Gin Gin were in a league of their own in the Women’s League Tag decider, with the Gin Gin Hawkettes claiming back-to-back titles and maintaining their perfect season record with a 32-6 victory over Agnes Water Marlins.
Nineteen-year-old Hawkette Ruby Tobin made a comeback after missing last season following ACL surgery and took out the Player of the Final, scoring two tries and kicking two conversions in a silky all-round display.
Ruby converted both tries in their 46-0 whitewash of the Marlins in the Major Semi-final a fortnight earlier.
She finished the year as the second-leading try scorer in the competition with 11, behind only Jessica Galea, who was a run-away winner with 21.
Veteran captain and champion sporting all-rounder Jude Bust was delighted to score a try and kick a conversion before representing Queensland at the Touch State of Origin Series at Coffs Harbour this weekend.
WLT Player of the Year Jessica Galea, her sister Gabrielle, and Shannon Lavender-Horlyck were each also among the tries.
The star-studded Gin Gin won all of their 10 games for the season, racking up 402 points while conceding a mere 30.
Gin Gin Hawks Rugby League Club did a superb job as grand final day hosts, with the program kicking off with the finals of the inaugural Walk With Me 4 Autism All Abilities Program.
After being wooden spooners last year, Miriam Vale Magpies put the icing on a red-letter Club Centenary season, holding on to defeat a never-say-die South Kolan Sharks 34-24 in a classic Northern Districts Rugby League Men’s Premiership Grand Final at Gin Gin on Sunday.
The Magpies dominated the first half, establishing a 28-0 lead at the break, but the reigning champions picked themselves up off the canvas and made a real game of it in the second stanza.
In the end it proved a bridge too far, although they missed a couple of golden opportunities to get to within a try of Miriam Vale in the dying minutes.
Crafty veteran Magpies halfback Tim McIntosh notched a double, including a crucial try to re-establish an in-the-end match winning buffer in the second half.
He was beaten for the Player of the Final award by his halves partner Ricky Noy who was also superb throughout, amassing 14 points with one try and five conversions in a robust all-round performance.
But they laid the platform up front, led by co-captains tough-as-teak stalwart front rower Glenn Cox, who has been there through thick and thin, and unsung hero hooker Matthew Fennell.
Miriam Vale won only one game all last season, upsetting Avondale Tigers 42-22 in the Major Semi-final.
They lost just one game this season, being pipped by the Sharks 24-22 in the season opener back in April.
The Hawks’ men, who had been beaten by Avondale Tigers in the Minor Semi-final, also salvaged something from their season.
They put it all together to tame the Tigers 52-16 in the Slean Trophy match with five-eighth and NDRL Player of the Year Rowan Sutton producing a master-class and racking up 24 points with a hat-trick of tries and six conversions.
Centre and NDRL Rookie of Year and leading try and points scorer Tyren Hoyle grabbed a double.
Quiet achieving hooker and club hard worker Connor Boon was also rewarded with his first try of 2022 in the dying minutes, before fittingly, Rowan brought up the half-century of points.
Football
One goal each to sharp shooters Bryce Hibberd and Nykodah Smith were enough for hosts Across The Waves to defeat Rockhampton superpowers Frenchville 2-0 in the Football Queensland Premier League Champions League Central Conference Qualifier Second Leg on Saturday and clinch the Tie on aggregates 3-2.
Waves coach Peter Bock praised a “good team effort by all”.
“But the goal keepers were awesome for both clubs,” Peter said.
Waves’ custodian Sam Collinson, in particular, did brilliantly to keep a clean slate in a pulsating end-to-end duel.
In the FQPL Wide Bay Men’s penultimate round, Kawungan Sandy Straits (KSS) Jets consolidated second place, two points ahead of Fraser Flames, battling out a 1-1 draw with them, while Irish ace Gary O’Donnell bagged a hat-trick as Bingera consolidated
fourth place with a 3-1 home victory over a gallant SC Corinthians on Sunday.
Waves played their match of the round at Martens Oval last night and sealed back-to-back League Championships with Zac Nicholas and Corey Leggett each finding the back of the net in a 2-0 result against United Park Eagles (UPE), leaving the 2020 Grand Final champions and 2021 runners-up Eagles five points behind Bingera.
UPE will now have to win their last two matches against KSS Jets and Doon Villa respectively, and also rely on Bingera losing to Doon Villa this Saturday in order to displace Bingera from fourth position.
In the FQPL WB Women’s League, UPE moved ahead of Waves into second place with a 2-0 victory over them at Martens Oval on Friday night.
