwoo Fisher unexpectedly latched onto the ball and scored right under the posts, Cain Bond’s conversion took the final score to Murgon 36, Kingaroy 28.
Murgon tries were scored by Jameel Sullivan (2), Chris Bond, Gordon Fonua, Daniel Georgetown, Peter Bligh and Barwoo Fisher. Goals were kicked by Chris Bond (2), Gordon Fonua and Cain Bond.
Kingaroy try scorers were Ashley Smallwood (2), Carl Freeman, Mick Smallwood, Jye Thorley and John Judge. Goalkickers were Mitchell Crossley (2)
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A minute’s silence was held at the start of the game to mark four recent deaths in the rugby league community, including Kingaroy resident Zack Bleakley who was a Red Ant junior.
Also affected by recent deaths was Saturday’s Wondai v Cherbourg A Grade game which was cancelled because of a funeral. Both sides took one point for the game.
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Other Results:
U18s
- Murgon 42 – Caboolture 26 (at Kingaroy)
U16s
- Kingaroy 26 – Murgon 4 (at Kingaroy)
U14s
- Wondai 20 – Cherbourg 16 (at Wondai)
- Nanango 28 – Central Burnett 24 (at Mundubbera)
- Kingaroy 74 – Murgon 4 (at Kingaroy)
