April 28, 2023
South Burnett Eagles were pipped at the post in a nail-biting Round 2 Under 18s rugby league game played at Kingaroy last Sunday.
At half-time, the home team was ahead 8-6 over Bundaberg Past Brothers and were still leading 20-12 with about 10 minutes left on the clock.
But at the eight minute mark, Bundaberg’s Joseph Doyle ran the ball the length of the field from a scrum win to put Brothers back into the game.
The successful conversion by Ezekiel Monckton put Bundy within spitting distance at 20-18.
As the clock ticked down, Bundaberg attempted a two-point field goal attempt.
The many South Burnett fans at T.J. O’Neill Oval breathed a sigh of relief when it missed, but their celebrations were quickly dashed.
With less than a minute on the clock, Mitchell Sly scored a try to put Brothers ahead 22-20 right on the final siren.
South Burnett try scorers were Harry Sippel, Jack Webber, Charlie Sippel and Casey Jones. Jayden Tewes-Smallwood kicked two conversions.
Bundaberg tries were scored by Joseph Doyle (2), Jan Kirchner and Mitchell Sly. Ezekiel Monckton kicked three goals.
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A Grade
Just one A Grade SBRL game was played last weekend, a clash between the home team, Kingaroy Red Ants, and the Cherbourg Hornets.
The Last Post was sounded and a minute’s silence held before the start of the match to commemorate the upcoming Anzac Day.
The first A Grade game of the season, played immediately after the BJRL Under 18s game on Sunday, looked set to be another nail-biter.
Cherbourg started strongly, scoring back-to-back tries in the first few minutes.
At half-time, Cherbourg and Kingaroy had scored three tries apiece and an epic battle looked likely with the scores locked at 14-all.
Cherbourg broke the deadlock, with Michael Aubrey scoring in the corner.
But the Red Ants then found new life, notching up two tries in four minutes.
Cherbourg lost momentum at the 20-minute mark when one of their players suffered an accidental head knock from a Kingaroy defender near the posts.
The game was delayed for more than 30 minutes while paramedics attended to the injured player.
When play eventually restarted, Kingaroy put on two more quick tries, which were both converted.
The final score was 36-18.
Kingaroy tries were scored by Sata Tale (3), Iona Varomusu, Blake Augustine, Adam Nightingale and Alex Pomfret. Harry Sterling kicked four goals.
Cherbourg try scorers were Lance Gadd, Patrick Alberts, Preston Mosby and Michael Aubrey. Lewis Hopkins kicked one goal.
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Under 14s
Kingaroy Red Ants took on Nanango Stags in Round 1 of the South Burnett Rugby League’s Under 14s competition on Saturday.
The game followed a full round of junior games from U6s to U12s at T.J. O’Neill Oval which attracted a big crowd of proud parents and friends.
The Red Ants ended up running away 28-10 winners after after Nanango led 10-4 at half-time
Kingaroy try scorers were Jack Maudsley (2), Patterson Braithwaite, Ethan Saal, Darcy Williamson and Isaac Hauritz. Will Champney kicked two goals.
Nanango tries were scored by were Ty Clark and Tom Clifford. Lucas Weston kicked one goal.
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This Weekend’s Games
There are no A Grade, U18 or Women’s games scheduled this weekend due to the 47th Battalion Carnival.
At Cherbourg:
Junior games U6s to U12s will start from 8:00am
- 4:20pm – Under 14s – Cherbourg v Murgon
At Chinchilla:
- 2:30pm – Under 14s – Kingaroy v Chinchilla