Sport
8 June, 2023
Wattles hitting their stride
After a shaky start to the premiership-defending season, the Wattles Warriors A Grade side has now strung three wins together and is in the top four on the Toowoomba Rugby League (TRL) Hutchinson Builders ladder.
In a man of the match performance powerhouse bookend Jordan Crocker was in the forefront of a dominant performance that saw the Stillwater Pastoral Company Wattles Warriors A graders post a 44 to 20 win over the Highfields Eagles at a bleak Platz Ovalf.
The success has lifted Crocker and his teammates into the TRL first grade premiership ladder’s top four.
Wattles’ forward pack paved the way to victory built on a 12-4 half time lead, that resulted in the home side running in eight tries to four across the game, seven from the green and gold back line.
The loss of five-eighth Tom Morris to injury pre-kick off caused a shuffle in the Warriors’ line up, and allowed capable reserve grade forward Will Manley his first top grade run this season.
Premiership winning winger Mitch Bourke was also a casualty with a hamstring concern after ten minutes of play.
Along with Crocker, fellow front-rower Jacob Leach led the band of Wattles’ enforcers that eventually overwhelmed the Eagles.
Leach was a force to be reckoned with against his former club, with team mate and another former Eagle Jacob Mouatt coming off the bench to make his presence felt.
Top team five-eighth Nick van der Poel was another of many to shine, collecting a try double for his efforts.
Skipper and back rower Ty Gardner led from the front in what has to be considered an impressive team performance, with the likes of ever dependable full-back Matthew Christensen, half-back Brayden Paix, centre Austin Jennings, winger Jake Meddleton and three-quarter Lachlan Henry in his return to first grade.
Highfields winger Tom Ramsay showed plenty of sizzling pace to reel in two tries for his team, the 20-years-old winger in action on the Platz Oval turf that saw his father, Wattles legend and former premiership winner Vince Ramsay, exciting crowds a couple of decades back.
While both teams toughed out the initial twenty minutes striving to achieve an advantage, it was Ramsay who crossed for first points as a result of a sixty-metre dash down the grandstand touchline to see the Eagles ahead 4-0.
The Warriors struck back soon after with a touchdown through quicksilver centre Jennings, the result of a classy combination with outside back Meddleton.
As rain drops fell, but only briefly, Nick Van Der Poel claimed his first try with half time six minutes away to allow Wattles their 12-4 lead at the break.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the second stanza in just the first minute of play through bench forward Shannon Elara to trail on the scoreboard 10-12, but three unanswered tries in seven minutes saw Wattles assume control of the game.
While hooker Zac Stevens, centre Lachlan Henry and winger Nick Morris claimed the vital touchdowns, Highfields struck back midway through the stanza through Ramsay and lock forward Carl Clement to stay in contention trailing 20-26.
It was the Warriors though that shut the game out with four-pointers to full-back Matthew Christensen, Vice Captain Van Der Poel and Jordan Crocker who scored in the final minute after impressive lead up by Christensen.
Wattles 44 (Nick Van Der Poel 2, Matt Christensen, Austin Jennings, Lachlan Henry, Zach Stevens, Nick Morris, Jordan Crocker tries Brayden Paix 6 goals) defeated Highfields 20 (Tom Ramsay 2, Carl Clement, Shannon Elara tries Reilly Land 2 goals)
Reserve Grade
After a grinding first half that saw Wattles emerge 12-nil leaders at the break, five second stanza touchdowns saw the Tony Morris Tiling Warriors stamp their authority on what was their seventh winning result from eight outings this season ahead 36-4 at full time.
While for coach Tony Morris the focus is only as far as the next game, the Clive Berghofer Land Sales top of the table Warriors would have an inkling the mid-season championship President’s Cup is within reach with three more fixtures to play.
“Regardless of how well we’re going, there’s still plenty of work to do leading up to Presidents Cup,” according to the mentor.
After taking on Oakey, Newtown and Brothers over the next three weeks, Wattles will need to be in the top two on the ladder come full time on June 24th for a crack at the mid-year silverware on July 2nd.
Coach Morris has the benefit of numbers and an abundance of ability, and has uncovered the secret of balance in his squad with all players enjoying opportunity and producing positive on field results.
Bench forward Dan Rub, five-eighth Jack Duggan and full-back Joe Willett all made an impact against Highfields.
Bench impact prop Harry Shooter, lock Tom Duggan, and hard-working forwards Jesse Hammermeister and Alex Morris were also among those to shine in a great day out.
Wattles 36 (Braydon Wilson 2, Joe Willett, Tim Hentschel, Jack Duggan, Jordan Henry, Tom Henry, Daniel Rub tries; Jordan Henry 2 goals) d. Highfields 4.
Under 19
It was a case of the one that got away for the Black Toyota, Warwick Under 19 Wattles colts, and while they enjoyed plenty of possession a high error rate across the game put paid to a winning result.
Highfields snatched a 10-0 lead by the twelve minute mark, and while Wattles struck back with a try by steam rolling centre Aiden Suhan, the visitors took a 14-4 lead to the break.
The second stanza was a more level affair with a try apiece, Wattles’ touchdown by busy hooker Lachlan Hearn.
While they had their opportunities, the young Warriors failed to put points on the scoreboard.
Back-rowers George Nott and Marley Tunstead were toilers in Wattles pack, as were lock Reuben Sullivan and tough front-rower Lane Eastwell.
Highfields 20 defeated Wattles 10 (Aiden Suhan, Lachlan Hearn tries; Koby De Luca goal).
Round 9
Wattles travel to Oakey this Saturday up against the Bears in Under 19, Reserve and A Grade fixtures at Trevor Mickleborough Oval.
- Glyn Rees
