The Central Highlands Rugby League competition has returned to level pegging after the undefeated Middlemount and Clermont sides were defeated by the Tigers and Bluff respectively in Round 4 at the weekend.
The Emerald Tigers Ladies had a dominant 80-6 win over the Dysart Bulls Ladies in Dysart to remain only one win away from the top spot.
It was the defending premiers’ youth that were on display with Kelsie Parter scoring four tries and Arnika Cave and Tamyra Hunter running away to score two tries each.
Cassidy Morrissey played well in a losing side, leading from the front to try to keep the Tigers out but the inexperienced Bulls outfit couldn’t keep the Tigers from running through the defence.
Sadly, it was a losing double for the Dysart Bulls as the Springsure Mountain Men scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to record a 50-6 win against the home side in the Men’s clash.
Emerald Star Hotel player of the match Ray Ebsworth scored a hattrick of tries, lurking behind an ever-dangerous Jared Owens who was more than welcomed by the Mountain Men in his return to the side.
There were glimpses of hope for the Dysart Bulls but the high error rate and plethora of dropped footy killed the home side, who unfortunately have had to forfeit this week’s home game due to work and injury.
It was better news for the home side in the other double header, with the Blackwater Crushers recording two wins at home against the Emerald Cowboys.
The Crushettes ran away with a 32-0 head start at halftime and despite a better second-half performance by the Cowgirls, the Crushettes added another 14 points to get a 46-0 win.
Olivia Hamilton bagged two tries in her return from injury as did Megan Smith in her return match for the home side.
Tayla Bean was excellent again at dummy-half for the Cowgirls, earning three Pat Booker points but couldn’t guide her side over the tryline to record a point in the affair.
The Blackwater Men’s side also bagged two competition points with a 46-24 win over the Emerald Cowboys.
Jibera Monaei, Jed Brunner and Dean Blackman all bagged two tries each for the Crushers, making it two from two at home.
The Cowboys were first to score in the affair and despite still being in the contest at halftime trailing 22-12, they let the second half run away from them, only recording the two tries in the second stanza.
The Clermont Bears ended their undefeated run with a 32-18 loss against the Bluff Rabbitohs in a scrappy affair in Bluff.
Dane Heron, Peter McLaughlin and Chris Conway all returned for the home side giving their side a much-needed leg up in the battle against the youthful Bears side. Jack Laxton also made a full return to the Rabbitohs side, playing at lock forward in the starting 13.
In the final match of the weekend, Middlemount’s undefeated run came to an end when the Emerald Tigers defeated the Panthers in Emerald 32-18, largely similar to the grand final played at that very venue between the two over eight months ago.
The home side lifted after the Panthers shot out to a 10-0 lead and were able to secure a narrow 16-14 lead going into the break. The Tigers, who are missing several players due to injury, turned the afterburners on in the second half, scoring a further three tries to Middlemount’s one.
The Panthers were also down on troops, missing both halves in Mitch Wyatte and Joel Duffy and a number of edge players including Sam Creedon and Alex Sainsbury. They’ll face the Clermont Bears this weekend in a clash between second and third on the ladder.
ROUND 4 RESULTS
EMERALD TIGERS LADIES 80 (Kelsie Parter 4, Arnika Cave 2, Tamyra Hunter 2, Maddie Edmonds, Maria Rawiri, Kiri Samson, Charleigh Robinson, Stacey Kirkman, Ngaire Linde tries; Maddie Edmonds 9, Casey Watkins 2, Maria Rawiri goals) defeated DYSART BULLS LADIES 6 (Donna Kilpatrick try; Emma Condon goal)
BLACKWATER CRUSHETTES 44 (Olivia Hamilton 2, Megan Smith 2, Megan Latchford, Tashia Anthony, Miranda Baker, Karleigh Banks, Annette Lammermoor tries; Zoe Mackay 5 goals) defeated EMERALD COWGIRLS 0
SPRINGSURE MOUNTAIN MEN 50 (Ray Ebsworth 3, Kevin Kelbassa 2, Jared Owens, Matt Martell, Henry Watkins, Ash Travers tries; Ray Ebsworth 7 goals) defeated DYSART BULLS 6 (Dustin Lawson try; Delroy Matthews goal)
BLACKWATER CRUSHERS 44 (Jibera Monaei 2, Jed Brunner 2, Dean Blackman 2, Kelly Gage, Clint Cody, Dwayne Parsons tries; Shae Cox 4, Dean Blackman goals) defeated EMERALD COWBOYS 24 (Kerryn Brice, Andrew Doyle, Kieren Pratt, Stuart Falconer tries; Jack Edwards goals)
BLUFF RABBITOHS 32 (Blake Vesey, Cameron Scales, Jade Wogand, Ben Byrne, Ethan McLaughlin, Chris Conway tries; Reece Williams 3, Dane Heron goals) defeated CLERMONT BEARS 18 (Peter Hall 2, Ethan Kennedy, Alfie Shannon tries; Brodie Perry goal)
EMERALD TIGERS 32 (Ryley Parter, Joe Taylor, Reece Kennaugh, Jason King, Lachlan Rodgers, Nets Rarokoliwa, Wainui Matainavora tries; Steven Hoek 2 goals) defeated MIDDLEMOUNT PANTHERS 18 (Michael Baker, David Hancock, Jason Randell, Hone Te Paa tries; Matt Heidecker goal)
Men’s Ladder after Round 4: Springsure 6, Middlemount 6, Clermont 6, Blackwater 4, Bluff 4, Tigers 4, Cowboys 2, Dysart 0
Women’s Ladder after Round 4: Clermont 8, Tigers 6, Blackwater 4, Cowgirls 4, Dysart 2
For the full draw, results, ladders and upcoming fixtures of the Central Highlands Rugby League, visit www.chrugbyleague.com.au.
