Sport
21 July, 2022
Wattles demolish Newtown Lions
Wattles Warriors did a hatchet job on the Newtown Lions when the A grade sides met at Clifton on Saturday night.
Jennings’ man of the match performance had Toowoomba Rugby League pundits sifting through touchdown records and memories, and while not confirmed, may have topped the possible previous best of former Stanthorpe Gremlin’s forward Rob Reeves’ eight try effort in a 48 – 8 win over Gatton at Gatton back in 1991.
It was Jennings who nudged the scoreboard in to motion after eight minutes of play, backed up by a Matt Duggan conversion from near the touch line for a 6 – 0 lead for the home time that grew to 58 – 0 forty minutes later at half time.
Jennings contributed five touchdowns to his side’s eleven earned in the first stanza.
Centre Matt Christensen also snapped up a double with team mates winger Warren Draper, back rower Conor Swinton, five-eight Travis Burns & hooker Kai Williamson-Duggan also grounding four pointers.
Wattles’ halves Matt Duggan and captain-coach Travis Burns were among the team’s best but never returned to the field for the second half, with Ryan Stevens & Kai Williamson-Duggan assuming halves responsibilities more than capably.
The home side ran in another ten unanswered second half tries to reach their winning total, Jennings adding another four while hooker Zac Stevens and winger Jacob Meddleton claimed try doubles.
Back rower Les Hartvigsen and fullback Jackson Green also crossed to add to the top-heavy total.
The winning result slots Wattles into second place on the Hutchinson Builders TRL Premiership ladder.
Wattles 114 (Austin Jennings 9, Matt Christensen 2, Jacob Meddleton 2, Zach Stevens 2, Jackson Green, Warren Draper, Travis Burns, Kai Williamson-Duggan, Conor Swinton, Les Hartvigsen tries; Matt Duggan 7, Kai Williamson-Duggan 5, Jackson Green 2, Jacob Meddleton goals) defeated Newtown 0.
Reserve Grade
The Newtown Lions reserve graders also suffered at the hands of polished opponents, the Tony Morris Tiling Warriors winning in a canter 76 – 6, with wingers Declan Sullivan and Alex Morris crossing for four and three touchdowns respectively.
Halfback Tom Morris was in inspiring form rewarded with a try double and ten goals off his reliable boot.
The win has reinforced Wattles outright second place on the Clive Berghofer Land Sales premiership ladder.
Wattles 76 (Declan Sullivan 4, Alex Morris 3, Tom Morris 2, Jason Wilson, Jack Duggan, Gus Somes, Tim Duggan, Tim Hentschel tries; Tom Morris 10 goals) defeated Newtown 6.
Under 19
Two Ipswich Brothers tries had the Black Toyota, Warwick Warriors trailing 10 – 0 at the break but it set up a very competitive second stanza.
While the second on the premiership ladder Brothers asserted themselves in the opening minute of the new half with a try to snatch a 16 – 0 lead, Wattles lifted scoring three consecutive touchdowns by five-eight Lachlan Peardon and a double to centre Jacob Meddleton in a ten-minute period.
While Wattles impressed trailing 14 – 16 with twenty minutes remaining in the game, Brothers found their feet to run in three tries on the way to victory.
Ipswich Brothers 32 defeated Wattles 14 (Jacob Meddleton 2, Lachlan Peardon tries; Jacon Meddleton goal).
Wattles head to Pittsworth this coming Saturday to take on the Danes at Club Pittsworth in all grades.
Glyn Rees
