Sport
18 April, 2024
Cowboys retain prestigious Basil Nolan Shield
In what will certainly rate among their highlights of the season, a 38 to 14 winning result saw the Cowboys hoist the prestigious Basil Nolan Memorial Shield on Saturday evening, an award that has immense meaning for the Warwick Cowboys club and Warwick district community.
The shield has been contested between the two Southern Downs clubs since its 2019 inception, named in honour of highly respected Warwick Cowboys stalwart Basil Nolan Jnr.
A dominant second half was the key to the Cowboys overwhelming the Warriors in a seven try to three onslaught at Warwick’s Father Ranger Oval.
Victory was sweet for the Warwick top grade line-up after its 12 – 22 loss against the Warriors in the recent pre-season Barrett Family Shield.
Coach Col Speed couldn’t speak highly enough of his team’s win, the second in succession after dispatching the Newtown Lions in the side’s last start, before collecting valuable premiership points against Wattles.
A packed crowd saw the Cowboys undefeated in the Round 2 contests, finishing winners in first and reserve grade along with a hard fought Under 19 draw.
Warwick welcomed back talented skipper Mitch Wilson, a significant line-up addition, while Andrew Richardson donned the Wattles green and gold after a couple of seasons absence with Ipswich league team the Fassifern Bombers.
While Saturday evening’s first-grade contest may have read a little one sided viewing the scoreboard, the initial forty minutes were anything but so.
Both sides put on a master class first stanza performance, a highlight their better than 90 completion rates that equated to some eye-catching league, it was certainly anyone’s game at the break.
Mobile prop Tui Oloapu, who led the Cowboys forwards throughout with finesse, snatched a try lead for the home team after just six minutes of play.
Flying finisher Jake Speed and fullback Nick Chapman also ran in first half tries for Warwick, but the closely fought first forty saw Wattles’ winger Mitch Bourke pocket two touchdowns to have the Cowboys with a 14 – 10 advantage at half time.
The second half was error ridden for both sides in the early stages, the Warriors in particular struggled to put their match plan together, anything but on song as they folded under the Cowboys onslaught of size, speed and a precise kicking game.
The Warriors’ campaign was further hampered with the loss of centre Craig Donn and five-eighth Kai Duggan to the sin bin in the 52nd and 58th minutes respectively.
It was all Warwick across the second stanza led by the likes of speed machines Joseph Vite and Josh Robinson in the centres and classy halves, five-eighth Nick Carrie and halfback Caleb Murphy.
Warwick galloped in four second half tries to skid away with the win, Wattles’ only four-pointer coming in the 53rd minute when a Tom Hatch kick found its way into five eighth Kai Duggan’s hands to score.
In a tough away match campaign Duggan, burly front-rower Cooper Tate-Roche and impact forward Jacob Leach took the fight to the Cowboys throughout.
Warwick 38 (Tui Oloapu, Jake Speed, Nick Chapman, Joe Vite, Josh Robinson, Swithin Sakiki, Nick Carrie tries; Caleb Murphy 5 goals) defeated Wattles 14 (Mitch Bourke 2, Kai Duggan tries; Braydon Paix goal).
Reserve Grade
Warwick 24 (Mitchell McMahon, Alifeleti Vite, Bill Sullivan, Chris Watt tries; Matthew Henry 4 goals) defeated Wattles 16 (Tim Hentschel, Isaac Leach, Aiden Suhan tries; Tom Morris 2 goals).
Under 19
Wattles 22 (Hamish Gartery, Bryce Stewart, Will Sheppard, Paul Costello tries; Koby De Luca 3 goals) drew with Warwick 22 (Codie Johnson, Isaiah Hinch, Lachlan Collins, Lucis Taualai tries; Sam Wainwright 3 goals).
Round 3
Top grade coach Travis Burns will have his Wattles line-up fully focused in this week’s preparation for another major confrontation, this time against the Valleys Roosters at Platz Oval, Clifton.
While Wattles are looking to return to the winning circle, the Roosters will be keen to post their first win of the season after their first-round contest against the Highfields Eagles was washed out, and then a convincing 24 – 8 loss to Gatton last Sunday.
A Footy Super Saturday
Saturday will be a massive day of rugby league at homeland Platz Oval.
Prior to the senior rugby league program Wattles Junior Rugby League Club commences its 2024 Warwick & District Junior Rugby League premiership campaign against the Tenterfield Tigers.
Greats of ‘04 Reunion
Saturday’s expected packed crowd will also include ‘the Greats of 2004’, yes, every player who ran on in Wattles’ A, Reserve and Under 18 teams that year, along with the members of the 2004 Wattles Juniors Under 16 team, winners
of the Warwick & District Junior Rugby League Premiership.
- Glyn Rees
