Second rower Travin Baumann notched a double to lead the charge as Hervey Bay Seagulls snapped a four-match losing streak in the Rugby League Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership, upstaging league leaders Wests Panthers for the second time this season, winning an end-to-end duel 32-24 in their Round 9 showdown at Salter Oval on Sunday.
In a scoreline remarkably similar to the 34-24 when they last met on April 24, which had been the Seagulls’ previous victory, they matched their opponents in all departments, establishing a 16-12 half-time lead, and continuing to dig deep in the face of everything that was thrown at them.
The Panthers’ loss opened the door for Easts Magpies to move to the top of the table, and they seized the opportunity with both hands in the match that followed, plucking an admittedly depleted reigning champions Past Brothers 46-16 with evergreen fullback Clinton Horne at his vintage best in his second game back from an injury suffered in the season opener, bagging a hat-trick of tries in a five-star all-round performance.
On Saturday, Waves Tigers, who went into the weekend in sixth and last position, resurrected their season with a 38-26 dispatch of their hosts Wallaroos at Eskdale Park Maryborough.
Barnstorming Wests second rower Lachlan Patterson continued his devastating form, turning on a hat-trick of tries in a robust all-round performance, but it was not enough as the Seagulls proved too good on the day.
Elsewhere, the Magpies had been beaten 32-16 by the Brethren in their previous clash, but the boot was well and truly on the other foot this time despite Easts being without their coach Brent Kuskey, who had made a playing comeback a fortnight earlier and was instrumental in turning them from a very good side to probably the new title favourites.
They just keep going from strength to strength, and apart from Clinton Horne, it was business as usual for their other former BRL A Grade Player of the Year, captain and second rower Matthew Craven, while halfback Tyrell Howard, who was a star in Brothers’ 2017 premiership and Waves’ 2018 title, also bagged a double in a galaxy of stars.
The Magpies’ bench included three players backing up from a 50-6 demolition of Brothers in Reserve Grade, including reigning BRL Reserve Grade Player of the Year Jackson Paulson, who racked up 22 points with two tries and seven goals in that rout, and newcomer second rower William Callaghan, who contributed two tries.
Waves also produced by far their best performance of the season and coach Antonio Kaufusi said he knew their season was on the line and was delighted with how his players delivered against a very good Roos side.
Captain and second rower Reece Maughan led from the front with a double, but Antonio said blockbusting front rower Folau Havili was their best, ahead of fullback Layton Chambers who continued his outstanding form, and their other front rower Ross Larsen.
Also among their scorers was winger Sam Rooney, whom Antonio said was a Rugby player who turned up for training for the first time on Thursday and impressed him to be thrust straight into the A Grade starting side, while fellow Rugby convert and halfback Timoci Naco also made his mark in his second game for the club.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS RUGBY LEAGUE
South Kolan Sharks continued to sweep all before them and laid claim to the minor premiership after 8 of 12 rounds with a 28-16 victory over hosts Gin Gin Hawks on Sunday, with blockbusting forward Phillip Lindsay and 47th Battalion Carnival Merit Team centre of excellence Darren Broome putting their stamps on the game with two tries each.
Two-times defending champions Avondale Tigers shored up third place with interchange ace Braedyn Terare chalking up three tries and stalwart halfback and inspirational captain Frank Primavera snaring two in a 42-14 blitz of the win-less Miriam Vale Magpies.
In the Women’s League Tag, electrifying fullback Jessica Galea cut loose with four tries to spearhead confirmed minor premiers Gin Gin to a 48-4 demolition of the win-less Avondale Hornets.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY LEAGUE
St Patrick’s Catholic School will take on Gayndah State School in a Wide Bay semi-final of the Queensland Primary Schools Steve Renouf Cup at Salter Oval tomorrow after holding on to defeat Norville State School 12-10 in the grand final of the inaugural Bundaberg Under-12 Felise Kaufusi Shield.
St Pat’s led 12-0 after the first 20-minute half, but they were forced to dig deep after Norville got to within two points with about five minutes to go.
Their Player of the Match was Bundaberg Primary Schools (BPS) Under-12 representative Toby Buckland, who played dummy-half in the first stanza, during which he scored both of their tries and converted one, and second row in the second half.
Halfback Xander Tanner and Bundaberg and Wide Bay representative, whose father Josh is still one of Bundaberg’s best players at the age of 35, was Norville’s Player of the Match.
