March 3, 2023
The South Burnett rugby league hasn’t officially started yet but there’s still been plenty of action for fans to enjoy.
This Saturday night, the Red Ants will be hosting a pre-season trial match under lights at T.J. O’Neill Oval in Kingaroy.
Kingaroy’s A Grade team will be taking on a team from Bundaberg’s Across The Waves club.
The action will kick off at 6:00pm.
The trial game follows a big day of league hosted by the Red Ants last Saturday.
Three QRL games – in the Under 16s, Under 19s Women and Under 18s competitions – were played before a good crowd.
The three games featured Wide Bay Bulls teams (which included South Burnett players) taking on Western Clydesdales sides from Toowoomba (see below).
Unfortunately, none of the Bulls teams got up in their first game of the season, but both the Under 16s and Under 18s put in strong performances against more-fancied opponents.
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South Burnett Eagles junior teams also took part in the recent Adrian Vowles Cup in Charleville.
Darryl Gyemore was picked in the Under 16s “Dream Team” at the end of the carnival against strong competition.
Others in the Dream Team were Col Finter (Mt Isa), Hayden Nicholson (Toowoomba Brothers), Ihaia Puonotaua (Redcliffe), Jacob Close (Central West), Curtis Fernando (Roma Cities), Conner Walsh (Red Bulls), Sebastian Booth (Caboolture), Billy Barron (Central West), Cooper Dukes (Central West), Ryley Wilson (St George), Riley Brown (Toowoomba Brothers) and Eric Walt (Caboolture).
Frankie Bligh (U16s) and Jack Maudsley (U14s) were named “Best and Fairest” for the South Burnett.
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Cyril Connell Challenge – U16s
Western Clydesdales 24 defeated the Wide Bay Bulls 22, in a very close game.
Bulls opened the scoring with a try to Kev Weribone, the first of two tries he scored on the day.
The teams were locked at 14-all at half-time.
With ten minutes to go, Owen Hess scored a lucky try in the corner for the Bulls.
Unfortunately, the difficult conversion attempt to even the scores failed.
Bulls’ tries were scored by Kev Weribone (2), Owen Hess (2) and Bentley Rizzo. Weribone kicked one goal.
Clydesdales’ try scorers were Braithen Scott (2), Daniel Brown (2) and Declan Reen. Koen Zerbst and Scott kicked a goal apiece.
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Harvey Norman U19s – Women
Western Clydesdales outclassed the Wide Bay Bulls 40-4 after leading 20-0 at half-time.
The Bulls’ solitary try was scored by Hanahlin Whittard with 11 minutes to go, but the Bulls were on the attack again when the full-time siren sounded.
Clydesdales’ try scorers were Bonnie Zappa (2), Taylor Logan, Chloe Pallisier, Katelyn Collie, Mackenzie Zeller, Reagan McMillan and Mariah Brown. Pallisier kicked four conversions.
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Mal Meninga Cup – Under 18s
Western Clydesdales defeated the Wide Bay Bulls 30-26 in another close game after leading 14-12 at half-time.
The Bulls put the first points on the board via a try by Mitchell Sly, which was converted to take the score to 6-0.
The Clydesdales fought back with three more tries, before the South Burnett’s Fletch Prendergast scored four minutes before half-time.
The Toowoomba side started the second half strongly but the Bulls saw a chance when a Clydesdales’ player was binned.
They found new strength – urged on by the crowd – in the last 10 minutes with tries to Adam Khan, Daniel Cavanagh and Noah Law.
Bulls’ try scorers were Mitchell Sly, Fletch Prendergast, Adam Khan, Daniel Cavanagh and Noah Law. Khan kicked three conversions.
Clydesdales’ tries were scored by Bud Smith (2), Luke Cesari (2), Bailey Nash and Lyucian King-Togia. Jake Durie and Braiden Driscoll scored two tries each.