AFL
Across The Waves Eagles look set to miss the AFL Wide Bay Marquis Macadamias Men’s Premiership finals after slipping from third to fourth place on the ladder with a 6.7 (43) to 5.7 (37) defeat at the hands of Bay Power in their penultimate round home game at Frank Coulthard Oval on Saturday.
The Eagles trailed at every change, with the Power establishing a 29-point lead at the long break, and while they managed just three points in the last two quarters, Waves put themselves into a challenging position with four straight goals in the third term, but could manage just four behinds in the run home to see their title hopes slip away.
The Eagles can still make the finals as they are only two points behind the third placed Power, but to do so, they face the massive task of toppling the all-conquering unbeaten Hervey Bay Bombers at NE McLean Oval this Saturday and also rely on second placed Brothers Bulldogs losing to the Power at Keith Dunne Oval.
The Bulldogs were again no match for the Bombers last Saturday, with the competition’s Leading Goal Kicker Ben Holland slotting another four to take his season tally to 40 as Hervey Bay powered to an 11.13 (79) to 3.6 (24) victory.
Netball
The Superpark was a sea of pink as The Waves Netball Club held their annual Pink Day for Breast Cancer Network Australia at the Bundaberg Association’s last round of Warren Family Homes Premierships on Saturday.
Seven Waves teams were also successful on the courts, including their Division 1 two-times defending champions and minor premiership winning Gold team, who again flexed their muscle with a 65-38 blitz of fourth placed Alloway Blue.
Second placed Brothers Hurricanes also warmed up for the finals with a 54-25 dispatch of No. 3 Natives Aim Hearing Magpies.
Two other Waves teams were also crowned as minor premiers, Sapphires in Division 6, and Teal (Division 9).
Natives topped the Minor Premiers count with four, Eagles (D2), Rosella (D3), Firebirds (D4), and Kingfishers (D7).
Brothers achieved two No. 1’s, Volcanoes (D8) and Heat (D10), while Alloway Green finished on top of the Masters’ table, and Fusion Magic Sultans headed affairs in Division 5.
Hockey
A Hiro Namu goal was enough as Raiders/Rovers struck a major psychological blow ahead of the Bundaberg Men’s Finals with a 1-0 victory over defending champions and competition leaders Waves Cities I in their penultimate round clash at Hinkler Park on Saturday.
All Blacks I whitewashed Cities II 11-0 with young gun Isaac Wales hammering in six goals, while All Blacks II were beaten but not bowed by Arrows/Athletics 2-0.
Raiders also surged on in Division 1 Women, shutting out Cities 5-0, with Minka Elliott a hat-trick hero, while Nicky Pollock grabbed a double to spearhead Arrows to a 3-0 triumph over All Blacks.
Here are all the scores:
AFL WIDE BAY
MARQUIS MACADAMIAS SENIOR MEN’S PREMIERSHIP
BAY POWER 3.1, 6.2, 6.5, 6.7 (43) d ATW EAGLES 1.1, 1.3, 5.3, 5.7 (37).
Eagles – Goals: Jason Bethune 3, Jayden Enever, Jonathan Sattler; Best: Lachlan Andrews, Codey Enever, Connor Stone, Fletcher Stone, Billy Hawkes.
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS 2.2, 6.8, 10.10, 11.13 (79) d BROTHERS BULLDOGS 1.2, 1.4, 2.5, 3.6 (24).
Bulldogs – Best: Tristan Taylor, Dylan Keam, Harrison Tancredi, Lee Taylor, Cody Woodrow, Jack Sickerdick.
RESERVES MEN
ATW EAGLES 0.3, 1.5, 5.7, 6.9 (45) d MARYBOROUGH 1.2, 1.2, 1.2, 2.4 (16).
Eagles – Goals: Arty Richardson 3, Trent Osborn 2, Jesse Richardson; Best: Kyle Fagan, Oliver Wightman, Arty Richardson, Haroldas Ambrutis, Luke Mason
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS 2.4, 4.7, 7.9, 11.11 (77) d BROTHERS BULLDOGS 0.1, 2.1, 2.1, 3.4 (22).
UNDER-17 BOYS
BAY POWER 2.0, 3.0, 7.1, 9.2 (56) d ATW EAGLES 3.0, 4.1, 5.1, 6.2 (38).
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS 4.2, 10.4, 15.9, 19.11 (125) d BROTHERS BULLDOGS 2.1, 2.1, 2.1, 6.3 (39).
Bulldogs – Goals: Harrison Tancredi 5, Jack Sullivan; Best: Tommas Sullivan, Maxwell Clancy, Eli Thomas, Mitchell Webster, Jack Sullivan, Darcy Burgess.