St Patrick’s, who won the BPS under-12 Covid Cup last year, had the Cup first-round bye, before progressing to the decider with wins over St Luke’s Anglican School 24-18 and Walkervale SS 32-8 in the rounds, and Branyan Road SS 30-14 in the semi-finals.
First-year coach Cooper Peebles, who was an integral part of highly successful St Patrick’s teams during his primary years up to 2009 and has worked at the school as a Teacher’s Assistant since 2017 and has assisted long-time coach Matt Plumb for the past four years, has stepped up to the Head Coach role this year with Mr Plumb on leave.
But Mr Plumb has continued to assist, and Cooper said they have continued with the “same structure” his former mentor has used for years, and that they had to show their character to repel Norville’s comeback.
“We scored our second try just before half-time, but Norville came out and scored early in the second half which rattled us a bit, then we realised it was time for defence, then when they got their second, it was game on – Norville never give up and they didn’t but with determination and a very good defensive effort, we came away with it, narrowly by 2,” Cooper said.
Apart from Toby, Cooper said Captain Lachlan Rae was another stand-out, along with Zai Stanley.
“Lachlan combined positions of first receiver in the yellow bib and as fullback – he is an excellent tackler and also good footy brain – at club and rep footy, he is really good and directs all players around,” he said.
“Zai is another experienced rugby player who switches with Toby, playing second row in the first half and dummy-half in the second.
“But three players can’t win a game and quite a few across the board all played their best game ever and were sensational, and we played very well as a team.”
The Bundaberg Primary Schools grand finals will also be played at Salter Oval this Thursday from 4-8pm.
FOOTBALL
After being restricted to a total of six goals in his first eight matches this season, 2020 Golden Boot Bryce Hibberd burst the shackles, bagging seven to spearhead hosts and joint-leaders Across The Waves (ATW) to a 9-0 whitewash of KSS Jets in their Wide Bay Premier League Men’s shoot-out on Saturday.
Fraser Flames however retained a share of the lead with a 5-1 home victory over cellar dwellers Diggers.
United Park Eagles (UPE) and Brothers-Aston Villa (BAV) retained equal-third position after battling out a 3-3 draw in a see-sawing tussle at Brothers Sports Club, while Bingera ended a three-match losing run and moved into fifth position, just one point behind them, with a 4-1 away triumph over Granville.
Josh Lunnon hammered in a hat-trick of goals for 10th placed SC Corinthians, but they were outgunned 9-3 by hosts and 9th seeds Sunbury Blues, who stretched their advantage over them to 5 points.
HOCKEY
Waves Cities completed the Bundaberg Division 1 double against Raiders/Rovers at Hinkler Park on Saturday with their Men gaining revenge on their opponents with a 3-0 victory after going down to them at their previous meeting.
Cities’ Women powered on in their title defence, running out 4-0 victors with Jessica Asnicar coming to the fore with a two-goal haul.
Meanwhile, All Blacks got their quest for five straight Men’s premierships back on track with a double to young gun Isaac Wales securing them a 2-1 win at the expense of Arrows/Athletics, but their Women were shot down by Arrows 3-0 with Rachael Cox featuring strongly with a double.
AFL
Across The Waves Eagles’ Wide Bay Marquis Macadamias Seniors Premiership title defence is on shaky ground after they suffered their worst loss in years, being blown away by their hosts the high-flying unbeaten Hervey Bay Bombers 23.11 (149) to 2.3 (15) on Saturday.
It was a disastrous day for the glamour club after their Reserves were also put to the sword by the Bombers by 69 points.
Here are all the scores:
AFL WIDE BAY
MARQUIS MACADAMIAS SENIORS PREMIERSHIP
Hervey Bay Bombers 5.3, 12.6, 18.8, 23.11 (149) d Across The Waves 0.2, 0.2, 2.2, 2.3 (15)
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS – Goal Kickers: Dylan Rowe 5, Hudson Navez 5, Ben Holland 3, Todd Baldwin 3, Z. Laud 2, B. Richards, J. Challies, C. Issa, J. Simms, J. O'Connell. Best Players: C. Issa, T. Baldwin, H. Navez, H. Telfer, J. Andrew, Dylan Rowe
ACROSS THE WAVES – Goal Kickers: Tim Dart, Jason Bethune. Best Players: Cody Davis, Codey Enever, Damian McRae, Jaymes Harrod, Jake McInerney, Travis Esmer
RESERVES
Bay Power 2.0, 5.1, 5.1, 8.4 (52) d Maryborough 3.2, 3.4, 4.7, 6.8 (44).
