Sport
30 August, 2023
Wattles Juniors’ sides Grand Final bound
Wattles Junior Rugby League Club can count the 2023 season among its very best given the club’s recent success in the 2023 Warwick and District Junior Rugby League premiership.
The Allora-Clifton district-based club saw its Under 13 boys team ease through the season undefeated enroute to winning the competition’s Minor Premiership.
Five teams, being the Under 13 boys, Under 15 Girls League Tag, Under 15 boys, Under 17 girls League Tag and Under 17 boys, advanced to the premiership finals series.
Sadly, the Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Girls were defeated in the preliminary finals last Saturday, signalling the end of what have been impressive seasons.
This Saturday at Warwick’s St. Marks Sports Grounds the Warwick and District JRL will host their 2023 Grand Finals at Collegians Dragons JRL Club.
Wattles’ Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 teams will take the field challenging for premiership honours.
Nutrien Harcourts Clifton, Under 13
Under 13 Coach Glen McMillan is very encouraged by his high achieving team which is preparing for its first Grand Final.
“We are certainly looking forward to Saturday and we are excited for the challenge of the Tenterfield Tigers.”
“As coach I am tremendously proud of what the team has achieved so far, but we are looking for one more win,” he said.
The young Warriors have had the Tigers’ measure in their two previous season clashes, but a grand final is at another level and the Warriors are focused on their best performance on the day.
All in Electrical, Under 15 Girls League Tag
Wattles’ Under 15 Girls team’s season came to an end on Saturday morning against a hungrier Collegians line-up, falling short 14 - 4.
A fantastic first half had Wattles well in the
game at half time, but a slow start to the second half saw the side behind on the scoreboard.
The girls threw everything at Collegians for the remainder of the second half but couldn’t crack the defence.
Coach George Berry commended his team on “a tremendous year for the girls who improved immensely and have been an absolute pleasure to coach.”
Collegians 14
defeated Wattles 4 (Hollie Betts try)
Drayton Medical Centre, Under 15
The Under 15 Warriors were deserved 36 – 20 winners over the Tenterfield Tigers and are now rewarded with a Grand Final berth on Saturday.
Tenacious hooker Orry Gilmore was one of the Warriors’ best, scoring a try hat trick through his dummy half darts.
Five-eighth Paddy Denny, centre Harry Wright, and free running bookends Henry McMillan and Brian Williams were all very powerful throughout.
Coach Tom Duggan is very proud and excited for his players.
“They have worked extremely hard this season, and for some Saturday’s season decider against Collegians will be their first Grand Final,” he said.
Wattles 36 (Orry Gilmore 3, Harry Wright, Patty Denny, Ben Rauchle tries; Patty Denny 6 goals) defeated Tenterfield 20.
Club Hotel, Under 17 Ladies League Tag
Coach Dan Wallis can’t speak more highly of the achievements of his Wattles Under 17 Ladies team, who finished second on the Warwick and District premiership ladder with six wins from eight fixtures.
Collegians got away to an early 10 – 0 lead on Saturday, but Wattles kept the pressure on throughout out and tries by Tayah Wallis and Steph Lyons could have seen the game go either way.
Collegians 14
defeated Wattles 10 (Tayah Wallis, Stephanie Lyons tries; Stephanie Lyons goal).
Hamblin Builders, Under 17
Elusive centre Sam Gilmore contributed an amazing four tries to Wattles Under 17 side’s 32 – 18 Preliminary Final win over Goondiwindi on Saturday.
While Sam took out Wattles best player honours, team mates Graham Hopper, Darcy Betts and Harry Marshall also shone in a classy performance.
The Warriors shot out to a 16 – 0 lead by the fourteen-minute mark through two touchdowns by Gilmore and another by hard running Darcy Betts.
A solitary Boars try saw them trailing 4 – 16 at the break.
The first five minutes of the new half saw Goondiwindi score twice to be well back in the game trailing 14 – 16.
That man Gilmore snared another two touch downs though to help the Warriors ease away, before Thomas Blake also cashed in for Wattles to reach their winning total.
Wattles high achieving Under 17’s finished the season second on the premiership ladder, but coach Shane Wright and his more than capable troops are striding in to Saturday’s Grand Final against Collegians with a confident approach.
Wattles 32 (Sam Gilmore 4, Darcy Betts, Thomas Blake tries; Ben Barbierato 4 goals) defeated Goondiwindi 18.
- Glyn Rees
