Sport
1 July, 2021
Wattles Warriors in top form for home crowd
The cold conditions on Saturday night (June 26) resulted in a smaller than usual crowd at Platz Oval, but those brave Wattles fans who turned up were not disappointed with the home side coming up with big wins in every grade.
While Round 11 premier-ship points were up for grabs for the Warriors, supporters were well aware depending on the bounce of the ball in three Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchinson Builders A Grade fixtures Wattles may have won a start in the prestigious mid-season Madsen-Rasmussen Shield against ladder leaders the Goondiwindi Boars.
The Warriors got away to an ideal start in their quest upsetting a much improved Oakey Bears
36–12.
The Bears haven’t tasted victory since Round 4 when they overwhelmed the Newtown Lions for their only success of the year so far.
Wattles needed Brothers to finish ahead of Warwick and Gatton to roll
Highfields if they were a chance of contesting next weekend’s silverware, and while Brothers defeated Warwick 24–20, Highfields edged out Gatton 22–20
for the right to run on against Goondiwindi.
Coached by former NRL star Jason Ferris, the Bears made their presence felt as Wattles desperately tried to rack up the hefty points total that may have been needed to help qualify
them should they be in The mid-season final berth race.
The Warriors halves of player/coach Travis Burns and former Queensland Rangers half-back Matt Duggan steered their team around to control the game with aplomb.
Classy Centre Andy Richardson stepped up to the plate, posting one of his best outings of the season, which included a touch-down double, a privilege shared by green and gold team mate, winger Braydon Wilson.
The sin-bin was in frequent use with home side forwards Joe Mua and Brendon McBride taking some weight off their feet in the first half and hooker Kai Williamson-Duggan in the final minutes of the game.
Centre Alwin Long and half-back general Nick Ferris lifted their side against the Warriors after last week’s 84–16 debacle a dominant Valleys Roosters.
Wattles’ Duggan and Richardson starred for the home side, a great example of a Warriors team heading into the second round of the season confident and looking near certainties for a top five finish.
Wattles 36 (Braydon Wilson 2, Andy Richardson 2, Steve Eliott, Travis Burns tries Matt Duggan 4, Travis Burns goals) defeated
Oakey 12 (Josh Halter, Ezzard Beard tries Dylan Adamson 2 goals)
RESERVE GRADE
Wattles 78 (Brenden Wilson 5, Jordan Henry 2, Joel Monckton 2, Dale McAntee, James Wolski, Garth Lonergan, Josh Henry, Matt Ilijas, Tom Morris tries; Tom Morris 9 goals) defeated Oakey 0.
UNDER 18
Wattles 40 (Jacob Meddleton 2, Chris Watt, Gus Hutchinson, Ryley Lever, Rylan Saville, Reuben Sullivan, Lachlan Peardon; Jacob Meddleton 4 goals) defeated Oakey 12 (Leyton Dennis, Jayden Lee, Darcy Watherston tries).
WATTLES WARRIORS HEAD WEST
Wattles’ kick-off their second half of the season on Sunday the 11th of July when they take on the
Dalby Diehards at the Dalby Rugby League Grounds.
- Glyn Rees