Hervey Bay Bombers 3.4, 6.4, 10.5, 12.9 (81) d Across The Waves 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 2.0 (12).
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS – Goal Kickers: D. Burt 5, D. Stanley 2, K. Hare, G. Kiss-Anu, J. Wagner, J. Johnstone, J. Slatterie. Best Players: J. McConnell, D. Stanley, J. Slatterie, C. Wagner, D. Burt, M. Higginson
ACROSS THE WAVES – Goal Kickers: Jesse Richardson 2. Best Players: Dan Nimmo, Jay7den Cowan, Callum Neubecker, Dan Baker, William McRae, Eoin Byrne
UNDER-14
Across The Waves 22.15 (61) d Brothers Bulldogs 0.1 (1).
UNDER-12
Hervey Bay Bombers Black 5.8 (38) d Hervey Bay Bombers Red 2.0 (12).
Bay Power 19.12 (67) d Across The Waves 1.1 (7).
FOOTBALL WIDE BAY
PREMIER LEAGUE MEN
ATW 9 (Bryce Hibberd 7, Luke Vincent, Cory Leggett) d KSS JETS 0.
BAV 3 (Michael Stayte 2, Lachlan Scarborough) drew UPE 3 (Luke Coates 2, own goal).
BINGERA 4 (Joel Haack, Shane Youngberry, Daniel Watson, Gary O’Donnell) d GRANVILLE 1 (C Parry).
FRASER FLAMES 5 (Liam Brindley 2, J Sams, L Lakin, J Kirkwood) d DIGGERS 1 (Jamie Essam).
SUNBUIRY BLUES 9 d SC CORINTHIANS 3 (Josh Lunnon 3).
PREMIER LEAGUE WOMEN
TINANA 1 drew GRANVILLE 1.
SUNBURY BLUES 2 d KSS JETS 1.
MEN’S RESERVES
ATW 3 d KSS JETS 0.
UPE 3 (Finlay Bath, Lynton Seary, Harrison Nasso) d BARGARA 1 (Michael Doyle).
BINGERA 5 (Dean Pickup 3, Rand Woznitza, Brendan Conquest) d GRANVILLE 0.
FRASER FLAMES 6 (O Mikkelsen 2, J Mager 2, M Tom, T Scott) d DIGGERS 1 (Mitchell Bluff).
SUNBURY BLUES 2 d SC CORINTHIANS 1 (Jacob Smiths).
NORTH MEN’S DIVISION 1
BAV 3 (Chris Norris, Will Brosnan, Jacob Green) d BINGERA 0.
DIGGERS 7 (Josh Barlow 4, Nathan Freeman, Cameron Mackay, Greg Craven-Hughes) d BARGARA 0.
UPE RED 10 (Ethan Maas 3, Seth Banks 2, Yuva Raj Basnet, Jason Killer, Jamie Purkis, Ryder Markey, Matthew Spence) d GIN GIN 0.
UPE GREEN 2 (Nick Maas, Mathew Lindeman) d SC CORINTHIANS 1 (Craig Brown).
NORTH WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
DIGGERS 5 (Heidi Walk 2, Leah Herbert, Chenae Watson, Tayah Hiscocks) d ATW DEVELOPMENT 3 (Korrin Stirrat, Renee Bock, Cecilia Hicks).
BARGARA 3 (Iommi Killen, Amy Nielsen, Shakira Damico) d ATW MASTERS 1 (Brooke Land).
SC CORINTHIANS 2 (Kate Connor, Lizzie Franks) d UPE 0.
UNDER-16 NORTH
ATW HOTSPURS 10 (Ashton Anderson 2, Ben Schubel 2, Weston Giovannoni 2, Jayden D’Addario, Ryan Korner, Lachlan Young, Zye Cory) d DIGGERS 0.
UNDER-14 NORTH
UPE GREEN 4 d BINGERA 3 (Ethan McKeown 2, Alex Wedel).
GIN GIN 3 d SC CORINTHIANS 1.
