{"id":323809,"date":"2022-09-09T01:23:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T15:23:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=323809"},"modified":"2022-09-14T22:40:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T12:40:26","slug":"murgon-sets-up-nanango-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/09\/09\/murgon-sets-up-nanango-showdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Murgon Sets Up Nanango Showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This diving try by the Mustangs’ Jonathan Walsh with 16 minutes left in the Preliminary Final ended Wondai’s hopes of an A Grade Grand Final spot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 8, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mustangs have forced showdown rematches with the Nanango Stags in two huge rugby league Grand Finals to be played at Murgon on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Nanango had already booked a spot in both the Under 14s and A Grade Grand Finals after downing Mustangs’ sides in the Major Semi-Finals played on August 27.<\/p>\n

This forced the Murgon Under 14s to battle Chinchilla on Saturday at T.J. O’Neill Oval in Kingaroy for their chance at the premiership, while the A Graders had to take on an in-form Wondai Wolves.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A Grade<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Alex Georgetown scores in the corner to put Wondai’s first points on the scoreboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Wondai Wolves went into the A Grade Preliminary Final as the sentimental favourites after waiting seven years for a chance at glory.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the game was played in Kingaroy, it almost seemed like a home game for the Wolves as there were so many Wondai supporters in the crowd.<\/p>\n

The Wolves scored the first points five minutes after kick-off via Alex Georgetown in the corner.<\/p>\n

Just minutes later, Wondai looked to have scored on the opposite side of the field only to be ruled “no try”.<\/p>\n

Barwoo Fisher put Murgon’s first points on the board soon afterwards, taking the score to 4-all.<\/p>\n

The Wolves eventually broke the deadlock with Georgetown scoring his second, and Sonny Weazel plucking a ball out of the air to run away and score.<\/p>\n

Five minutes before half-time, the South Burnett’s leading senior try scorer for 2022, Glen Fisher, added to his tally, bringing Murgon to within four points of the lead, 12-8.<\/p>\n

And then with less than a minute to go, Elwyn Fewquandie evened the scores at 12-all.<\/p>\n

Daron Saltner-Bligh’s kick after the siren sounded – the first successful conversion of the game – gave Murgon a 14-12 lead at the break.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the restart, Fisher scored his second try for the day, capitalising on a Wondai error and stretching Murgon’s lead to 18-12.<\/p>\n

But neither side were about to give up, with both scoring two more tries before full-time.<\/p>\n

The Wolves’ crowd erupted when Wondai’s “Fonzie”, ie. Asofono Lemalu, scored. Alex Georgetown’s conversion brought the scores back to 22-all.<\/p>\n

But with 16 minutes to go, Jonathan Walsh broke Wondai’s hearts with a diving try in the corner, which was converted by Elwyn Fewquandie to give Murgon a closely fought 28-22 victory.<\/p>\n

Murgon tries were scored by Glen Fisher (2), Barwoo Fisher, Elwyn Fewquandie, Maurice Fisher and Jonathan Walsh.\u00a0 Conversions were kicked by Daron Saltner-Bligh and Fewquandie.<\/p>\n

Wondai try scorers were Alex Georgetown (2), Sonny Weazel, Cory Ward and Asofono Lemalu. Georgetown kicked one goal.<\/p>\n

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Sonny Weazel runs away to score for the Wolves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
This effort by the Wondai Wolves was ruled no try<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Glen Fisher chases the ball to the line to score for the Mustangs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Maurice Fisher scores for Murgon in the second half, stretching their lead to 22-16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Under 14s<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Zac Harris dives to score his first points of the day for Murgon, just minutes after kick-off<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sudden-death Under 14s Preliminary Final was played earlier in the day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Murgon started strongly with tries to Zac Harris and Damon Cooper within the first five minutes, but as the clock wound down towards half-time the Chinchilla Bulldogs hit back with quick tries to Izaac McConville and Robert Hardy-Thomson.<\/p>\n

At the break, the scores were locked at 10-all.<\/p>\n

The Mustangs hit the scoreboard first in the second half when Will Webber crossed after just one minute, with Zac Harris converting.<\/p>\n

Chinchilla struck back almost immediately, with Hardy-Thomson notching up his second try for the day, cutting Murgon’s lead to 16-14.<\/p>\n

But at the mid-point of the half, the Mustangs galloped away, scoring three converted tries in six minutes – including a runaway effort by Zac Harris – taking the full-time score to 34-14.<\/p>\n

Murgon try scorers were Zac Harris (2), Damon Cooper (2), Will Webber and Quayden Langton. Conversions were kicked by Jacob Rattey (2), Harris (2) and Langton.<\/p>\n

Chinchilla tries were scored by Robert Hardy-Thomson (2) and Izaac McConville. Will Bannister kicked one conversion.<\/p>\n

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Damon Cooper scores the first of his two tries for the Mustangs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Chinchilla defence stops another potential Murgon try<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

South Burnett Eagles<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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The South Burnett Eagles Under 15s after their victory in Pittsworth on Saturday (Photo: Kingaroy Red Ants)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

South Burnett Eagles Under 15s and Under 17s were in action at Pittsworth on Saturday in Semi-Finals in the Toowoomba JRL competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Under 15s, the Eagles scored a resounding 34-16 victory against Toowoomba Brothers.<\/p>\n

South Burnett try scorers were\u00a0Linx Harth (3), Blake Dynevor (2), Rory Crumpton and Liam Irwin. Harrison Braithwaite kicked three goals.<\/p>\n

The Eagles will now face Highfields at Drayton on Saturday in the Preliminary Semi-Final.<\/p>\n

The South Burnett Eagles Under 17s just missed out in their must-win Semi-Final against Highfields, going down 20-16.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eagles’ try scorers included Joseph Meikle and Marshall Heard. Jayden Tewes-Smallwood kicked two conversions.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This Weekend’s Games<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

At Drayton<\/strong><\/p>\n