UNDER-14 MIXED
BAY POWER 1.2, 4.2, 5.4, 6.5 (41) d ATW EAGLES 0.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7 (13).
Eagles – Goals: Scarlett Salisbury; Best: Kaleb Bentley, Silas Martin, Rhani Dodd, Daniel Russell, Hudson Wisewould, Ryan Hayhoe.
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS 3.4, 8.9, 10.12, 12.16 (88) d BROTHERS BULLDOGS 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 (0).
Bulldogs – Goals: Jayla Tancredi; Best: Tallen Chapman, Maylee Wade, Kealee Knight, Oscar Timms, Mitchell Webster, Maxwell Clancy.
UNDER-12 MIXED
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS BLACK 2.1, 2.3, 3.3, 4.6 (30) d BROTHERS BULLDOGS 0.1, 1.2, 2.2, 2.3 (15).
Bulldogs – Goals: Caleb Box; Best: Hugo Timms, Keira Cook, Luke Marlyn, Joshua Jackson, Caleb Box, Jai Kirby.
ATW EAGLES 2.1, 4.1, 5.3, 6.3 (39) d MARYBOROUGH BEARS 2.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.3 (21).
Eagles – Goals: Connor Doherty 3, Stephanie Roberts, Anthony Roebuck, Kallam Wynn; Best: Abigail Abbott, Connor Doherty, Jordan Moriarty, Lily Brown, Jack Booth, Liliko Mason.
HERVEY BAY BOMBERS RED 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.4 (22) d BAY POWER 0.0, 0.2, 1.2, 3.3 (21).
FOOTBALL QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Central Conference Tie 2: ACROSS THE WAVES 2 (Bryce Hibberd, Nykodah Smith) d FRENCHVILLE 0.
WIDE BAY
FQPL WB MEN
KSS JETS 1 d FRASER FLAMES 1.
BINGERA 3 (Gary O’Donnell 3) d SC CORINTHIANS 1 (Scott Black).
FQPL WB WOMEN
FRASER FLAMES 4 d KSS JETS 0.
UNITED PARK EAGLES 2 d ACROSS THE WAVES 0.
FQ WB U23 MEN
BINGERA 3 (Shaun Sergiacomi, Dean Pickup, Laurie Stephenson) d SC CORINTHIANS 2 (William Osborne, Peter Nixon).
ATW 2 d UPE 0.
KSS JETS 3 d FRASER FLAMES 1.
SUNBURY BLUES 5 d DOON VILLA 0.
FQPL WB U15
BAYSIDE STRIKERS 3 d SUNBURY BLUES 1.
ATW 7 (Xavier Ulbl 3, Casey Simpson, Tino Giovannoni, Bowie Young, Noah Briggs) d KSS JETS 0.
UPE 11 (Riley McDonald 3, Cohen Palmer 2, Noah Smith 2, Marek Cooper, Ron Machekera, Sean Millett) d UNITED WARRIORS 3 (J Upton 2, D Pohlmann).
WB DIVISION 1 MEN
ATW 8 (Lachlan Brown 5, Beau Schubel 2, Blake Hunter) d DIGGERS 1 (T Willie).
BAV 2 (Jesse Harding 2) drew UNITED WARRIORS 2 (J Landon, A Lee).
WB NORTH DIVISION 2 MEN
ATW 5 (Mitchell Capuzzo 4, Noah Kerslake) d DIGGERS GREEN 2 (Mitchell Bluff 2).
BINGERA FIRE 4 (Ryan Arnold, Cameron Brauer, Mitchell Arnold, Isaac Woznitza) d GIN GIN 1 (M Hoponoa).
SC CORINTHIANS 6 (Brad Kalopong 4, R Mahama) d DIGGERS GOLD 0.
WB NORTH U15 DIVISION 1
BAV 5 (Zed Peters 2, Jaxon Drinnen, Swarith Chand, Cassius Amey) d BARGARA RED 1 (K Dayah).
UPE 5 (Huy Nguyen 2, Cooper Bennier 2, Clancy Messitt) d GIN GIN 0.
BINGERA 1 (Ethan Radel) drew BARGARA WHITE 1 (F Schiffke).
ATW 6 (Matthew Grima 4, Sebastian Dexter, Joshua Lamont) d DIGGERS 1 (P Parker).
WB NORTH U13 DIVISION 1
ATW 2 (Tex Adams 2) d DIGGERS 1 (m Bradley).
