Sport
30 June, 2022
Warriors Retain Ryan Memorial Shield
The Stillwater Pastoral Company Wattles Warriors A Grade outfit turned the mid-season corner of the Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba Rugby League premiership with a convincing 56 – 20 win over the Brothers Leprechauns at Toowoomba’s Glenholme Park on Sunday.
A first minute try by Brothers half-back Sam Betros sparked the Warriors to set a cracking first half pace leading 34 – 6 at the break.
The impressive Betros was a force to be reckoned with lifting the home side’s spirits in the second stanza, but it was too little too late.
The success also saw Wattles collect the Danny Ryan Memorial Trophy, contested annually by the two clubs since 2005.
Danny played for All Whites from Under 16 grade, through Under 18 to eventually play A Grade in from 1961 – 1964. In 1965 he joined the Eastern Suburbs ‘Tigers’ in the Brisbane Rugby League competition, and at season’s end returned to the Darling Downs to Captain/Coach the Wattles first grade side.
In 1972 he returned to All Whites as Captain/Coach, a role he continued in 1973 & 1974, finishing his career having played 113 games in All Whites colours. In the 1972 Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final, Dan broke his ankle early in the game but played on until full time.
Dan Ryan was known as being a true gentleman off the field, but as tough as nails on the paddock.
Brothers had a firm grasp on the prestigious award for the initial eight years of its existence, Wattles’ skipper of the time Aaron Scheid first accepting the shield as a winning skipper in 2013.
Since then, Wattles have dominated the following nine encounters with eight winning results.
While the Travis Burns captain/coached Warriors ran in a ten try to four advantage over the Leprechauns on Sunday, and the final figures gave Wattles an improved equation at the head of the premiership ladder, it wasn’t enough to usher them into their first Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy final since 2019.
The past weekend’s Round 11 results has the Highfields Eagles, Gatton Hawks & Dalby Diehards along with Wattles all camped on fifteen competition points at the top end of the table, with Gatton and Highfields set to contest the Madsen-Rasmussen mid-season silverware this coming weekend given their better for and against figures.
Wattles fleet of foot centre Austin Jennings ran in a touchdown hat trick against Brothers to advance his standing as the current top try scorer in the Hutchinson Builders A Grade premiership with a total of eighteen.
Green and gold front-rowers Michael Pearson and Jordan Crocker were in superb form leading the Warriors pack forward and creating the space for playmakers Burns and halfback Matt Duggan to create opportunities for their fringe fast men.
Fullback Jackson Green scored a double and was again impressive on the back of his above average outing against Oakey the previous week, while Matt Duggan was at his creative best.
A negative from the contest was a knee injury to Nick Van Der Poel, with the Wattles team hierarchy hoping the coming fortnight break will have the star centre back to his best.
Wattles 56 (Austin Jennings 3, Jackson Green 2, Kai Williamson-Duggan, Nick Van Der Poel, Ryan Duggan, Jordan Crocker, Aaron Hooper tries; Matt Duggan 8 goals) defeated Brothers 20.
RESERVE GRADE
Wattles’ Tony Morris Tiling Reserve Grade team won their way through to this Sunday’s mid-season President’s Cup final against the Highfields Eagles at Toowoomba’s John McDonald Sports Complex on the back of a hefty 50 – 6 dispatch of Brothers last Sunday.
Co-player/coach Garth Lonergan praised his side for “another good win in tough warm conditions against a very physical Brothers line-up.”
“We have a few wounded as a result” said Lonergan, “but it’s certainly a big achievement to be sitting in the top two on the ladder after the first round.”
Interchange forward Jason Nightingale was a shining light in Wattles pack and finished with a try double, while ever consistent fullback Dale McAntee was also among his side’s best.
Wattles Reserve Grade side last appeared in a President’s Cup reserve grade final in 2019 under captain/coach Brenden Wilson, when they finished behind the Valleys Roosters 26 – 12 in a hotly contested encounter at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Wattles 50 (Jason Nightingale 2, Dale McAntee, Jordan Henry, Tim Hentschel, Tom Morris, Lachlan Henry, Jacob Meddleton, Garth Lonergan tries; Tom Morris 6, Lachlan Henry goals) defeated Brothers 6.
UNDER 19
An undermanned Wattles’ Black Toyota, Warwick Under 19 team proved no match for Brothers.
Coach Cameron Hamblin gave credit to the bare twelve players that took on their opponents, “it was an impressive effort when you consider the staff shortage.”
Brothers boasted a full complement but had to earn their six try to two advantage.
Brothers 36 defeated Wattles 8 (Jacob Meddleton, Lachlan Peardon tries)
- Glyn Rees
