August 12, 2015
Saturday’s A Grade rugby league clash between Kingaroy and Murgon – played in Nanango – was a game of two halves.
Kingaroy won the first half while Murgon dominated the second and were unlucky not to win the match
The Red Ants were on top during the first 30 minutes, putting on four tries before Murgon put any points on the board.
Kingaroy’s tries came via Chris Holmes, Jye Hopkins, Carl Freeman and Jayden Jarvis. Ashley Smallwood converted three of them.
With the score at 22-0, Murgon’s Jameel Sullivan scored a soft try, walking through the defence to plant the ball under the posts.
Cain Bond’s kick was good and the Mustangs were finally on the board with 22 minutes left in the first half.
But Kingaroy quickly hit back, scoring three tries in six minutes – by Siopau Taufa, Ashley Smallwood and Jye Thorley.
With Kingaroy leading 36-6, the half-time break was brought forward to allow ambulance paramedics to attend to Thorley who was injured in a subsequent tackle after scoring his try.
The second began with another Kingaroy try, by Mitchell Crossley, but a fired-up Mustangs wasn’t going to allow the Red Ants to get away with more.
Five minutes into the half, the Mustangs had a bit of luck. A Kingaroy player about to catch the restart, fumbled; he appeared distracted as a car horn sounded behind him just as he was about to take the ball.
With Murgon in possession, just a few passes later Jameel Sullivan was back under the posts for his second try, Steve Watcho converted, and Kingaroy now led 40-12.
Four minutes later, Watcho scored his own try, and added the extra points. It was 40-18.
With both sides fired up – and not just because of the very hot temperatures for a winter’s day – Murgon went on the rampage.
In the last 26 minutes, the Mustangs put on another three tries – Mitch McDonald, Danny Edwards and Steven Watcho – to take the final score to 40-36 with four minutes to go.
The Red Ants held on to win, but could consider themselves lucky as Murgon had chances in the last minutes.
The game was marred by hot tempers with players from both sides spending time in the bin.
Kingaroy tries were scored by Chris Holmes, Jye Hopkins, Carl Freeman, Jayden Jarvis, Siopau Taufa, Ashley Smallwood, Jye Thorley and Mitchell Crossley. Ashley Smallwood kicked four goals.
Murgon tries were scored by Jameel Sullivan (2), Steven Watcho (2) Mitch McDonald and Danny Edwards. Conversions were kicked by Cain Bond, Steve Watcho (4) and Barwoo Fisher.
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In U14s, Nanango led 18-0 at half-time but Kingaroy came back stronger in the second half.
The final score was 28-10.
Nanango tries were scored by Jake Keating, Saxton Hampsen, Kaia Williams, Joseph Labdouni (2) and Blake Shirley; Saxton Hampsen kicked two goals.
Kingaroy tries were scored by Taylor Stead and Jacob Brazier. Nick Plint kicked one goal.
* * *
Other results:
- U12 – Nanango 18 – Kingaroy 18
- U12 – Murgon 20 – Cherbourg 28
- U12 – Central Burnett 14 – Wondai 38
- U14 – Murgon 0 – Cherbourg 64
- U14 – Central Burnett 28 – Wondai 22
- U16 – Murgon 16 Cherbourg 26
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This weekend (August 15) is the last round of fixture games in both juniors and seniors.
