Round 15 summary - Toowoomba Rugby League
Pittsworth 36 def Gatton 34
This 2016 season is producing some absolute cliff-hangers and this match was no different. The lead changed seven times but Pittsworth played the whole 80 minutes, which delivered them victory.
The Danes lead 20-16 at half-time after a first stanza session that ebbed and flowed but Pittsworth held on to the advantage. In the second-half Hawks refused to go away and lead 28-24 then 34-30 with seven minutes remaining until Pittsworth five-eighth Liam Jocumsen set up his outside men for fullback Jeffrey Weber to score under the posts to snatch the lead and the match with four minutes remaining.
Hutchies Man of the Match Jocumsen set up a few tries. In one beauty, he waltzed through the Hawks pack to set up winger Jake Johnston in the corner.
Gatton Hawks can hold their heads high with a competitive performance. They were always in the game with good showings from fullback Alex Groves, five-eighth Dominic Haak and hooker Daniel Marsh.
This match was an early taste of finals footy and both sides played well and it was a shame there was a loser.
Pittsworth have sent a huge message to the rest of the competition that they will be just about unbeatable at home and will be extremely confident in their remaining away games.
The Hawks, however, need to start winning against these better sides, starting next round against Brothers.
Pittsworth 36 (Braydon Wilson 2 Jake Johnston 2 Jeffrey Weber, Matthew Briggs , Liam Jocumsen tries; Jake Johnston 4 goals) defeated Gatton 34 (Tye Gray, Callum Woolacott, Robbie Fletcher, Daniel Marsh, Joshua Belz, Alex Groves tries; Callum Woolacott 5 goals )
Reserve Grade: Pittsworth 28 drew with Gatton 28
Under 18: Pittsworth 62 def Gatton 18
2nd Division: Gatton 36 def Pittsworth 16
Valleys 24 def Souths 17
Valleys Roosters proved last week was no fluke by beating Souths 24-17 at Clive Berghofer Stadium. Coach Wayne Barnett put normal winger Dylan Chown at fullback and he did not let his coach down with a man-of-the-match performance. He saved three tries, scored one and was excellent all over the park. Barnett also pointed out second-rower Nick Sargent was very good for the Roosters
Souths president Allen Pyne was disappointed with his side’s performance, citing discipline as the main reason for their form slump. Tigers front-rower Junior Chong Nee and Frenchman Tristan Dupoy tried hard.
Valleys are certainly backing themselves. Whilst they can mathematically make the top five, it is unlikely, but they will give some top-five teams a fright.
Valleys 24 (Dylan Chown, Ben O'Connor, Tyren Nichols, Josh Birch tries; Josh Hancock 4 goals) def Souths 17 (Junior Chong Nee, Jordan Kuhn, Bailey Hayes-Gordon tries; Luke Nolan 2 goals, field goal)
Reserve Grade: Souths 28 def Valleys 22
Under 18: Valleys 26 def Souths 22
2nd Division: Souths 18 def Valleys 16
Brothers 30 def Dalby 22
Brothers travelled to Dalby Leagues Club at the weekend and won the match in the first 20 minutes when they lead the Diehards 20-0.
Their start even surprised coach Liam Cullen who praised his side’s performance. He said that Michael Witt again lead from the front whilst Michael Cochrane had one of his best matches of the season.
Dalby coach Kerry Carmichael agreed that his side started poorly but was happy with their execution for the remainder of the match. But the damage had been done. Xavier Manley and Mitchell Taylor tried hard for the Diehards.
Brothers have jumped into the top three thanks to other results and they deserve to be there after their past few performances.
Brothers 30 (Michael Cochrane 2, Aiden Waterson, Zack Loxley, Ricky Davies tries; Michael Witt 5 goals) def Dalby 22 (Zac Morris, Michael Fletcher, Mitch Taylor, Dylan Taylor tries; Zac Morris 3 goals)
Reserve Grade: Dalby 28 def Brothers 16
Under 18: Dalby 20 def Brothers 12
2nd Division: Dalby 21 def Brothers 12
Warwick 94 def Oakey 6
Warwick Cowboys scored the highest amount of points this season against Oakey at Father Ranger Oval on Saturday night. Matt Marshall scored a hat-trick whilst Joe Fuimaono, Dan Watson, Dylan Galloway, Brodie Quirk, Brock Croft and Ty Gardiner all scored doubles in an 18-try performance.
Warwick 94 (Matt Marshall 3, Joe Fuimaono 2, Dan Watson 2, Dylan Galloway 2, Brodie Quirk 2, Brock Croft 2, Ty Gardiner 2, Mick Bloomfield, Jamie Abbas, Craig Donn tries; Mick Bloomfield 9, Morgan Taylor 2) def Oakey 6 (Dylan Adamson try and goal)
Reserve Grade: Warwick 74 def Oakey 6
Highfields 48 def Wattles 4
Highfields coach Gus McKellar described his side’s performance as the best of the year. The Eagles completion rate was excellent, whilst their defence was equally as good.
Wattles injury-riddled season continued with playmaker Jason Wilmot succumbing to injury midway through the first-half. Wilmot’s injury plus the fact they came up against a crack side added to the Warriors’ woes.
Highfields hold on to equal fourth place with Souths but do have a bye next round then a tough run against Warwick, Pittsworth, Brothers and Souths, which will certainly sort them out as far as the top five is concerned.
Highfields 48 (Zane Miller 2, Sean Hamel 2, Blake Appo 2, Nick Bainbridge, Mathew Prowse, Robbie Elara tries; Jarred Lee 6 goals) def Wattles 4 (Brendon Wilson try)
Reserve Grade: Highfields 16 def Wattles 10
Under 18: Highfields 26 def South Burnett White 16, Souths Burnett Blue 58 def Goondiwindi 0, Wattles 24 def Border 22.
A-Grade ladder: Pittsworth 24, Warwick 22, Brothers 20, Highfields 19, Souths 19, Gatton 17, Dalby 10, Valleys 9, Wattles 8, Goondiwindi 2, Oakey 0
Reserve Grade ladder: Gatton 24, Warwick 22, Valleys 20, Souths 20, Pittsworth 20, Highfields 12 Goondiwindi 10, Dalby 10, Brothers 7, Oakey 3, Wattles 2.
Under 18: Valleys 26, Burnett Blue 22, Pittsworth 22, Warwick 20, Dalby 16, Brothers 14, Souths 12, Highfields 12, Wattles 11, Goondiwindi 9, Burnett White 8, Border 4, Gatton 2.
2nd Division: Gatton 14, Pittsworth 10, Brothers 10, Souths 10, Valleys 8, Dalby 8, Warwick 2
