Sport
5 July, 2023
Wattles Edged Out of President’s Cup
It was a case third time unlucky for the Tony Morris Tiling Wattles Warriors reserve grade team at Clive Berghofer Stadium on Saturday evening when they were edged out of the 2023 Toowoomba Rugby League President’s Cup mid-season final by the Dalby Diehards on the wrong end of a 16 – 12 final score.
The Wattles reserve grade side have appeared in the 2019, 2022 and now 2023 President’s Cup finals without success.
The Tony Morris coached Wattles outfit went into the final as Clive Berghofer Land Sales reserve grade premiership leaders boasting a single loss from their eleven matches played by the half way mark of this season.
Dalby went in to the final just a point behind Wattles on the premiership ladder, but emerged winners, not only accepting the prized silverware but also levelling the ledger after their Round 1 loss to Wattles back in April.
Saturday’s match could be considered one that got away from the Warriors, but with the lead see-sawing throughout the seventy minutes of play Dalby finished the stronger in the later stages.
Wattles defence was superb as always, but while they had the player talent on hand, they failed to build pressure in attack.
While the Warriors were more than capable of achieving victory, indeed the top performing reserve grade team in the competition, they ran on in the final without star players in the vastly experienced Tim Hentschel, Aaron Scheid and Dale McAntee along with bookend impact player Harry Shooter due to injury, illness or unavailability.
Both sides wrestled out the opening half hour of play before Dalby centre Brian-Adam Babbington touched down minutes before the half time siren.
Wattles winger Warren Draper scored under the uprights on half time after gathering a Josh Henry kick to allow his team a 6 – 4 advantage as both teams headed to the dressing sheds.
Centre Clayton McGee touched down under the posts early in the second stanza to have his side ahead 10 – 6 with 25 minutes remaining.
Warrior’s skipper and back-rower Jordan Henry barged over to touch down and swing the lead back to those in green and gold with 18 minutes on the match clock, the premiership leaders snatching a 12 – 10 lead after a successful Joe Willett conversion.
While still nine minutes to go, Bailey Rathmell, fresh from Dalby’s Under 19 Presidents Cup appearance, crossed near the posts to give the Diehards a 16 – 12 lead which they defended until full time.
Wattles front-rower Eli Adamson played his best game of the season, while fellow forwards Jordan Henry and Dan Rub along with Jack, Tom and Tim Duggan all led from the front line of the engine room.
Wattles and Dalby clash again this Saturday in A, Reserve & Under 19 grades at Platz Oval in TRL Round 12 fixtures which signal the commencement of the race in to the 2023 finals series.
Dalby 16 (Brian-Adam Babbington, Clayton McGee, Bailey Rathmell tries; Kristian Bond 2 goals) defeated Wattles 12 (Warren Draper, Jordon Henry tries; Joe Willett 2 goals).
In other results at Saturday’s Toowoomba Rugby League Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy/Presidents Cup Mid-Season Finals, Valleys 26 defeated Dalby 22 for the Under 19 Presidents Cup, Gatton 14 defeated Oakey 8 Open Women final while in the A Grade Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy Final Gatton 36 defeated Valleys 4.
- Glyn Rees
