May 14, 2021
Murgon is the place to be on Saturday for rugby league with a huge day planned to coincide with the return of the Stanwell 9s competition.
Players from South Burnett clubs will be in action in various age categories – and across six fields – at Murgon Sportsgrounds (see the timetable, below) as part of the Murgon Mustangs’ Domestic Violence Awareness round.
This is the fourth time the Stanwell Nines competition has been played, but this senior round robin competition won’t be the only action taking place.
There are also two games from the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League competition: the South Burnett Eagles Under 15s and Under 16s will be taking on teams from Toowoomba Brothers.
Both Eagles’ teams are coming off big wins last Saturday and will be hoping to repeat the performance this weekend.
And there will also be two Under 14s games from the South Burnett competition: Kingaroy v Chinchilla, and Murgon v Nanango.
Entry to the alcohol-free, all-day event will be by gold coin donation.
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Another highlight on Saturday at Murgon be a Queensland Police rep team playing against a Frank Fisher Invitational team from 3:15pm.
The Frank Fisher squad, which was selected from across the Central Division after the recent 47th Battalion carnival, is packed with South Burnett or former South Burnett players:
Jensen Deamer
Marcus Tanner
Josh Tanner
Caleb Tull
Paddy Alberts
Daron Bligh
Peter Langton
Bronson Fogarty
Norman Wragge
Travis Field
Reuban Hamson
Jett Hill
Coby Fechner
Ollie Peak
Barwoo Fisher
Seaton Reed
Vincent Law
Bodie Sharman
Nathan Gaulton
Josh Stanton
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What’s Happening & When
At Murgon Sportsgrounds on Saturday:
Murgon DV Awareness
- Under 6s – from 10:00am (Fields 5 & 6)
- Under 8s – from 8:15am (Field 3)
- Under 10s – from 8:00am (Field 2)
- Under 12s – from 8:00am (Main Field)
A Grade Stanwell 9s (Field 2)
- 12:45pm – Murgon v Kingaroy
- 1:10pm – Wondai v Cherbourg
- 1:35pm – Murgon v Wondai
- 2:00pm – Kingaroy v Cherbourg
- 2:25pm – Murgon v Cherbourg
- 2:50pm – Kingaroy v Wondai
Main Field
- 10:15am – U14s – Murgon v Nanango (SBJRL)
- 11:10am – U14s – Kingaroy v Chinchilla (SBJRL)
- 12:10pm – OPENING CEREMONY
- 12:40pm – U15s – SB Eagles v Toowoomba Brothers (TJRL)
- 1:40pm – U16s – SB Eagles v Toowoomba Brothers (TJRL)
- 3:15pm – Qld Police Rep v Frank Fisher Invitational
- 4:45pm – Grand Final of Stanwell Nines
NB. The South Burnett Eagles Under 18s will be in action on Sunday against Wattles at Clifton.
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Murgon’s Domestic Violence Awareness round follows three days of workshops run by the NRL’s “Voice Against Violence” team and the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation at local schools and sports clubs to deliver education around gendered domestic violence.
State of Origin star Gavin Cooper and ex-Canberra Raiders’ Alan Tongue have been taking part in the activities across the region.
On Wednesday evening, the pair dropped in to T.J. O’Neill Oval in Kingaroy to talk to young players taking part in the South Burnett’s Beyond The Nest rugby league program.
On Thursday night, they were guests at the Barambah Local Justice Group’s Domestic and Family Violence Awards dinner held at Murgon RSL Club, where Murgon Mustang’s Col Cooper was presented with the major award for his work in organising the DV Awareness round.
Alan Tongue told southburnett.com.au the “Voice Against Violence” program was an opportunity to “create the chat” with young men, often a hard group to reach.
“It’s primarily a prevention approach; 16 to 18 is an important age in footy clubs and it’s a good time to talk to them,” he said.
“It sets a standard for these young men going forward. We have the opportunity to talk to the young men of influence in our footy clubs.”
Murgon Mustangs’ Scott Prendergast – also acting officer-in-charge of Kingaroy Police – said the NRL program had the full support of local police.
He said the Domestic Violence Awareness round at Murgon built on other positive activities in the area, and would also feature a Queensland Police team in action on the field.
The day is being sponsored by Stanwell, Downer, QRL, NRL, the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, South Burnett Regional Council, South Burnett Rugby League, Uniting Care Community, Deb Frecklington’s Office and the State Government.
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Last Weekend’s Results
In A Grade, Nanango scraped home against Cherbourg in front of a big home crowd at Nanango’s Fred Kassulke Oval.
At half-time, Nanango led 6-4.
The final scoreline didn’t reflect the closeness of the match, with Cherbourg just four points behind the Stags for much of the second half.
At the midway point, the Hornets looked to have scored in the corner but were called back by the referee.
A Blake Harvey try with four minutes to go, converted by Thomas Springate, sealed a scrappy win to Nanango 24-14.
Nanango tries were scored by Robert Ryan, Harley Farrar, Kieran Douglas and Blake Harvey. Goal kickers were Tom Springate (3) and Tyrone Smallwood.
Cherbourg try scorers were Patrick Alberts, Aiden Mallyer and Ryan Jacobs; Bernard Hopkins kicked one conversion.
In the second A Grade game, also played under lights at Nanango, Murgon 40 defeated Wondai 10.
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In Under 14s, it wasn’t a good day for home teams.
- At Nanango, Murgon 46 def. Nanango 4.
Zachary Harris and Dustin Ramke both scored hat-tricks for Murgon. Other Mustangs’ try-scorers were Damon Cooper (2) and Darryl Gyemore. Trent Aubrey kicked three goals and Zac Harris two.
Nanango’s try was scored by Will Esen.
- At Chinchilla, Kingaroy 38 def. Chinchilla 22.
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In Round 2 of the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League competition:
- Under 15s – South Burnett Eagles 22 def. Pittsworth 6 at Nanango.
South Burnett tries were scored by Billy Makie, Casey Jones, Chris Simpson and Matthew Kunde. Tom Currin kicked three goals.
Pittsworth’s try was scored by Marcellus McCarthy and converted by Ethan Brose.
- Under 16s – South Burnett Eagles 70 def. Pittsworth 2 at Nanango.
South Burnett tries were scored by Joel Fewquandie (2), Bobby Bligh (2), Chill Pidgeon (2), Michael Fisher, Jayden Smallwood, Joe Meikle, Tyrell Hopkins, Lewis Railton-Thompson and Malakye Blow. Jayden Smallwood kicked 11 goals.
Pittsworth’s sole points came from a successful penalty kick by Lachlan Thompson.
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A Toowoomba JRL Under 18s game was also played at Nanango between South Burnett Eagles and the Oakey Bears.
- South Burnett 34 def. Oakey 6.
South Burnett tries were scored by Lennox Bligh (2), Selwyn Dynevor, Jake Kennedy, Lloyd Langton and Charles Alberts. Lloyd Langton kicked five goals.
Oakey tries were scored by Isaac Wickham, Darcy Watherston and Malik Woodbridge. Malik Woodbridge (2) and Ashtyn Byers were the goal kickers.
