By Glyn Rees
Very chilly air temperature or not, the Wattles Warriors first grade side was red hot on Saturday night running in a 78–6 win over the Oakey Bears at Trevor Mickleborough Oval, racking up 14 tries to one in a more than convincing winning margin in this year’s Toowoomba Rugby League A grade competition.
Veteran half back Matt Duggan returned from an injury lay off to add a touch of excellence to the Warriors performance to seal a much-needed victory to open the second round of the Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba Rugby League A Grade premiership with a feisty victory on Oakey turf.
Wattles breezed to a 26-nil advantage by the twenty-minute mark, before assuming a half century 50-nil lead by half time.
The Warriors juggernaut leapt into action after just four minutes of play when team skipper Ty Gardner ran a short line off five-eight Brayden Paix to touch down and open the points flood gates.
The home side Bears had no answer to the Warriors running game as they dictated terms in their endless attacking raids.
When winger Joe Willett scooped up a Jackson Green cut-out ball thirty metres out and skidded in to score ten minutes into the second half it signalled another five Wattles tries before full time.
Oakey’s front-row captain-coach Wesley Aumau crossed for the only home side four-pointer coming fifteen minutes prior to the final whistle.
Second-rower Ty Gardner joined Duggan sharing the top green and gold accolades, with team mate’s hooker & three try scorer Tommy Hatch, centre Lachlan Watt & fullback Jackson Green also shining in an outing that saw the Warriors “find our groove” according the Gardner.
Coach Travis Burns rated his team’s performance highly, with special mention for front-rower Jacob Leech and impressive 18-year-old forward George Nott.
“George is a quality forward” said Burns, “he shows ability and experience beyond his years with Saturday’s game his fourth first grade outing.”
The result over the Bears has Wattles level on seventeen competition points on the A Grade premiership ladder level with the Valleys Roosters. The Roosters sit in third place on for and against above Wattles, both behind the Gatton Hawks and the top of the table undefeated Warwick Cowboys.
Wattles are facing another must win fixture when they take on the Brothers Leprechauns this Saturday evening at Clifton’s Platz Oval.
Wattles 78 (Matt Christensen 3, Tom Hatch 3, Brayden Paix 2, Ty Gardner, Mitch Bourke, Matt Duggan, Lachlan Watt, Jackson Green, Joe Willett, tries; Braydon Paix 11 goals) defeated Oakey 6 (Wesley Aumau try; Trey Fernando).
Perkins Returns to Steer Warriors Victory
Former long term Toowoomba Clydesdales representative and TRL first grade premiership winning forward Dale Perkins was in shining form against the Oakey Bears reserve graders on Saturday afternoon, setting the example for his green and gold teammates as they pocketed a 30 – 10 victory.
Perkins is duel registered with his priority team the Stanthorpe Gremlins who had the bye this week. Saturday’s game his first for Wattles in 2024.
Perkins last wore green and gold colours in the 2022 Warriors first grade TRL premiership winning grand final line-up.
The six try to two win over Oakey was Wattles sixth in succession since Round 6.
Aside from Perkins, fellow forwards Mitch Duff and Nick Morris were among the Warriors to impress.
Team skipper and front-rower Garth Lonergan led by example as always, as did lock Tom Philp and try double scoring centre Aiden Suhan.
The Wattles Warrior’s are seated in clear third place on the Clive Berghofer Land Developments reserve grade premiership ladder on 17 points, behind the Valleys Roosters and the undefeated Warwick Cowboys.
Wattles 30 (Aiden Suhan 2, Marley Tunstead, Garth Lonergan, Jake Meddleton, John Lazzaroni tries; Tom Morris 3 goals) defeated Oakey 10 (Ashley Hooper, Selen Koivi tries; Maluafiti Vaovasa Taiama goal).
Under 19
Bye for Wattles, Oakey are not fielding Under 19’s in 2024.
Toowoomba Rugby League Round 13
Saturday 6 July, Platz Oval, Clifton.
Wattles Warriors v Brothers Leprechauns
3.30 pm – Under 19; 5.00 pm – Reserve Grade; 6.30 pm – A Grade
