Wattles retained bragging rights after the local rugby league derby against the Warwick Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at Platz oval.
Wattles opened the scoring early in the game when Austin Hooper scored. Warwick had the advantage of the strong breeze in the first half and despite some handling errors led 10-8 at half-time after tries to Mat Marshall and Mick Bloomfield.
Cowboys coach Matt Grew has moved Bloomfield to five eighth this season and he looks right at home. It is a position the Cowboys inspirational leader is not unfamiliar with and allows Bloomfield to have more minutes on the paddock.
The Cowboys held a 12-10 lead at the half time break.
There was plenty of talk in the Cowboys dressing room at half time about the need to improve their ball handling in the second half if they were to cause an upset. Unfortunately for Warwick supporters their team did not execute the plan well and with the breeze against them and a high percentage of turnovers early in the second half they gifted Wattles field position and possession. A dangerous combination against a side like Wattles. The Cowboys paid the price as Wattles scored three tries in the space of 15 minutes.
Matt Duggan was at his best and was named Man of the Match.
Aaron Hooper crossed for three tries and played an outstanding game as did Austin Jennings and Nick Van Der Poel.
Wattles looked polished as they nailed the 30-22 win however there was much to like about the performance of the Cowboys. On paper their record of one win and two losses does not look good and no one would argue it is the ideal start to the season however they look to be coming together nicely as a team. If they can address their ball-handling errors you can certainly see they have wins in them.
The Cowboys will be sweating on the results of an injury assessment to their hooker Harry Sullivan who was forced from the field in Sunday’s game with an apparent knee injury.
All TRL teams have this week off as the Clydesdale’s Rep side travels to Gladstone to defend the 47th Battalion Trophy they won last year. Both Wattles and the Cowboys are well represented in the team and will be hoping their rep players get through the carnival without injury.
The Cowboys travel to Dalby for their round four clash with the Diehards the following week and Wattles who are two wins from three starts in 2022 face a tough away assignment against Highfields.
A Grade – Wattles: 30 (Aaron Hooper 3, Austin Jennings, Nick Van Der Poel, Michael Pearson tries; Matt Duggan 3 goals)
Cowboys: 22 (Mat Marshall 2, Michael Bloomfield, Brock Patti tries; Mat Marshall 3 goals)
The earlier reserve grade game was certainly a game of two very different halves. Wattles had all the running in the first half and led 12-nil at the break. In the second half fortunes changed and Warwick piled on the points while keeping Wattles scoreless. In a thrilling finish Wattles were able to cling on to snatch a 12-10 victory.
Reserve Grade Wattles: 12 (Joe Morris, Tom Henry tries; Tom Morris 2 goals) def Cowboys: 10 (Matthew Henry, Jordyn Hogden tries; Jeremy Jerome goal).
The Cowboys Under 19 side scored a runaway win over their Wattles counterparts.
The young Cowboys side took a comfortable 22-4 lead to half time and added another 12 points in the second half to coast to a 34-4 victory.
Under 19 Warwick: Warwick Wattles: 4 (Liam Ruhle, Gus Hutchinson tries) defeated by Warwick cowboys 34 (Dean Mauch, Jeffrey Ross, Sam Declan Raumati, Augustus McDade, Lucas Bradfield, Nick Carrie tries; Nicholas Carrie 5 goals)
