Sport
11 August, 2024
Cowboys Rain on Wattles Celebrations
A night of celebrations was certainly dampened for the ‘Stillwater Pastoral Company’ Wattles Warriors at a packed Platz Oval on Saturday 3 August, in the form of a sensational three try performance for Warwick Cowboys fullback Nick Chapman that underpinned his team’s 46 – 26 Round 16 defeat of the home side Warriors.
Wattles hosted their annual ‘Old Boy’s Day’, highlighted by a ten-year reunion of their 2014 Toowoomba Rugby League first grade premiership winning team, the day also supporting Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation charity Pankind.
In an amazing display of football longevity and club loyalty, team members from that glorious day of ‘the Big Dance’ back in 2014 where Wattles snuffed out Gatton’s premiership hopes through a 36 – 12 Grand Final success; Matt Duggan, Jackson Green and Tim Hentschel all lined up against Warwick in Saturday’s A Grade clash, while Aaron Scheid and Ryan Duggan ran on in reserve grade.
Current reserve graders who also took the field on Saturday Michael Duggan, Garth Lonergan and Dale McAntee, while not 2014 Grand Finalists did play A Grade matches that season.
In ideal rugby league conditions Nick Chapman proved to be the dominant Cowboys shining light running in a try hat trick and collecting Hutchinson Builders Man of the Match honours for his performance.
The Cowboys boasted the full package as they engineered eight tries to Wattles five, their line up including recently named Queensland Country representatives winger Jake Speed and centre Joseph Vite.
Chapman set the scoreboard in motion after just eight minutes of play, opening the gate for the Cowboys to race to a 22 – 0 lead by the 26th minute that included touchdowns for Joseph Vite, a second for Chapman and Darryl Erepia.
While fullback Jackson Green capitalised on lead up play by team mate Matt Christensen to snatch Wattles opening try ten minutes prior to the break, Warwick responded through backrower Alifeleti Vite minutes later.
On the cusp of half time Wattles half Matt Duggan kicked across field to the south west corner to find winger Tim Hentschel on hand to score.
Warwick took a comfortable 28 – 10 lead in to the break, and while Wattles had plenty of ground work to make up, their first stanza was shadowed severely by the loss of team skipper Ty Gardner helped from the field in the 20th minute with a season ending leg injury.
The final forty minutes saw both sides run in three tries apiece, Chapman igniting the new half with his third four-pointer in the opening minutes, before second-rower Tom Bell also scored for Warwick to ease to a 40 – 10 lead.
With the game appearing shut out Wattles snared touchdowns through front-rower Cooper Tate-Roche and a second by Hentschel to trail 22 – 40 with just six minutes remaining on the match clock.
Sharp finisher Josh Robinson completed the Cowboys try list in the later stages, while ever present three-quarter Matt Christensen crossed in the final seconds for the home side.
Warwick face co-table leaders the Gatton Hawks at Father Ranger Oval on Sunday, each vying for the outright competition lead.
Wattles will head to Pittsworth on Saturday where a win over the Danes is a vital outcome to reinforce their top five ranking.
Warwick 46 (Nick Chapman 3, Joseph Vite, Darryl Erepia, Alifeleti Vite, Tom Bell, Josh Robinson tries; Caleb Murphy 7 goals)
Wattles 26 (Tim Hentschel 2, Jackson Green, Cooper Tate-Roche, Matt Christensen tries; Braydon Paix 3 goals)
Reserve Grade - The Warwick Cowboys reserve grade side claimed another scalp to maintain their unbeaten season status when they finished 38 – 18 victors over the ‘Farm Spray’ Wattles Warriors after trailing 10 – 12 at half time.
Five unanswered touchdowns from the second minute of the second stanza escorted Warwick to a convincing success.
Hooker Morgan Taylor, centre Joe Fuimaono and winger Jeffrey Ross were in shining form for the Cowboys.
Morgan Taylor was awarded the Peter Watt Memorial Medalion as player of the match, the honour bestowed annually when Warwick meet Wattles in reserve grade in honour of a most loyal supporter of both clubs.
Fullback Dale McAntee, back-rower Aaron Scheid and halfback Tom Morris were among those to shine in green and gold, Morris claiming all his sides points through three tries and three goals.
Warwick 38 (Joe Fuimaono, Michael Marshall, Matt Henry, Maika Mate, Clydie Aroga, Jeffrey Ross, Lance McGrady-Dennison tries; Matt Henry 5 goals)
Wattles 18 (Tom Morris 3 tries; Tom Morris 3 goals)
Under 19 - While the Cowboys lurched to a 12 – 0 lead after just six minutes of play, the ‘Black Toyota-Warwick’ Wattles Warriors recovered running in three tries to lead 16 – 12 at the break of the Under 19 clash on their way to a 38 – 18 win.
A robust individual touchdown in the opening minutes of the second half by Wattles fullback and player of the match Lachlan Clements laid the foundation for victory.
Along with Clements, forwards Harry Schwenke and team skipper Reuben Sullivan were gallant performers in an impressive team effort.
A second stanza try double by goal kicking winger Koby De Luca set Wattles on the road to a 34 – 18 lead with fifteen minutes to play on their way to securing two much needed premiership points.
Wattles 38 (Koby De Luca 2, Sam Gilmore, McCabe Miller, Harry Schwenke, Lachlan Clements, Bryce Stewart tries; Koby De Luca 5 goals)
Warwick 18 (Carge Martin-Brown 2, Jemaine Smith tries; Reelan Jarrett 2, Jemaine Smith goals).
Glyn Rees
