Pittsworth Danes moved to the top of the Toowoomba Rugby League Ladder, thanks to a Souths bye, with a hard-fought win over Valleys roosters at Club Pittsworth on Saturday night. Valleys were in the game at 22-16 at half-time. Pittsworth showed why they are on top of the ladder in the second half by keeping the Roosters scoreless. Danes coach Ian Brackstone said his team had to adjust to a spoiling game by the Roosters. Danes centre Conor Derksen had his best game of the season as did Braydon Gibbs. Valleys coach Wayne Barnett said his team had opportunities throughout the game but their injury toll was starting to be a hindrance to their performance but he congratulated Trent Nicholls and Dexter Buchanan on excellent performances in a beaten side
Pittsworth 32 (Mitchell Carpenter 2, Jeffrey Weber, Braydon Wilson, Conor Derkson, Matthew Briggs tries; Jake Johnston 4 Goals) def Valleys 16 (Tyren Nicholls, Josh Birch, Jacob Croker tries; Tyren Nicholls 2 goals)
Reserve Grade: Pittsworth 24 Valleys 20
2nd Division: Pittsworth 20 Valleys 6
Under-18 Presidents Cup final: Valleys 22 (Denzel Burns, Wally Peglar, Malik Brown, Zack Stevens tries; Wally Peglar 3 goals) def Pittsworth 18 (Laurie Jocumsem 2, Jordan O’Shea, Dominic Briggs tries; Michael Markey goal)
Brothers moved into the top five with a comprehensive win over Goondiwindi. Michael Witt scored 32 points, which included 3 tries. Aidan Watterson also got a hat-trick of tries. Coach Liam Cullen was happy with his team and pointed out Ben Raralevu and Aidan Watterson. Boars coach Matt Galvin was lamenting the loss of key players Ronnie David, McKenna Gibson and fullback Josh Sullivan. He was still proud of his team especially Adam Tribe and Callum Skinner. Brothers Reserve Grade was cut short by a season ending injury to Brothers centre Kharn Millward. We wish Kharn a speedy recovery.
Brothers 72 (Aidan Watterson 3, Michael Witt 3, Robbie Clevins, Joshua Davies, Ricky Davies, Cohen Davies, Mathew Rose, Joshua Head tries; Michael Witt 10 goals) def Goondiwindi 18 (Adam Tribe, Callum Skinner, Jack Laidlaw tries; Adam Tribe 3 goals)
Reserve Grade: Goondiwindi 7 Brothers 6
Under 18: Brothers 70 Goondiwindi 0
Highfields travelled to Gatton. The weather conditions won the game with torrential rain adding to the contest. The Hawks got out of the blocks better with experienced players Daniel Marsh and Steve Franciscus capitalising on the momentum they had created. Franciscus, in particular, started and finished an excellent Hawks surge whilst man of the match Daniel Marsh deserved his four pointer. It was all Gatton in the first and they deserved their lead at half-time 14-0. Highfields came out of the sheds the better in the second half. They took Gatton on at their strength, up the middle, and hung on to the ball just a little bit better than their opposition. Robert Elara scored two tries whilst Blake Appo made a game of it to draw the scores level with 10 minutes remaining. Both teams threw everything at each other than Mother Nature took over and it absolutely poured to add to the excitement.
Daniel Marsh with Terry Cook.
In the end, both teams finished level in a game of two halves. Daniel Marsh narrowly won the Hutchies Player of the Round from Highfields’ Nick Bambridge. Wingers Josh Belz for the Hawks and Eagles Robert Elara played well. The draw, amazingly, keep both sides in the top five.
Gatton 14 (Daniel Marsh, Steve Franciscus tries; Callum Woolacott 3 goals) drew with Highfields 14 (Robert Elara 2, Blake Appo tries; Braydon Mitchell goal)
Reserve Grade: Gatton 16 def Highfields 4
Under-18: Highfields 32 def Gatton 28
Warwick Cowboys kept their season on track beating Dalby in appalling conditions. Cowboys coach Craig Mullaly said defence won the day for his side as the Diehards were always in the game until the Cowboys scored a late try to put the game beyond doubt. Cowboys’ Ryan McIvor was man of the match.
Warwick 22 (Mick Bloomfield, Joe Fuimaono, Brodie Quirk, Ryan McIvor tries; Mick Bloomfield 2, Dylan Galloway goals) def Dalby 12 (Michael Fletcher, Chris Wilkes tries; Zac Morris 2 goals)
Reserve Grade: Warwick 24 def Dalby 22
Under-18: Warwick 34 def Border 6
2nd Division: Dalby 18 def Warwick 14
In terrible conditions, Wattles convincingly beat Oakey at Clifton. Legend Shane Webcke handed the jerseys out to the Wattles team prior to the game and he couldn’t stop smiling due to the deluge. Wattles coach Garry Lawrence, whilst happy with the win, said the conditions were amazing. He said Brendan Wilson, Tyrone Jollet and Herry Fullwod played well whilst Lincoln Pukallus made his debut. Oakey toiled well with Steven Rodgers their best.
Reserve Grade: Wattles 30 def Oakey 6
Under 18: Souths 42 def South Burnett White 10
