May 3, 2024
Round 1 of the South Burnett Rugby League’s A Grade competition saw a triumphant Nanango Stags back on the paddock for 2024.
The club couldn’t muster enough players to field an A Grade team in last year’s competition, but returned this year with a roar.
Playing under lights at Kingaroy’s T.J. O’Neill Oval, the Stags took down last year’s grand finalists Cherbourg in a grinding second half display after the Hornets led 6-0 at half-time.
Returning to the limelight were Stags’ veterans Drew Jackson, Patrick Gentry and Lachlin Smith who all scored tries after the break.
Nanango will be hosting this weekend’s junior and senior games at Fred Kassulke Oval (see This Weekend’s Games, below)
The Cherbourg / Nanango clash was the second A Grade game played at Kingaroy last Saturday.
Earlier in the day, last year’s premiers Kingaroy overwhelmed the Wondai Wolves in a second-half comeback, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Wondai opened the scoring and led 20-12 at half-time, but Kingaroy came back with a vengeance after the break, piling on three tries in 10 minutes to take the lead.
A converted try by Matthew Stumer put the Wolves within two points but the Red Ants weren’t finished with two more tries to come, including a try right on the full-time siren by Lachlan Price.
- Nanango Stags 18 def. Cherbourg Hornets 6 after Cherbourg led 6-0 at half-time.
Nanango try scorers: Drew Jackson, Patrick Gentry and Lachlin Smith. Jayden Tewes-Smallwood kicked three goals.
Cherbourg try scorer: Kane Macdonald. Daron Saltner-Bligh kicked the conversion.
- Kingaroy Red Ants 40 def. Wondai Wolves 26 after being behind 20-12 at half-time
Kingaroy try scorers: Killian Klease (3), Lachlan Price (2), Harry Sterling and Iona Varomusu. Sterling kicked six goals.
Wondai try scorers: Corey Ward (3) and Matthew Stumer. Torren Anderton kicked four conversions and a penalty goal.
* * *
Under 14s
- Chinchilla Bulldogs 28 def. Murgon Mustangs 16
Murgon try scorers: Dante Douglas (2) and Jayden Arndell. Arndell kicked two goals.
Chinchilla try scorers: James Greer (3), Ethan Underwood and Jake Sorensen. Sorensen kicked four goals.
- Cherbourg Hornets 34 def. Nanango Stags 0
- Kingaroy Red Ants 50 def. Wondai Wolves 0
* * *
Under 16s
- Western Suburbs Panthers 26 def. South Burnett Eagles 18 at Bundaberg (BJRL)
South Burnett try scorers: Will Webber, Ryan Wallace and Kaiden Weston. Zachary Harris kicked three goals.
Wests try scorers: Darius Freeman (3), Kyjuan Tanna and Isaac Williams. Levi Brough kicked three goals.
* * *
Under 17s
- South Burnett Eagles 34 def. Highfields Eagles 20 after leading 14-8 at half-time at Kingaroy (TJRL)
South Burnett try scorers: Harrison Braithwaite (2), Will Webber (2), Liam Irwin, Casey Jones and Thomas Larsen. Goals were kicked by Irwin (2) and Braithwaite.
Highfields try scorers: Riley Zanette (2), Jack Gordon and Shaun Elara. Goals were kicked by Tyson Woods (2).
* * *
Under 17s Girls
- Cherbourg / Fraser Coast drew 16-all with Bundaberg (WBFC)
* * *
Open Women
- Wondai 42 def. Bundaberg 4 at Eidsvold (WBFC)
Wondai try scorers included: Traevonnah Fisher (2), McKenzie Brazendale, Nickie Geysing, Violet Black, Lauren Coutts and Elle Mollenhauer. Goals were kicked by Fisher (2), Mollenhauer (2) and Coutts.
Bundaberg try scorer: Zoe Smart
- Cherbourg 22 def. Fraser Coast at Cherbourg on Sunday (WBFC)
* * *
This Weekend’s Games
Friday at Nanango
- 5:30pm – Under 14s – Kingaroy v Murgon
- 6:30pm – Under 14s – Nanango v Wondai
Saturday at Nanango
Junior games from 8:00am
- 2:45pm – A Grade – Murgon v Wondai
- 4:30pm – A Grade – Nanango v Kingaroy
NB. Under 16s – South Burnett Eagles – bye
Saturday at Chinchilla
- Under 14s – Cherbourg v Chinchilla
Saturday at Dalby
- Under 17s – South Burnett Eagles v Dalby Devils (TJRL)
Sunday at Maryborough
- Under 17s Girls – Cherbourg v Fraser Coast (WBFC)
- Open Women – Cherbourg v Wondai at Maryborough (WBFC)