DIGGERS 4 (Caolan Craven-Hughes 2, Paige Parker, Frajo Chelappadan) d BAV VILLAINS 0.
UNDER-13 NORTH
BAV VILLAINS 5 (Swarith Chand 3, Billy Meehan, Zedd Peters) d BARGARA 2 (Zayden Busby 2).
ATW UNITED 5 (Bowie Young 3, Jorja Ohlbrecht, Hasan Dogan) d BINGERA 0.
UNDER-12 NORTH
ATW 4 (Tariq Munkayilar-Moore 2, Rilee Mears, Joshua Bardini) d UPE 1 (Abby Banks).
DIGGERS 2 (Caolan Craven-Hughes, Kai Todd) d SC CORINTHIANS 1 (Flynn Mattson).
BINGERA 7 (Cale Stayte 3, Tayin Ogilvie 2, Beau Donnison, Brayden Jenner) d BAV VILLANS 0.
GIN GIN 10 d BARGARA HAMMERHEADS 0.
HOCKEY BUNDABERG
U11s
Waves Cities vs Raiders Rovers – Game forfeited by Raiders Rovers – Waves Cities win
Arrows Athletics 5 (Eddie Rayner 1, Hamish Cook 4) defeated All Blacks 0
U13s
Waves Cities vs Raiders Rovers – Game forfeited by Raiders Rovers – Waves Cities win
Arrows Athletics 5 (Harlan Bignell 1, Dakoda Dale 1, Amelia Hammond 1, Tully Dorgan 2) defeated All Blacks 0
U16s
Waves Cities 4 (Riley Vowles 1, Jonty McMahon 3) defeated Raiders Rovers 2 (Riley Howard 2)
Arrows Athletics 3 (Julie Munro 1, Jake McCaig 2) defeated All Blacks 2 (Isaac Wales 1, Eric Rindal 1)
Division 2 Women
Waves Cities 1 (Kristine Flanders 1) defeated Raiders Rovers 0
Arrows Athletics 1 (Debbie Burchard 1) defeated All Blacks 0
Division 2 Men
Raiders Rovers 3 (Dean Wightman 1, Bayley Fagg 2) defeated Waves Cities 1 (Jonty McMahon 1)
Waves Cities 4 (Jonty McMahon 1, Anthony Castelli 1, Michael Callaghan 2) defeated Arrows Athletics 1 (Jesse Beveridge 1)
Division 1 Women
Waves Cities 4 (Milee Flanders 1, Katie Yick 1, Jessica Asnicar 2) defeated Raiders Rovers 0
Arrows Athletics 3 (Malanie Stehbens 1, Rachael Cox 2) defeated All Blacks 0
Division 1 Men
Waves Cities 3 (Lewis Dexter 1, Joel Latham 1, Matthew Quaite 1) defeated Raiders Rovers 0
All Blacks 2 (Isaac Wales 2) defeated Arrows Athletics 1 (Martin Green)
RUGBY LEAGUE
BUNDABERG
BUNDABERG BROADCASTERS A GRADE PREMIERSHIP
WAVES TIGERS 38 (Reece Maughan 2, Samuel Rooney, Tom Dexter, Tukerekere Hikaka, Ross Larsen, Sailusi Manufekai tries; Layton Chambers 5 goals) d WALLAROOS 26 (Tyson Allen 2, Shaun Collins 2, Ethan Ballard tries; Jorden Kemble 3 goals).
HERVEY BAY SEAGULLS 32 (Travin Baumann 2, Malachi Lawton, Scott Walthall, Logona Vetemotu, Isaac Mielczarek tries; Logona Vetemotu 2, Scott Carter-Lowe 2 goals) d WESTS PANTHERS 24 (Lachlan Patterson 3, Marcus Tanner tries; Chris Robinson 4 goals).
EASTS MAGPIES 46 (Clinton Horne 3, Tyrell Howard 2, Trent Seeds, Andreas Nona, Matthew Craven, Caleb Van Lawick tries; Tyrell Howard 2, Matthew Craven 2, Andreas Nona goals) d PAST BROTHERS 16 (Taylar Barritt, Tom Murray, Aaron Hall tries; Zak Bainbridge 2 goals).
RESERVE GRADE
WALLAROOS 56 (Kynan Watson 3, Edward Booth 2, Bradley Gela, Archie Sullivan, Mason Atkinson, Jesse James, Joe Byrne tries; Kynan Watson 8 goals) d WAVES TIGERS 8 (Owen Hyden, Liam Price tries).
