Murgon Sets Up Nanango Showdown

This diving try by the Mustangs’ Jonathan Walsh with 16 minutes left in the Preliminary Final ended Wondai’s hopes of an A Grade Grand Final spot

September 8, 2022

The Mustangs have forced showdown rematches with the Nanango Stags in two huge rugby league Grand Finals to be played at Murgon on Saturday.

Nanango had already booked a spot in both the Under 14s and A Grade Grand Finals after downing Mustangs’ sides in the Major Semi-Finals played on August 27.

This forced the Murgon Under 14s to battle Chinchilla on Saturday at T.J. O’Neill Oval in Kingaroy for their chance at the premiership, while the A Graders had to take on an in-form Wondai Wolves.

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A Grade

Alex Georgetown scores in the corner to put Wondai’s first points on the scoreboard

The Wondai Wolves went into the A Grade Preliminary Final as the sentimental favourites after waiting seven years for a chance at glory.

Although the game was played in Kingaroy, it almost seemed like a home game for the Wolves as there were so many Wondai supporters in the crowd.

The Wolves scored the first points five minutes after kick-off via Alex Georgetown in the corner.

Just minutes later, Wondai looked to have scored on the opposite side of the field only to be ruled “no try”.

Barwoo Fisher put Murgon’s first points on the board soon afterwards, taking the score to 4-all.

The Wolves eventually broke the deadlock with Georgetown scoring his second, and Sonny Weazel plucking a ball out of the air to run away and score.

Five minutes before half-time, the South Burnett’s leading senior try scorer for 2022, Glen Fisher, added to his tally, bringing Murgon to within four points of the lead, 12-8.

And then with less than a minute to go, Elwyn Fewquandie evened the scores at 12-all.

Daron Saltner-Bligh’s kick after the siren sounded – the first successful conversion of the game – gave Murgon a 14-12 lead at the break.

After the restart, Fisher scored his second try for the day, capitalising on a Wondai error and stretching Murgon’s lead to 18-12.

But neither side were about to give up, with both scoring two more tries before full-time.

The Wolves’ crowd erupted when Wondai’s “Fonzie”, ie. Asofono Lemalu, scored. Alex Georgetown’s conversion brought the scores back to 22-all.

But with 16 minutes to go, Jonathan Walsh broke Wondai’s hearts with a diving try in the corner, which was converted by Elwyn Fewquandie to give Murgon a closely fought 28-22 victory.

Murgon tries were scored by Glen Fisher (2), Barwoo Fisher, Elwyn Fewquandie, Maurice Fisher and Jonathan Walsh. Conversions were kicked by Daron Saltner-Bligh and Fewquandie.

Wondai try scorers were Alex Georgetown (2), Sonny Weazel, Cory Ward and Asofono Lemalu. Georgetown kicked one goal.

Sonny Weazel runs away to score for the Wolves

This effort by the Wondai Wolves was ruled no try

Glen Fisher chases the ball to the line to score for the Mustangs

Maurice Fisher scores for Murgon in the second half, stretching their lead to 22-16

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Under 14s

Zac Harris dives to score his first points of the day for Murgon, just minutes after kick-off

The sudden-death Under 14s Preliminary Final was played earlier in the day.

Murgon started strongly with tries to Zac Harris and Damon Cooper within the first five minutes, but as the clock wound down towards half-time the Chinchilla Bulldogs hit back with quick tries to Izaac McConville and Robert Hardy-Thomson.

At the break, the scores were locked at 10-all.

The Mustangs hit the scoreboard first in the second half when Will Webber crossed after just one minute, with Zac Harris converting.

Chinchilla struck back almost immediately, with Hardy-Thomson notching up his second try for the day, cutting Murgon’s lead to 16-14.

But at the mid-point of the half, the Mustangs galloped away, scoring three converted tries in six minutes – including a runaway effort by Zac Harris – taking the full-time score to 34-14.

Murgon try scorers were Zac Harris (2), Damon Cooper (2), Will Webber and Quayden Langton. Conversions were kicked by Jacob Rattey (2), Harris (2) and Langton.

Chinchilla tries were scored by Robert Hardy-Thomson (2) and Izaac McConville. Will Bannister kicked one conversion.