Sport
21 June, 2023
Leach and Jennings shine for Wattles
On the back of a sterling engine room performance led by man of the match front-rower Jacob Leach and an awesome foursome Austin Jennings tries, the Stillwater Pastoral Company Wattles Warriors top grade side was swept to its fifth successive victory overwhelming the Newtown Lions 44 to 6 at the Jack Martin Centre at Drayton on Friday evening.
Jennings set the pace with three consecutive tries to have the Warriors on the way to a 24-6 half time lead.
Jake Meddleton also snatched a first half try, one of the seven scored by Wattles’ mobile backs.
It was a polished display according to skipper Ty Gardner, his troops running in nine tries to one.
Gardner looks back to his best after missing the 2022 season after knee surgery, and nailing a touchdown himself while contributing to a number of try assists.
Half Brayden Paix was his usual busy self and was joined by five-eighth Tommy Morris who had been a
two-match absentee with injury.
Wattles’ forwards paved the way for vital premiership points, with Gardner and Leach leading the way.
Joe Willett made a shining effort in his first-grade debut and was rewarded with an impressive try double.
In the absence of full-back Matt Christensen, Willett showed he has the goods to perform in the top side.
Christensen will be absent for some weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury on Saturday in Toowoomba Clydesdales colours.
Wattles younger brigade can hold their heads high according to coach Travis Burns, Under 19 youngsters Marley Tunstead, John Lazzaronni and Aiden Suhan gaining plenty of experience in the upper echelon.
Wattles 44 (Austin Jennings 4, Joe Willett 2, Ty Gardner, Jacob Leach, Jake Meddleton tries; Brayden Paix 4 goals) defeated Newtown 6 (Ben Hollman try; Cameron Moodie goal).
RESERVE GRADE
Despite a thrilling Braydon Wilson second half try quartet contributing to Warriors’ 36-4 victory, the Tony Morris Tiling Wattles reserve grade outfit struggled with a major first half challenge to overpower the home side, level pegging at half time 4-all.
They emerged from an encouraging chat with coach Tony Morris to run in seven second stanza tries.
Newtown’s Garry Walters scored a try that eased the home side to a 4-0 lead in the opening minutes.
Captain Tim Hentschel crossed for the only first half points for Wattles.
Tries by half-back Michael Duggan and back-rower Garth Lonergan early in the second stanza set Wattles on a path to a ninth win from ten starts.
The Lions couldn’t cope with the Wilson onslaught has he ran in three tries and sealed the game with another before full-time.
Tim Hentschel’s second for the game pinned him and Wilson to the top of the TRL reserve grade try-scorer list.
Wattles’ forward pack led by Lonergan and lock Eden Blewitt rolled up their sleeves to out-muscle their opponents.
Under 19 reserve grade new comers Lane Eastwell, Chris Watt and Koby De Luca benefited in the experience of senior level league.
The victory puts the Warriors into the President’s Cup final on July 2.
Wattles 36 (Braydon Wilson 4, Tim Hentschel 2, Michael Duggan, Garth Lonergan tries; Koby De Luca 2 goals) defeated Newtown 4 (Garry Walters try).
UNDER 19
Wattles Black Toyota’ Warwick Under 19 colts have a few RDO’s to endure given Newtown and next week’s opponents Brothers aren’t fielding teams this season.
Sitting at fourth on the ladder and unable to improve has Wattles sitting out of the coming Presidents Cup, their next game not until Round 12 on July 8th against the Dalby Diehards at Platz Oval.
- Glyn Rees
