(Photo: Supplied)
August 12, 2022
The big news in rugby league this week is the fact all three South Burnett Eagles women’s teams will be playing in Grand Finals this weekend!
The Open side earned their spot by defeating Bundaberg in the Major Semi-Final a fortnight ago, while the Under 14s and Under 17s found success on Sunday in their Preliminary Finals.
The Under 14s held on to defeat the Fraser Coast Crushers in a real nailbiter at Tannum Sands, 23-22, after the Crushers came home strongly.
The Under 17s had an easier time despite being down on numbers, defeating Fraser Coast 26-14.
The Wide Bay Female competition Grand Finals will be played at Salter Oval in Bundaberg on Saturday:
- Noon – Under 14s – South Burnett v Tannum Sands
- 1:00pm – Under 17s – South Burnett v Bundaberg
- 2:00pm – Open – South Burnett v Fraser Coast
Entry into the ground is free!
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South Burnett A Grade
Two A Grade games were played at Fred Kassulke Oval in Nanango where the Stags were celebrating their “Old Boys” day.
In the first game, the Wondai Wolves defeated a depleted Murgon Mustangs side 50-24 after leading 18-12 at half-time.
Murgon started well, with Glen Fisher scoring a try under the posts within the first five minutes, but Wondai then dominated the scoreboard until Jake Kennedy added another Mustangs’ try just ahead of half-time.
After the break, the Wolves notched up six unanswered tries before Daron-Saltner-Bligh and Glen Fisher scored consolation tries for the Mustangs in the last four minutes.
Wondai try scorers were Alex Georgetown (3), Sonny Weazel (2), Luke Hedges, Bradley Alberts, Mitchell Bleys and Ryan Stower.
Georgetown kicked five conversions and one penalty goal, and Sonny Weazel kicked one.
For Murgon, tries were scored by Glen Fisher (2), Jake Kennedy and Daron Saltner-Bligh. Saltner-Bligh kicked three goals and Maurice Fisher kicked one.
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The second A Grade game was between the home team, Nanango, and Cherbourg.
Nanango 46 was leading Cherbourg 10 when the game was called off at half-time.
Nanango tries were scored by Joe Smith (2), Tom O’Neill (2), Rhyse Simpson, Pat McCallum, Brayden McKeith and Jackson Mladenovic. Simpson kicked six goals and Jayden Tewes-Smallwood, backing up from his Under 17s game earlier in the day, kicked his first goal in A Grade.
Nathan Gadd scored Cherbourg’s two tries, and George Fisher kicked one conversion.
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The South Burnett Rugby League is investigating an alleged case of racial vilification from a spectator during one of Saturday’s A Grade games.
“For those that don’t seem to get the message this is a sport for all, a sport that encourages and fosters diversity and inclusivity,” SBRL president Dave Tierney said.
“Unfortunately, in cases like this there are gutless cowards that feel it is their right to hide in a crowd, surrounded by friends and family, and say whatever.
“Let me make this quite clear to those people, including the family and friends that stand by whilst these gutless cowards hide amongst them, you are not welcome in our sport and when identified you will be removed from our sport.”
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Other Results
Junior games were played in Blackbutt with other games played in Nanango and Chinchilla:
- Under 14s – Murgon 18 def. Nanango 14 at Nanango while Chinchilla 22 def. Cherbourg 12 at Chinchilla.
- Under 15s – South Burnett Eagles were ahead 44-13 over Pittsworth when the game was called off.
- Under 16s – South Burnett 38 def. Pittsworth 28. South Burnett try scorers included Jack Webber (3) and Matthew Kunde. Riley Kerkow kicked five goals.
- Under 17s – South Burnett Eagles 52 def. Pittsworth 12 after leading 32-nil at half time. South Burnett tries were scored by Michael Fisher (3), Marshall Heard (2), Joseph Meikle, Jack Webber, Bayden Alexander, Fletch Prendergast and Jayden Tewes-Smallwood. Tewes-Smallwood kicked six goals.
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This Week’s Games
The Kingaroy Red Ants will be hosting this Saturday’s rugby league games on three fields at T.J. O’Neill Oval.
Junior games will start at 9:00am.
- 12:20pm – Under 14s – Nanango v Cherbourg
- 1:20pm – Under 14s – Kingaroy v Murgon
- 2:30pm – A Grade – Nanango v Murgon
- 4:00pm – A Grade – Kingaroy v Wondai
In Toowoomba:
- Under 15s – South Burnett Eagles v Valleys
- Under 16s – South Burnett Eagles v Valleys
- Under 17s – South Burnett Eagles v Valleys
[UPDATED]
