July 23, 2019
Nanango SHS will play Murgon SHS in the Open final of the Wide Bay Southern Broncos Challenge after semi-finals played at T.J. O’Neill Oval in Kingaroy on Tuesday.
The full day of schoolboy rugby league followed a series of games between local schools played earlier in the season.
Murgon SHS went through to the final – to be played in Nanango on August 6 – without taking the field after Gympie SHS defaulted.
In the other semi, the Nanango SHS team, which featured several South Burnett Eagles players, overpowered the smaller St Mary’s Catholic College side.
This was the first time for several years that St Mary’s have fielded a team in the Open competition so their presence was applauded by spectators.
But despite a big effort, the St Mary’s side found it almost impossible to break through the tough Nanango SHS defence.
The half-time score was 28-0 which blew out to 64-10 when the full-time siren sounded.
Nanango try scorers were Matthew Early (3), James Packer (2), Joe Smith (2), Matthew Springate, Tyson Ellul, Harry Wilson, Kaia Williams, Dan English and Connor Fitzpatrick. Springate kicked four goals, Aidan Cavanough and Connor Fitzpatrick kicked one apiece.
St Mary’s try scorers were Patrick Hoult and Braydon Anderson. Kyron Clegg kicked one goal.
* * *
In other Broncos Challenge semi-final games played on Tuesday:
- Under 13s – Murgon def. Kingaroy 55-4
- Under 13s – Gympie def. Nanango 74-6
- Under 15s – Murgon def. Gympie 42-10
- Under 15s – Kingaroy def. Nanango 26-18
[UPDATED with correction]
