September 7, 2015
An emotional Red Ants coach Darren Geiger turned to his players after their courageous Grand Final win at Murgon on Saturday: “I am so proud of you …”
Earlier this year, the thought of Kingaroy taking out the premiership was almost unthinkable.
The Red Ants didn’t manage to secure a win against any South Burnett team until July (although they had done well in the mid-year Burnett Championship against the Central Burnett teams).
But then they unexpectedly defeated last year’s premiers, Cherbourg … a task they repeated in the sudden-death Preliminary Final last weekend.
Even so, minor premiers Wondai Wolves – who have looked unstoppable all season – went into the Grand Final as favourites and lauded for their fitness.
History was also on the side of the Wolves. The last time the two teams met in the A Grade Grand Final was in 1976 … and Wondai had won.
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Wondai started the Grand Final strongly, with Brenton List scoring just two minutes after kick-off.
Danny Alberts easily slotted the kick over – as he has been doing all season – and the Wolves were leading 6-0.
As befitting a Grand Final, the defence from both sides was unrelenting which made for a low-scoring first half.
It took another 15 minutes before Kingaroy managed to break through, with Mitchell Crossley getting over the line.
Wondai was ahead 6-4 at half-time.
The second term began with another super-quick try, this time by the Red Ants.
Jye Hopkins scored between the posts but an infraction in the tackle led to an eight-point try being awarded. Ashley Smallwood kicked the two goals, extra points that Wondai would later regret giving away so easily.
Six minutes later, Wondai responded with Joshua Porter scoring his first try for the season. Alberts’ conversion was again on target, and the teams were locked at 12-all.
Wondai had the opportunity to slip ahead while Kingaroy had a player in the bin. Shane Borninkhof scored, Alberts converted and the Wolves were back in the lead 18-12 with 28 minutes left.
Kingaroy then went on the attack, holding possession and mounting back-to-back attacks on the Wondai line, only to be repelled by strong defence.
With nine minutes left on the clock, Jye Hopkins broke through to score his second try for Kingaroy. Ashley Smallwood converted, and again the scores were locked, 18-all with eight minutes to go.
A few minutes later, Wondai tried to break the deadlock with a field goal attempt which was waved away.
As the full-time siren sounded with the scores still locked, Kingaroy was awarded a penalty in an unkickable position (and a Wondai player was sent to the bin).
Under the rules, five minutes were then played both ways in a bid to get a result.
At the end of the first five, Kingaroy led 20-18 after Ashley Smallwood kicked a penalty goal.
Swapping ends, the second five minutes began. Almost against the run of play, Kingaroy’s Leini Taufa broke through and ran away from the defence.
The shell-shocked Wondai players were sitting on their haunches as Ashley Smallwood converted, taking Kingaroy to a 26-18 lead.
But the Wolves weren’t about to give up even though there was less than two minutes left.
Now again at full-strength with their sin-binned player back on, Wondai mounted another attack which Shane Borninkhof capitalised on to score his second try for the game.
Alberts’ kick was good and Wondai was just two points behind … but time had run out for the Wolves.
The final score: Kingaroy 26, Wondai 24.
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