(Photo: Past Tense Photography)
September 15, 2022
The Murgon Mustangs topped off a big year for the club with stunning victories in both the A Grade and Under 14s rugby league Grand Finals on Saturday.
Just days after being named the South Burnett Rugby League’s 2022 Club Champions, the Mustangs added two more trophies to their cabinet for the year.
Both their Under 14s and A Grade sides took the long path to glory after surviving must-win games in their Preliminary Finals the previous week, while the Stags’ teams enjoyed a week off.
The Grand Finals were played before an enthusiastic home crowd at the Murgon Sportsground but there were also plenty of Nanango supporters sporting their blue and white colours.
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A Grade
Murgon got off to a powerful start in the A Grade Grand Final, with Glen Fisher, Barwoo Fisher and Jonathan Walsh scoring three unanswered tries back-to-back.
All three tries were successfully converted by Daron Saltner-Bligh, whose boot was on target all day.
Murgon were leading 18-nil with just ten minutes left in the first half when Ashley Smallwood finally crossed the line to put Nanango’s first points on the board.
The Stags’ try was converted by Jakeb Mead.
A Murgon mistake from the restart then gave Nanango another opportunity with Tom O’Neill taking full advantage and scoring in the corner.
At half-time, Murgon led Nanango 18-10.
The Mustangs went on the attack again after the break, with Barwoo Fisher’s second try extending their lead to 24-10.
Minutes later, the home crowd erupted as Saltner-Bligh took an intercept close to his own line and ran the length of the field to score under the posts.
Saltner-Bligh then converted his own try, extending Murgon’s lead to 30-10 with 24 minutes to go.
The Mustangs’ domination in the second half continued with rugged defence keeping the Stags at bay.
A converted try by Arthur Saltner then sealed Murgon’s 36-10 victory.
Murgon try scorers were Barwoo Fisher (2), Glen Fisher, Jonathan Walsh, Daron Saltner-Bligh and Arthur Saltner. Saltner-Bligh kicked six from six conversions.
Nanango tries were scored by Ashley Smallwood and Tom O’Neill. Jakeb Mead kicked one conversion.
South Burnett Rugby League president Dave Tierney presented the 2022 trophy to the triumphant Mustangs at the end of the match.
The Charles “Chaz” Williams Memorial Shield was then presented to the Mustangs’ Josiah Alberts by Rosie Sullivan.
Chaz, a well-known local footballer, died in 2015 and the shield is presented every year in his honour by the Williams family for the “Best & Most Respected Player” in the Grand Final.
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Under 14s
Zac Harris, who helped set up Murgon’s appearance in the Under 14s Grand Final, put in another strong performance on Saturday, helping the Mustangs secure a 24-4 win over the Nanango Stags.
Harris scored two tries for Murgon in the Preliminary Final and then repeated the performance on Saturday to be named Player Of The Final.
Murgon tries were scored by Zac Harris (2), Zac Borninkhof and Damon Cooper. Jacob Rattey kicked three goals and Clayton Langton kicked one.
Nanango’s try was scored by Ryan Wallace.
(Photo: Past Tense Photography)
(South Burnett Online would like to thank SBRL president Dave Tierney and Max Wilkie for their help in compiling this report)
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South Burnett Eagles
The South Burnett Eagles notched up a tight 18-16 victory against Highfields in the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League’s Under 15s Preliminary Final on Saturday.
They will now face the Valleys Roosters in the Grand Final at the Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.
The SBRL has booked a bus for players and supporters.
It will leave Murgon Post Office at 9:00am on Saturday with stops in Wondai, Kingaroy and Nanango.
Contact the SBRL’s Facebook page to book a seat for $10.
