Sport
10 April, 2024
Tough forward shines in first up win
Skilled front-rower Alex Donn proved his worth against the Oakey Bears at Platz Oval in magnificent football conditions, winning player of the match honours in the Wattles side’s 52 to 18 success.
Donn led Wattles’ pack by example, making regular inroads against the robust and physical Bears forwards.
Wattles skipper Ty Gardner was another to excel, leading his line-up to a valuable first up season victory.
Fullback Jackson Green and five-eighth Kai Duggan were also among the key contributors to the green and gold attack that in total produced ten tries.
The score may indicate an overwhelming result for the home side, however the robust Bears lifted in the early stages of the second half when the Warriors appeared to fall off the pace as the contest slowed.
The home side regrouped in the later stages, with the Bears never having the firepower to haul in Wattles’ advantage.
Gardner’s signature support play running off the shoulders of his halves or on the fringes yielded a try double and rated him an ever-present danger for the Bears.
After a year’s leave of absence, halfback Matt Duggan renewed his partnership with fullback Jackson Green very effectively, with Gardner the beneficiary for his second touchdown.
Duggan left the field though midway through the first half allowing Brayden Paix to step into the play-maker role partnering classy performer Kai Duggan.
While their opposition had a minimal size advantage, Wattles’ forward pack handled the challenge, with Alex Donn and ever dependable lock Nick Van Der Poel leading the resistance.
Centres Craig Donn and try double scorer Matt Christensen provided plenty of concern for the Bears out wide.
Wattles set the standard dominating over the initial twenty minutes to lead 18-0.
Three-quarters Christen-sen and winger Mitch Bourke both crossed inside the ten-minute mark before Gardner capped off some champagne league for his dual touchdowns.
Slick winger Jacob Edwards raced in a sixty metre intercept try against the run of play to nudge the Bears onto the scoreboard trailing 4-18.
The rampant Warriors ran in another trifecta
of four-pointers heading in to half time through Christensen, five-eighth Kai Duggan and polished finisher Jake Meddleton.
Bears clever centre Jeremiah Pati added to his side’s total to head to the break trailing Wattles 8-34.
Another Pati touchdown minutes into the second stanza signalled a Bears’ resurgence.
Wattles’ defence off the line handled all the Bears could muster and formed a foundation stone of their winning result.
Winger Maluafiti Vaovasa Taiama kept Oakey in the game with a try fifteen minutes from time, but touchdowns by green and gold three-quarters Craig Donn and a second to Mitch Burke put the result beyond doubt.
A positive start by the Warriors, but they will be tested at another level when they meet the Warwick Cowboys at Father Ranger Oval, the Cowboys set on levelling the ledger after their recent Barrett Family Shield loss.
Wattles: 52 (Matt Christensen 2, Ty Gardner 2, Mitch Bourke, Kai Duggan, Jake Middleton, Brayden Paix tries; Brayden Paix 3, Matt Duggan goals).
Oakey: 18 (Jeremiah Pati 2, Jacob Edwards, Maluafiti Vaovasa Taiama tries: Preston Alberts goal)
Reserve Grade
Galloping centre Tim Hentschel shows that despite donning the boots for over two decades the veteran commands respect, snatching a hat trick of
tries off the Oakey Bears’ reserve grade outfit in a crushing 52-10 win for the Warriors.
Coach Tony Morris couldn’t speak more highly of his line-up and their performance.
Wattles forwards paved the way with Jack Duggan, Jordan Henry, Garth Lonergan, Tim Duggan and Tim Exelby taking the challenge to the Bears, while halves and chief organisers Tom Morris and Josh Henry were creative throughout.
Fullback Joe Willett was in superb form flushing out gaps in the Bears defence.
Tries by Josh Henry, Willett, and a double by Hentschel captured a 22-0 half time lead for Wattles.
They continued on their merry way nailing another three four-pointers through Jack Duggan, Hentschel and winger Alex Morris to be well in charge leading 40-0 eighteen minutes from the full-time hooter.
Oakey snatched two tries in to install some respectability to the score trailing 10-40.
When Josh Henry and Tom Morris crossed in the later minutes it sealed a convincing first victory of the fixture season.
Wattles: 52 (Tim Hentschel 3, Josh Henry 2, Joe Willett, Jack Duggan, Alex Morris, Tom Morris tries; Tom Morris 8 goals)
Oakey: 10 (Jack Schilf, Joseph Eising tries; Dylan Crump goal)
Under 19
Given the Oakey Bears are not fielding an Under 19 team in 2024, no match was played.
- Glyn Rees
