Cherbourg Holds On For Victory

Mitchell Bleys reached out to put Wondai’s first points on the board against Cherbourg

June 9, 2023

While Nanango was celebrating its Old Boys Day, two A Grade South Burnett rugby league games plus two South Burnett Eagles matches were held in Kingaroy.

In the first A Grade, the Cherbourg Hornets defeated Wondai 32-30 in a see-sawing game, after Wondai led 14-10 at half-time.

The Hornets put the first points on the board when Lance Gadd scored in the corner and George Fisher nailed the difficult conversion.

Wondai hit back a few minutes later via Mitchell Bleys, but the conversion attempt hit the posts and was waved away, one of two Wondai goal attempts during the game which bounced the wrong way for the Wolves, proving expensive at full-time.

Unusually, the Hornets also had little luck with conversions, landing just two from seven attempts.

Both sides also had near-misses with tries, crossing the line only to be held up or called back.

Cherbourg regained the lead three minutes into the second half, only for Wondai to respond nine minutes later.

The lead swapped twice more before Daniel Cobbo and George Fisher scored back-to-back tries for Cherbourg (with another conversion attempt hitting the posts!).

With the Cherbourg leading 32-24 with nine minutes to go, the Hornets started to look comfortable but then Conan Holding broke through for Wondai.

Keith Gadd Jnr successfully converted, to make it 32-30 with four minutes left.

Sadly for Wondai fans, some desperate attacking play by the Wolves in the last few minutes wasn’t enough to budge the scoreline any further.

Cherbourg tries: Lance Gadd, Elwyn Fewquandie, Vincent Law, George Fisher, Lance Gadd, Daniel Cobbo and George Fisher. George Fisher kicked two conversions.

Wondai tries: Mitchell Bleys, Tyler Prescott, Keith Gadd Jnr, Jack McDowell, Asofono Lemalu and Conan Holding. Goals were kicked by Keith Jnr Gadd (2) and Ashley Smallwood

Keith Gadd Jnr scores in the corner for the Wolves to put Wondai back in the lead with just seven minutes left in the first half

Desperate Cherbourg defence holds up Wondai over the line right on half-time

Vincent Law forces his way over the line backwards at the start of the second half to put the Hornets back into the lead

Daniel Cobbo scores another over-the-line-backwards try for Cherbourg, to put the Hornets ahead again with 14 minutes left in the game

*** * ***

Buddy Stanley puts the first points on the board for Murgon against the Kingaroy Red Ants

The second A Grade game played at Kingaroy, between the hosts and the Murgon Mustangs was also a tight game.

The Red Ants eventually ran out winners Kingaroy 34-28 after leading 24-10 at half-time.

Kingaroy tries: Semesa Madigicala (2), Harry Sterling (2), Sata Tale and Nikolao Petueli. Harry Sterling kicked five conversions.

Murgon tries: Buddy Stanley, Lloyd Saltner, Lloyd Langton, Christopher Bond and Daron Saltner-Bligh. Daron Saltner-Bligh (3) and Lloyd Langton.

*** * ***

Other Results

Rory Crumpton flies over the line to score for the South Burnett Eagles in their U16s game against Highfields on Saturday

At Kingaroy:

Under 15s – South Burnett Eagles 64 def. Highfields 0 after leading 34-0 at half-time
South Burnett tries: Zachary Harris (3), Damon Cooper (3), Brayden Watcho-Page (2), Lawson Braithwaite, Ryan Wallace, Kaiden Weston and Rainer Heard. Goals were kicked by Zachary Harris (4), Lawson Braithwaite (3) and Darryl Ugle.

Under 16s – South Burnett Eagles 22 def. Highfields 16 after leading 16-6 at half-time
South Burnett tries: Tito Bligh, Blake Dynevor, Harrison Braithwaite and Rory Crumpton. Goals were kicked by Liam Irwin (2) and Harrison Braithwaite.

Lynx Harth runs away from a pack of Highfields’ defenders in Under 16s

At Nanango:

Under 14s – Nanango 26 def. Kingaroy 12
Nanango tries: Tyson Saunders (4) and Tom Clifford. Jai Mahoney kicked three goals.
Kingaroy tries: James Meagher, Jaxon Branch and Kyle Josai.

At Chinchilla:

Under 14s – Chinchilla Bulldogs 28 def. Murgon Mustangs 24

At Bundaberg:

Under 18s – South Burnett Eagles 16 def. Bundaberg Past Brothers 14.
South Burnett tries: Casey Jones (2) and Rohan Large. Jayden Tewes-Smallwood kicked two conversions.