March 27, 2025
It’s been a big few months for the Cherbourg Hornets Rugby League Club … and it’s going to get even busier when Round 1 of the South Burnett competition kicks off next month.
The Hornets men were in action on Saturday at Jack O’Chin Oval in Cherbourg, taking on Brisbane Natives in their annual Gyemore Shield clash.
The annual game between the two teams is played in memory of three Gyemore brothers: Arthur, Ronald and Graham.
The Hornets came out on top this time, downing the visitors 34-8, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The win follows Cherbourg’s men’s and women’s teams taking on Woorabinda in their annual Pioneer Shield game earlier this month at Woorabinda.
Both teams clocked up wins against the Warriors, 62-18 for the men; and 48-16 for the Hornettes.
In February, the Hornets defeated the Oakey Redbelly Blacks 36-14 at the big International Legends of League day in Kingaroy.
And in January, the Hornets travelled to Toowoomba to take part in the annual Toowoomba Warriors Reconciliation knockout held over the long weekend.
About 20 teams from Queensland and NSW attended the carnival, giving the Hornets a good workout although they didn’t come away with the win.
But Round 1 of the South Burnett competition on April 5 looks to be even bigger!
It has been designated Frank Fisher Cup Day, in memory of the famous Cherbourg rugby league player who died in 1980.
Fisher was named in the Cherbourg Team Of The Century, the South Burnett Team Of The Century, the Wide Bay Team Of The Century and the Indigenous Team Of The Century.
One of the organisers for the Fisher Cup, Brad Beetson, said this was the fourth year that Indigenous players from across the Central Division had been selected in the Cup squad.
He said many players had links to great Indigenous players from the past, including the Fisher, O’Chin and Laws families.
“The Frank Fisher Cup gives us the opportunity to bring together current day players and community to acknowledge the role past players and the game of rugby league has played in breaking down the barriers of racism in our community,” Brad said.
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There will be two Round 1 SBRL A Grade and Under 14s games played on the day at Jack O’Chin Oval, as well as two special Queensland Police Service games:
- 10:00am – Under 14s – Kingaroy v Nanango
- 11:00am – Under 14s – Cherbourg v Nanango
- Noon – A Grade – Kingaroy v Wondai
- 1:30pm – Queensland Police women v Bundaberg / Wide Bay women
- 3:00pm – A Grade – Murgon v Nanango
- 5:15pm – Queensland Police men v Frank Fisher Indigenous side
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The Kingaroy Red Ants’ A Grade men’s team also enjoyed a pre-season workout recently, taking on a Blackbutt Timbertowners in a traditional fundraising game for Blackbutt’s junior teams.
Sadly, the Blackbutt-Yarraman side won’t be fielding an A Grade team in the SBRL competition again this year, but will have junior teams in the competition.
Current and former players with links to the Timbertowners pulled on the green, brown and white jerseys for the trial match on March 15 at Bunny Pearce Oval.
The Blackbutt team – which included several Nanango players – ran away with the win, 50-10.
Blackbutt players Adam Otter and Jaye Allery shared the Man of the Match award of $400 cash.
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Beyond The Nest is holding a special pre-season training session this Sunday (March 30) at Murgon Showgrounds ahead of the 2025 season.
Under 10s and Under 12s rugby league players from across the South Burnett are invited to come along from 9:00am to 11:30am to learn some new skills.
The training session is free and bookings are not required, but the players must have been born in 2013 to 2016 to take part!
[UPDATED]
