General News
2 July, 2026
Wattles show plenty of heart in win over Danes
After a tough loss to the Dalby Diehards last week, Wattles showed up with intensity from the start. Despite trailing for much of the game a final 15 minute blitz brought the win home with an 80th minute penalty to claim the Jack Duggan – Gary Sutton Shield. Before the game, the club paid its respects to Wattle Rob Hoey who recently passed away at 41.
The Warriors showed plenty of grit in their Sunday, Ladies Day match against the Pittsworth Danes.
The team was rearing to go from the start, but after last week’s disappointing loss to Dalby, the Wattles boys might have been too excited.
Great work up the middle of the field from forwards was sadly wasted through imprecision in the opposition’s 20 meant lots of hard work was spoiled.
Two tries from the Danes through Tom O’Sullivan and Aaron Sillitoe saw the Danes take the lead at 10-0.
Wattles’ standouts all game were their forwards.
Big barnstorming runs from Ty Gardner, Adam Tuimavave-Gerard, Nick Van Der Poel and Cooper Tate Roache kept the Warriors storming up the field but as was the trend with most of the game, Wattles just couldn’t hit their marks.
Kicks were overshot and passes dropped at critical points near the try line.
Pittsworth were also relentless in defence, a strong defensive line was up and in Warriors’ faces whenever the boys in the green and gold had ball in hand.
Pittsworth however was just that bit sharper, they had great shape, they were completing their sets, they looked comfortable and scanning for opportunities.
Whereas for Wattles, much of the first half was responding.
However a final first half effort to keep the Danes out could have been what inspired a fightback in the Wattles players.
Lachlan Watt was outstanding with two clearances from inside his try line to finish off a first half defined by determined Danes pressure.
The second half started with both teams knowing they needed their front foot forward.
Despite the fatigue the hits were absolutely connecting, Wattles had shaped up to the Danes physicality.
They needed to if they were to get points on the board in the second half.
A tough battle for the initiative saw the game moving from end to end with both teams throwing everything at each other.
Wattles were still ultimately handicapped by their own mistakes.
The Wattles forwards never took a backwards step and backs like Jesse Yallop, Lachlan Watt and Blake Appo kept the opposition guessing with well picked lines and hard front foot footy.
The Danes returned in kind through the hard running of centre Aaron Sillitoe.
Despite the pressure of being scoreless and the clock winding down, the Wattles did not lose their composure.
It wasn’t until the 65th minute, when a relentless Wattles’ defence regained possession after three of the Warriors dragged a Dane over the sideline, that the momentum seemed to shift.
Lachlan Watt was practically skipping as he came over to get around the lads who forced the turnover.
Not long after Adam Tuimavave-Gerard burrowed in for Wattles’ first try after some determined Wattles play saw them march down the field off the turnover.
The Warriors were hungry - it was 10-6 with about 12 minutes to go and the whole team lifted.
A spirited team try not long after which saw Jesse Yallop assisting Mitch Bourke into the corner drew the game 10-10 with only a few minutes to go.
A missed Tom Hatch conversion left the whole crowd on the edge of their seats.
A gritty final few minutes saw the Wattles fight their way back down to the Danes 20.
The game finally hinged on a penalty for a late shot on Tom Hatch as he attempted a field goal.
Cool, calm and collected, Hatch knocked the ball over and the Wattles gained a gritty win over the Danes.
Coach Travis Burns wasn’t happy with the Wattles’ attack, but he was grateful for the win.
“I’d have to be pretty happy with the heart they showed,” Travis told the Clifton Courier.
“We toughed it out, we weren’t playing great and we toughed it out.
“We got the win.”
The Jack Duggan – Gary Sutton Shield has been contested by the two teams since 2023.
Next week Wattles head out to Goondiwindi to play the 4th placed Goondiwindi side who will be no doubt gunning for the Wattles current third spot on the ladder.
Wattles 12 (Tries: Adam Tuimavave-Gerard, Mitch Bourke Conversions: Tom Hatch 2) defeated Pittsworth 10 (Tries: Tom O’Sullivan, Aaron Sillitoe Conversions: Matty Butler)
