By Casey OÇonnor
A late try off a Goondiwindi set-play sealed the Toowoomba Rugby League points against the visiting Warwick Cowboys on Saturday with the Boars winning 34-22.
It had been an important game for both sides who are vying for a spot in the finals but Warwick coach Matt Grew said he and his team knew it would be a tough day at the office.
Road trips to Goondiwindi are always tough and this game was no exception according to Grew.
“I’ve been coming here (Goondiwindi) since I was a kid to watch and play football and there is never an easy game,” he said after the game.
The Boars set up their win in the first 20 minutes of the game. They put on 20 points in under 20 minutes as the Cowboys barely saw the ball.
Brandon McGrady was the Player of the Match and had the home side on the board in the opening set of the match. It took only another few minutes before the Boars crossed for their second try. They followed that up with tries in the 15th and 19th minute.
The Cowboys showed great resilience when they eventually got their hands on the ball clawing their way back into the game and narrowing the margin to 20-16 at half time.
The try of the game came from Jake Speed after a freakish kick from 40 metre line from captain Mick Bloomfield hit the cross bar and bounced back into the Cowboy’s possession. Brock Patti got the ball away to Speed who scored a great try.
The coach was full of praise for Brock Patti and Cody Byrne who stepped up and replaced Matt Marshall and Jared Bradfield who have niggling injuries. “We made the decision on Saturday to rest both the players and the boys did a great job filling their spots,” Grew said.
At 20-16 the prospect of what was to come in the second half was mouth-watering.
The Boars were able to score early in the second half and were over again when Brandon and Malcolm McGrady combined stretching the lead to 28-16. The Cowboys were not going to die wondering. Tyrelle Ross scored out wide and Bloomfield nailed a difficult sideline conversion to get back to within a converted try. The score 28-22.
Warwick squandered several opportunities late in the second half and Goondiwindi again seized control of the game to take the points.
Grew said although there were some areas the Cowboys could have improved on this game has shown the players, they are more than capable of matching with the sides at the top of the table.
The Cowboys host Gatton this weekend at Fr Ranger Oval in what will be another tough game. A win will improve their chances of a finals berth.
In reserve Grade Warwick scored a 16-14 win.
GOONDIWINDI 38 (Brandon McGrady 2, and Malcolm McGrady 2, Trae Bennetto, Geoffrey Prince, David McGrady, Chris Woodbridge tries; Woodbridge 2, Malcolm McGrady goals) defeated WARWICK 26 (Mitch Watson 2, Jake Speed, Tyrelle Ross, Jordyn Hogden tries; Michael Bloomfield 3 goals)
Reserve Grade
WARWICK 16 (Joseph Wagner 3 tries; Matthew Henry 2 goals) defeated GOONDIWINDI 14 (Brandon McIntosh, Dallas Dennison, Tyrell Swan tries; Jermayne McGrady goal)
