By Glyn Rees
Elusive Wattles centre Matt Christensen spent plenty of time behind the try-line at Platz Oval on Sunday running in an amazing five tries in the Wattles Warriors 96 – 12 victory over a short staffed Goondiwindi Boars outfit.
Second top try scorer in the Toowoomba Rugby League A Grade premiership with 22 four pointers, Christensen wasn’t alone in gathering tries as Wattles ran in seventeen tries to the Boars two in the one-sided result.
While the near full-strength Warriors started favourites, it was a must win-game coming in to the finals, the unexpected overwhelming ‘for and against’ boost certainly appreciated.
Wattles were without star three-quarter Andy Richardson against the Boars after his call up to the Ipswich Jets Hostplus Cup State League side which defeated the Burleigh Bears 32 – 20 on Saturday.
Coach Travis Burns was pleased with his side’s attacking game, “we were good across the park”.
“It’s great to have secured a home semi-final, and exceptional that our club has all three grades contesting in the finals series.”
Along with Christensen, hooker Tom Hatch and winger Joe Willett were among many to shine in the dominant result.
Wattles played a split program for the final fixture round of 2024, their Under 19 side tumbling to the Southern Suburbs Tigers at Toowoomba’s Gold Park on Friday evening, before their Reserve and A Grade teams completed Round 18 victories at Platz Oval on Sunday.
If was fleet of feet finisher Joe Willett who rolled the Wattles juggernaut into action against Goondiwindi in the top-grade clash, outmanoeuvring defenders in the corner to score in the eighth minute.
It was the first of a try hat-trick for Willett, with similar achievements shared with team mate’s Tom Hatch and second-rower Tyson Stevens.
When five-eight Braydon Paix touched down after following a Willet angled kick to the uprights on the half time hooter, Wattles had nine tries to their credit cruising in at the break with a 50 – 0 advantage.
The Boars made their presence felt just four minutes after the restart when fullback Kyle Hazard nailed his side’s first points of the game, but Christensen reignited the Wattles onslaught scoring minutes later for the scoreboard to read 56 – 6 to the home side.
It was the first of an eight try second half gallop by Wattles before Goondiwindi centre Samukie Gaidan secured a touchdown five minutes from full time.
Much credit must go to the Goondiwindi club who answered Wattles two match challenge with a bare eighteen players, never at any stage tossing in the towel.
All three Wattles sides are heading to the TRL finals series that commences this coming Saturday at Clifton.
The A Grader’s have finished the fixture season in fourth place and will meet the Dalby Diehards at Platz Oval on Saturday, with the Warriors fifth place Under 19 finalists fronting up again against fourth place Southern Suburbs.
Wattles third placed Reserve graders will run on against the second placed Valleys Roosters on Sunday at Warwick’s Father Ranger Oval.
Wattles 96 (Matt Christensen 5, Thomas Hatch 3, Tyson Stevens 3, Joe Willett 3, Lachlan Watt 2, Braydon Paix tries; Braydon Paix 14 goals)
Goondiwindi 12 (Kyle Hazard, Samukie Gaiden tries; Michael Hazard 2 goals)
Reserve Grade
While the final fixture match of the season, the ‘Farm Spray’ Warriors 48 – 18 battering of the Goondiwindi Boars was also the final on field TRL fixture appearance together of the Morris brothers Alex, Nick, Joe and Tom.
The four Wattles stalwarts have been shining examples as ambassadors for the game of rugby league and Wattles since their earliest experiences with the Wattles Junior Club.
They have been key to the Warriors top end of the table finish in 2024, and along with team mates are fully focused for a best possible finish in the coming finals series.
Alex and Joe Morris teamed up with fullback Dale McAntee setting the example as the Warriors outgunned the Boars.
Winger Issac Leach displayed his blistering speed to claim four tries before a leg injury struck, while centre Ben Comerford, front-rower Dan Rub and hooker Jack Duggan all registered impressive performances.
Leach inspired a Wattles 32 – 4 half time lead with a second minute runaway try, but the Boars fought back in the second stanza matching the home side with three tries apiece.
Halfback Tom Morris was on song with his goal kicking pocketing seven from eight attempts, finishing the season with a more than commendable 166 points.
Wattles 48 (Isaac Leach 4, Alex Morris, Tom Philp, Dale McAntee, Jack Duggan tries; Tom Morris 8 goals)
Goondiwindi 18 (Jed Kindf, Jack Pattie, Ronnie Duncan, John Goodfellow tries; Michael Hazard goal)
Friday 16 August
Under 19
The ‘Black Toyota-Warwick’ Warrior’s gallant Under 19 line-up couldn’t overcome the challenge of fellow top five outfit Southern Suburbs losing 24 – 6 after trailing 12 – 0 at the break.
The teams took the field with a win each earlier in the season, and given there four and five finish on the ladder, they will go in to battle again this Saturday in the elimination semi-final.
