Glyn Rees, Allora Advertiser
An imposing up front performance by back row enforcer Tyson Stevens and a blistering right side try hat trick by wing flyer Joe Willett were among the highlights on a cool and breezy Saturday night at Clifton’s Platz Oval in the ‘Stillwater Pastoral Company’ Wattles Warriors 62 – 12 dismantling of the Brothers Leprechauns.
The Round 13 fixtures across the Toowoomba Rugby League featured the 2024 season Indigenous Round celebrating fist nations culture and history and honouring past and present Indigenous players.
All attending Platz Oval on Saturday were honoured with a ‘Welcome to Country” delivered by local Kambuwal elder Selena Griffin (Brown) and Shakoba Pratt prior to the A Grade match.
The A Grade teams wore Indigenous designed jerseys which were auctioned post match.
Joining Joe Willett as a Wattles’ multiple try scorer were centre Matt Christensen and Tyson Stevens collecting a double each.
While Brothers held Wattles at bay across the initial twenty minutes of play to have the scoreboard locked at 12 – 12, the sterling performance up front by form forward Stevens, along with halves Matt Duggan & Braydan Paix who dictated terms in the middle, inspired the home side in an overwhelming winning result.
Stevens shone with his polished performance in a forward pack of achievers, and was rewarded with the first of his two tries in the 23rd minute.
Wattles eased into the hall time break leading 28 – 12.
It was also Stevens who set the scoreboard in motion in the second stanza when he gathered a Jackson Green pass to touchdown after just five minutes allowing Wattles a 34 – 12 lead.
Including the Stevens’ four pointer, Wattles ran in six unanswered tries across the final forty minutes.
The Warriors one sided result over Brothers adds weight to their position on the Hutchinson Builders A Grade Premiership ladder, still level with the Valleys Roosters, but both now on nineteen points. 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.
That balancing act will be addressed in the upcoming Round 14 TRL fixtures when Wattles and Valleys clash at Toowoomba’s John McDonald Sports Complex on Sunday July 21st, a must win fixture for both teams.
Wattles 62 (Joe Willett 3, Tyson Stevens 2, Matt Christensen 2, Jackson Green, Braydon Paix, Lachlan Watt, Nick Van Der Poel tries; Braydon Paix 9 goals). Brothers 12 (Bryce Whale, Garrad Brewer tries; Tony Clevin 2 goals).
Reserve Grade – Coach Tony Morris couldn’t be happier with his ‘Farm Spray’ Wattles team’s performance as they held Brothers scoreless in the reserve grade clash holding out for a convincing 38 – 0 success, unbeaten in their last seven fixtures.
“We held firm with our shape and game plan, competed for everything and were dominant in defence.”
Halves Tom Morris and Michael Duggan “put together their best game for the season so for” according to coach Morris.
The green and gold pack was strong throughout with Garth Lonergan and Mitch Duff working endlessly taking their side forward.
Centre Braydon Wilson appears back to his best form, while fellow backs Marley Tunstead and Dale McAntee made their presence felt.
Wattles 38 (Marley Tunstead 2, Braydon Wilson 3, Tim Duggan, Mitch Duff try; Tom Morris 5 goals). Brothers 0.
Under 19 – Alas it was a ‘tough day at the office’ for the ‘Black Toyota Warwick’ Wattles Under 19’s.
Forwards George Nott, Lane Eastwell and team skipper Reuben Sullivan toiled determinedly throughout, and while Wattles were still in the game trailing 4 _12 at half time, four unanswered second stanza tries by Brothers shut the game out in favour of the visitors.
The Warriors sole touchdown came just minutes before the break when George Nott stood in a tackle close to the line igniting a second phase play before offloading to fullback Sunnie Tunstead to score.
Brothers 36 (Matthew Schultz, Amdes Saunders, Shaun Hinch, Tom McDonald, Kail Eustace, Harry Eyers, Jared Castle tries; Shaun Hinch 3, Angus Canning goals). Wattles 4 (Sunnie Tunstead try).
Toowoomba Rugby League Round 14 – For the Wattles Warriors, TRL fixtures resume on Sunday July 21st against the Valleys Roosters in all grades at Toowoomba’s John McDonald Sporting Complex.
This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 10 July 2024.
