Sport
22 June, 2024
Dalby Diehards Retain Rod Frahm Cup
On the back of a blue-ribbon performance by gifted fullback Chris Woodbridge, the Dalby Diehards overcame an early match deficient to outgun the Wattles Warriors 29 – 22 at a Wintery Platz Oval on Saturday evening, 15 June to hoist the Rod Frahm Memorial Cup for the eleventh time in prestigious award’s seventeen-year history.
On behalf of Mrs Janette Frahm, Wattles Life Member and former work colleague of Rod Frahm, Mr Lindsay Ruhle, presented the Cup to Dalby skipper Blake Mara.
Dalby coach James Galligan offered high praise to his Diehards line-up, front rowers Blake Mara & Flynn Kaiser and the forward pack in particular.
Week in week out top shelf performing forwards Nick Van Der Poel and Cooper Tait – Roche again led from the front for Wattles, along with team mates five-eight Brayden Paix, back-rower Dom Whittingham and hooker Tom Hatch, in a match where despite the result Coach Travis Burns rated his side’s attack and defence highly.
“We started the game well, but we did struggle with our discipline, and we lose momentum at times that we struggle to regain.”
Wattles were without key team members in halfback Matt Duggan and fullback Jackson Green, while five-eight Kai Duggan was on Western Clydesdales duty, “but the better team won on the night.” commented coach Burns.
Will ‘o’ wisp Woodbridge amazed the shivering crowd with his lightning speed and aerial high flying, running in four touchdowns and kicking four goals for a personal match total of 24 points of the Diehards overall total of 29.
The match was halted for over an hour from the 70th minute after Wattles prop Alex Donn sustained a serious knee injury that ended his match.
Donn was one of Wattles key enforcers until a leg clash in a tackle, as the home side lifted the momentum for the final ten minutes to reel in the Diehards 23 – 22 lead.
Wattles got away to a confident start leading 12 – 0 after thirteen minutes through tries by fullback Lachlan Watt and Tommy Hatch.
Dalby always looked dangerous attacking in Wattles half, and it was a try double by that man Woodbridge and another by back-rower Blake Mara that wrested the lead from the Warriors grasp, Dalby holding an 18 – 12 advantage at half time.
Ever alert Jack Duggan came off the bench to level the match ledger at 18 – 18 darting over from dummy-half under the uprights three minutes into the new stanza.
A high ball was an easy mark for Woodbridge minutes later, scooting away adding to the Dalby total for a 22 -18 lead.
The scoreboard tallies rocked back and forth, before the Warriors levelled the scores again soon after, manoeuvring play left ten metres out for five-eight Brayden Paix to touch down resulting in both teams locked at 22 – 22.
Fifteen minutes from full time Diehards half back Josh Chappell threw caution to the wind, aiming up for a field goal attempt on an angle from thirty metres out, finding the target and a 23 – 22 lead.
When play resumed after the prolonged injury period, tempers were fraying between the country cousins resulting in a few altercations.
But with just four minutes remaining on the Platz Oval clock the deal for the Rod Frahm Memorial Cup was done when Chris Woodbridge gathered in an intercept and with his package of blistering speed galloped 90 metres to score and shut out the game.
The quartet of Woodbridge tries took his season touchdown total to nineteen, with eight matches to play before the final’s series.
The match result has Dalby and Wattles level on ten premiership points on the Hutchinson Builders A Grade ladder, Wattles lodged in third place on for and against behind Gatton and the undefeated Warwick Cowboys.
Dalby: 29 (Chris Woodbridge 4, Blake Mara tries; Chris Woodbridge 4 goals; Josh Chappell field goal). Wattles: 22 (Lachlan Watt, Tom Hatch, Jack Duggan, Brayden Paix tries; Brayden Paix 3 goals)
Reserve Grade - Wattles: 25 (Isaac Leach, Tim Exelby, Lachlan Henry, Zac Stevens tries; Tom Morris 4 goals; Dale McAntee field goal). Dalby: 24.
Under 19 - Wattles: 4 (McCabe Miller try). Dalby: 30.
Glyn Rees
