By Glyn Rees
Yet another tradesman like performance by skipper Nick Van Der Poel on Friday evening against the injury wracked Newtown Lions has resulted in a 62– 6 one-sided Toowoomba Rugby League victory to the Allora-Clifton Wattles Warriors.
At Drayton based league hub the Jack Martin Centre, the Warriors ran in eleven touchdowns as they posted a second consecutive winning result in the past fortnight.
The win perches Wattles in fourth place on the premiership ladder in the shadow of the undefeated top of the table Warwick Cowboys, one point behind the third placed Dalby Diehards and one point ahead of their opponents this coming Sunday the Pittsworth Danes.
Second-rower Van Der Poel earned Wattles player of the match honours deservedly, with classy five-eight Kai Duggan, lock Alex Donn and dominant debutant prop forward Beni Teaupa also shining in a one-sided victory.
Fullback Jackson Green impressed after an injury influenced fortnight, while 18-year-old George Nott filed a gritty performance in the second match of his recently hatched A Grade career.
It was a more than special occasion for young 20-year-old wing finisher Isaac Leach who made his top-grade debut against the Lions, contributing two touchdowns to the Warriors total.
The round seven match served as a family reunion with Isaac in the A Grade seventeen alongside his impact forward elder brother Jacob Leach, who is in his second season with
Wattles.
The brothers graduated through the ranks of the Highfields Eagles before heading to Wattles.
Another to don the green and gold colours for the first time at the Jack Martin Centre was experienced front-rower Beni Teaupa.
Former Australian Schoolboy Rugby League representative Teaupa is linked to the Western Clydesdales but coach Travis Burns found room in the pack for the proven enforcer whose resume boasts 44 NRL games for the Canterbury Bulldogs.
The A Grade contest idled away for the opening half hour in the Wintery weather, the scoreboard locked at 4 – 4 after fifteen minutes, before Wattles took a 12 – 8 lead soon after.
When back-rower Nick Van Der Poel claimed the first of two tries in the latter stages of the first stanza, the Warriors set sail racking up nine unanswered touchdowns on their way to a much-needed victory.
Star halfback Matt Duggan was a non-starter for the Warriors, while talented centre Andrew Richardson was a withdrawal through illness, allowing resourceful three-quarter Lachlan Henry his initial A Grade appearance of 2024.
Richardson is dual registered with Wattles and the Ipswich Jets, and got the call last weekend to make his Hostplus Cup debut for the Jets against the Papua-New Guinea Hunters at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.
Despite the Jets 18 – 36 loss, Richardson acquitted himself well in state league top company.
Wattles 62 (Nick Van Der Poel 2, Isaac Leach 2, Jacob Meddleton, Lachlan Henry, Kai Duggan, Brayden Paix, Thomas Hatch, Tyson Stevens, Jacob Mouatt tries; Brayden Paix 9 goals) defeated Newtown 8 (William Bevin, Cameron Moodie tries).
Reserve Grade: Wattles 48 (Tim Hentschel 3, Marley Tunstead 2, Alex Morris, Garth Lonergan, Tom Duggan, Ben Comerford tries; Tom Morris 5 goals) defeated Newtown 6 (Will Hauser try;
Cameron Moodie goal).
Round 8 – Wattles Take on the Danes
Wattles clash with the Pittsworth Danes next Sunday at Platz Oval, Clifton, will see the A Grade teams contesting the Jack Duggan – Gary Sutton Shield for the second time since it was introduced last year. The A Grade Player of the Match will be awarded the John Bermingham – Jamie Johnston Memorial Medallion.