EASTS MAGPIES 50 (Jackson Paulson 2, Dylan Taylor 2, Denim Rogers 2, William Callaghan 2, Kalisito Gadenkiniusiladi tries; Jackson Paulson 7 goals) d PAST BROTHERS 6 (Kale Johnson try; Dylan Harradine-Hall goal).
WESTS PANTHERS 30 (Marlon Johnson 2, Dennis Johnson, Jacob Scadden, Lochlan Modrow, Ashley Helmore tries; Leeton Smith 2, Lochlan Modrow goals) d HERVEY BAY SEAGULLS 18 (Ronald Fisher, Ashley O’Donnell, Michael O’Shea tries; Ben Hudson 3 goals).
UNDER-18
HERVEY BAY SEAGULLS 30 (Dylan Ilka 2, Noah Cain, Michael Cross, Ruben Broome, Darnell Murray tries; Michael Cross, Dylan Bennett, Lyndon Kenny goals) d PAST BROTHERS 6 (Lane Crossley-Price try; Liam Doyle goal).
WESTS PANTHERS 22 (Lochlan Modrow, Flynn Purkis, Zander Kerr, Cayleb Johnson tries; Chris Robinson 3 goals) d WALLAROOS 14 (Codey Kearns, Liam Doolan, Joel Cox tries; Noah Dawson goal).
BUNDABERG JUNIOR
UNDER-16
HERVEY BAY 34 (Harry Armstrong 3, Jonty Brien, Kayleb Angeles, Eden Wheeler tries; Eden Wheeler 4, Jonty Brien goals) d BROTHERS 18 (Ethan Brennan 2, Patrick Curtis, Benjamin Reibelt tries; Ezekiel Monckton goal).
UNDER-15
WAVES 26 (Cooper Black 2, Coen Philips, Thomas Morcom tries; d WESTS 6 (James Faulkner try; Lucas Brough goal).
BROTHERS 46 (Jett Maher 2, Malachi Solomon, Blake Powter 2, Benny Medley tries; Blake Powter 5 goals) d HERVEY BAY 6 (Zachary Bennett try; Boedie Dwight goal).
UNDER-14
MAGPIES 38 (Jesse Powell, Seth Frazer 2, Riley Maule 2, Charlie Keech-Reeves tries; James Goodman-Jones 3 goals) d WESTS 10 (Darnell Saunders goal).
WAVES 34 (Jimmy Gear, Logan Files, Brody Allan tries; Jimmy Gear 4, Brody Allan goals) d BROTHERS 12 (Levi Monckton, Isaac Barrett tries; Cooper De Silva 2 goals).
HERVEY BAY 38 d WALLAROOS 8.
UNDER-13
WESTS 50 (Isaac Williams 7 tries; Levi Brough 6 goals) d BEASTY BEARS 4 (Tyson Rizzo try).
WAVES 30 (Noah McGuire, Parkka Perrotta-Dowling 3, Jarred McClymont, Tahj Coates tries; Tahj Coates 2, Taj Plath goals) d BROTHERS 10 (Riley Wilson, Jeremiah Solomon tries; Riley Wilson goal).
WALLAROOS 26 d HERVEY BAY 10.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
MEN
AVONDALE 42 (Frank Primavera 2, Braedyn Terare 3, Billy Sarnadsky, Cooper Barritt, Hayden Sarnadsky tries; Muthuna Jones, Jack West-Combo, Dylan Wagner, Tyler George-Burns goals) d MIRIAM VALE 14 (Dale Fischer, Raymond Kaestner, C Goldsworthy tries; Brandon Hornby goal).
SOUTH KOLAN 28 (Phillip Lindsay 2, Darren Broome 2, Jake Evans tries; Corey Gough 3, Cem Rohdmann goals) d GIN GIN 16 (Athol Eggmolesse, Latu Vea, Dion Fisher tries; Cameron Ross, Rowan Sutton goals).
WOMEN’S LEAGUE TAG
GIN GIN 48 (Jessica Galea 4, Bree-anna Orpin, Jude Bust 2, Tamara Young, Emma Collinson, Lynn Paap, Sharna Curtis tries; Emma Collinson 2 goals) d AVONDALE HORNETS 4 (BJ Wolf try).