HOCKEY BUNDABERG
U11s
Raiders Rovers 6 (Stella Dwyer 1, Beau Kendall 2, Levi Kendall 3) defeated All Blacks 0
Arrows Athletics 5 (Keinan Doodson 1, Hamish Cook 4) defeated Waves Cities 3 (Sophie Aitkenhead 3)
U13s
Raiders Rovers 14 (Ava Baldry 1, Lola Grabbie 1, Levi Kendall 1, Dominic Wallace 2 Riley Simpson 2, Molly Crow 2, Courtney Kendall 2, Silvanan Powell 3) defeated All Blacks 0
Arrows Athletics 5 (Tully Dorgan 5) defeated Waves Cities 1 (Thomas Rach 1)
U16s
Raiders Rovers 3 (Courtney Kendall 1, Bayley Fagg 1, Levi Kendall 1) defeated Arrows Blue 1 (Sam Kenny 1)
All Blacks 1 (Aaron Chanoff 1) defeated Waves Cities 0
Division 2 Women
Arrows Athletics 3 (Samantha Schuch 3) defeated All Blacks 1 (Chloe Connor 1)
Waves Cities forfeited to Raiders Rovers
Division 1 Women
Raiders Rovers 5 (Amanda Wightman 1, Abby Heffernan 1, Minka Elliott 3) defeated Waves Cities 0
Arrows Athletics 3 (Malanie Stehbens 1, Nicky Pollock 2) defeated All Blacks 0
Men
Arrows Athletics 2 (Sam Kenny 1, Paul Gardiner 1) defeated All Blacks 2 – 0
All Blacks 1 – 11 (Tristan Turner 1, Thomas Chadwick 1, Dale Veivers 3, Isaac Wales 6) defeated Waves Cities 2 0
Raiders Rovers 1 (Hiro Namu 1) defeated Waves Cities 1 – 0
NETBALL BUNDABERG
WARREN FAMILY HOMES PREMIERSHIPS
DIVISION 1: BROTHERS HURRICANES 54 d NATIVES AIM HEARING MAGPIES 25; WAVES GOLD 65 d ALLOWAY BLUE 38.
Points: Waves Gold 38, Brothers Hurricanes 35, Natives Aim Hearing Magpies 25, Alloway Blue 23, Waves Blue 19.
DIVISION 2: BROTHERS CYCLOJNES 33 d ALLOWAY RED 31; WAVES SILVER 36 d NATIVES KOOKABURRAS 17; NATIVES EAGLES 52 d WAVES RED 26; BROTHERS THUNDER 60 d WAVES ROYALS 22.
Points: Natives Eagles 25, Brothers Cyclones 24, Brothers Thunder 19 (+107), Waves Silver 19 (+54), Alloway red 17, Natives Kookaburras 13 (-124), Waves Red 13 (-140), Waves Royals 10.
MASTERS: ALLOWAY GREEN 51 d BROTHERS TSUNAMI 29; NATIVES SWANS 44 d NATIVES MACAWS 32.
Points: Alloway Green 38, Natives Swans 34, Natives Macaws 22, Brothers Tsunami 17.
DIVISION 3: BROTHERS LIGHTNING 32 d WAVES AQUA 30; NATIVES ROSELLAS 59 d ALLOWAY YELLOW 10; BROTHERS MONSOONS 36 d FUSION SOLOMONS 31.
Points: Natives Rosellas 23 (+132), Fusion Solomons 23 (+34), Brothers Monsoon 20, Brothers Lightning 17, Waves Aqua 15, Alloway Yellow 8.
DIVISION 4: NATIVES FIREBIRDS 47 d BROTHERS TWISTERS 16; ALLOWAY AQUA 39 d BROTHERS TORNADOES 23; NATIVES PARROTS 47 d ALLOWAY MONSOON 34.
Points: Natives Firebirds 25 (+135), Alloway Aqua 25 (+113), Brothers Tornadoes 15 (+2), Alloway Maroon 15 (-85), Natives Parrots 14, Brothers Twisters 13.
DIVISION 5: FUSION MAGIC SULTANS 32 d WAVES PINK 20; NATIVES LORIKEETS 23 d BROTHERS WILDFIRES 22.
Points: Fusion Magic Sultans 21 (+39), Waves Pink 21 (+14), Natives Lorikeets 14, Brothers Wildfires 14 (-58).
DIVISION 6: BROTHERS STORM 54 d FUSION BRENDAN O’DONNELL 18; WAVES EMERALDS 55 d NATIVES PEACOCKS 17.
Points: Waves Sapphires 35, Brothers Storm 33, Waves Emerald 32, Fusion Brendan O’Donnell 22, Natives Peacocks 16.
DIVISION 7: NATIVES KINGFISHERS 35 d BROTHERS TYPHOONS 32; FUSION SANDHILLS 41 d FUSION WESSEL PETROLEUM 38.
Points: Natives Kingfishers 25, Fusion Wessel Petroleum 21, Fusion Sandhills 20, Brothers Typhoons 13, Alloway Emeralds 11.
DIVISION 8: BROTHERS VOLCANOES 27 d BROTHERS WHIRLWINDS 12; WAVES MAROONS 23 d ALLOWAY GOLD 6.
Points: Brothers Volcanoes 25, Brothers Whirlwinds 21, Waves Maroons 16, Alloway Gold 8.
DIVISION 9: WAVES TEAL 39 d FUSION SHIFT AUTO 5; NATIVES HAWKS 32 d ALLOWAY LAVENDER 28.
Points: Waves Teal 25, Brothers Avalanches 19, Fusion Shift Auto 17, Natives Hawks 16, Alloway Lavender 13.
DIVISION 10: FUSION PRECISION 40 d BROTHERS BLIZZARDS 16; WAVES FUSCHIA 11 d NATIVES TOUCANS 6; WAVES JADE 14 d BROTHERS HEAT 12.
Points: Brothers Heat 24, Waves Jade 23, Alloway Orange 21, Fusion Precision 17, Brothers Blizzards 16, Waves Fuschia 13, Natives Toucans 12.
RUGBY LEAGUE
BUNDABERG JUNIOR HITZ FM 93.9 CHALLENGE CUPS
UNDER-16
BUNDABERG BROTHERS 40 (Joseph Doyle 2, Travis Larner, Benny Medley, William Bebendorf, Dawson Hess, Blake Powter, Dane Zardus tries; Blake Powter 4 goals) d WESTS 4 (Lucas Brough try).
Points: Bundaberg Brothers 19, Wests 14, Waves 11, Hervey Bay Seagulls 6
UNDER-15
WALLAROOS 46 d WESTS 10 (Darnell Saunders try & goal).
BUNDABERG BROTHERS 22 (Isaac Barrett, Tristan Maher, Ryan Charteris tries; Jomar Gustilo 3 goals) d WAVES 14 (Boston Marlow 2, Preston Walsh tries; Preston Walsh goal).
Ladder: Bundaberg Brothers 16, Waves 13, Hervey Bay Seagulls 11, Wallaroos 10, Wests 2.
UNDER-14
WESTS 20 (Joseph Rehbein, Kyjuan Tanna, Lael Lampton, Beau Molo tries; Nait Gough 2 goals) d WALLAROOS 16.
BUNDABERG BROTHERS 20 (Tom Elphinstone 2, Curtis Russell tries; Curtis Russell, Jeremiah Solomon goals) d WAVES TIGERS 16 (Jarred McClymont, Noah McGuire tries; Taj Plath 2 goals).
Ladder: Wallaroos 20, Wests 18, Waves 9, Bundaberg Brothers 4, Hervey Bay Seagulls 1.
UNDER-13
Semi-finals: HERVEY BAY SEAGULLS 18 d WAVES 10 (Trazelle Fisher, Jodee Reeves tries; Tye Critchlow goal).
WALLAROOS 40 d MARYBOROUGH BROTHERS 22.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
MEN
Grand final: MIRIAM VALE 34 (Tim McIntosh 2, Charles Hopf, Ricky Noy, Cole Crawford, Lee-James Dickinson tries; Ricky Noy 5 goals) d SOUTH KOLAN 24 (Montgomery Chapman-Dynevor, Toro Vali, Faaoso Halahuni, Jackson Brown, Jacobb Olive tries; Cem Rohdmann 2 goals).
Slean Cup: GIN GIN 52 (Rowan Sutton 3, Tyren Hoyle 2, Mitchel Hazzard, Maurice Newman-Hinton, Connor Boon, Tamate Vavatau. Mikaele Pahulu tries; Rowan Sutton 6 goals) d AVONDALE 16 (Samson Dau, Tom Dexter, Dylan Wagner tries; Nathan Leather 2 goals).
WOMEN’S LEAGUE TAG
Grand final: GIN GIN 32 (Ruby Tobin 2, Shannon Lavender-Horlyck, Jessica Galea, Jude Bust, Gabrielle Galea tries; Ruby Tobin 2, Emma Collinson, Jude Bust goals) d AGNES WATER 6 (Georgia Abbott try; Lisa Irving goal).
Other stories: Bowls results and news from around the region
