By Glyn Rees
Wattles’ six foot one, 120kg forward pack wrecking ball Joe Mua led the way when injected into the game off the bench playing a major role in his side, outmuscling mid-season Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy champions Highfields in Saturday’s 15-10 home side success.
The loyal league supporters that frequented Platz Oval on Saturday evening sure got their admission money’s worth witnessing an amazing contest between two of the Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchinson Builders A Grade premierships top of the ladder teams in home side the Wattles Warriors challenging the Highfields Eagles.
The Travis Burns coached Warriors outfit certainly wanted to improve on the result of the two teams last clash back Round 4 when the Eagles dished out a surprising 28-0 hiding to those in green and gold.
At full time on Saturday the Warriors eased on to the second rung of the TRL ladder on a ‘for and against’ advantage; both Wattles, Highfields and the Warwick Cowboys three points astern of premiership leaders the Goondiwindi Boars.
Both sides had to deal with altered line-ups given Covid requirements, but Highfields adjusted early with former Queensland Rangers half Corey McGrady setting up two classy tries to have the Eagles ahead 8-0 by the 24th minute.
Young finisher Declan Ryan touched down wide out before Eagles skipper and centre Campbell Stewart nabbed a vital four-pointer.
Highfields defence certainly lifted for the occasion, with the home side finding it virtually impenetrable until the 32nd minute.
Wattles were desperate for points and it was co-captain and veteran back-rower Ryan Duggan who provided them after running on to brother Matt Duggan’s pass to score for Wattles to trail 6-8 at half time.
Little changed in the match outlook for the final forty minutes with both sides giving no quarter.
The result could have gone either in the run in to full time, but frustrating errors denied both teams at vital stages.
A successful Wattles penalty goal in front of the uprights by Matt Duggan in the 60th minute levelled the cliff hanger of a match 8-8.
The hinging point of the contest could be considered to be a Highfields decision not to kick a penalty right in front of the posts and lead for the remaining ten minutes.
They chose to run the ball from 15 metres out and a loose pass resulted in Wattles quicksilver centre Matt Christensen intercepting and racing away to score what would be the decider.
Halfback Matt Duggan potted a late field goal before the despondent Eagles were successful with a penalty on full time to have the Platz Oval scoreboard highlighting a home side win.
‘Big Man’ Mua was Wattles’ shining light coming off the bench and was awarded the Meringandan Pub Player of the match honours. Mua continually turned Eagles around, his fellow forwards Michael Pearson and Dale Perkins were excellent as was defensive dynamo Ryan Duggan.
The Warriors A and Reserve Grade teams will head to Toowoomba taking on the Newtown Lions at the Jack Martin Centre this Sunday, with the green and gold Under 18 line-up hitting the road to Murgon to match up against South Burnett on Saturday.
Wattles two senior sides are treating their contests with the Lions as vital to win, the second graders in fourth spot on the ladder with the finals commencing in a little over a fortnight.
Wattles 15 (Matt Christensen, Ryan Duggan tries Matt Duggan 3 goals, field goal) defeated Highfields 10 (Declan Ryan, Campbell Stewart tries Cory Haywood goal)
Reserve Grade
Wattles 16 (Darby Peardon, Jordan Henry tries; Lachlan Henry 4 goals) defeated Highfields 14 (Lachlan Kinivan 2, Lachlan Thom tries; Lachlan Kinivan goal).
Under 18
Highfields 66 (Preston Brown 2, Chad Lebsanft 2, Dulamai Wightman 2, Jayden Thurston 2, Jayden Wood, Blake Cesari, Darcy Carswell, Zac Brown tries; Chad Lebsanft 7, Ryan Gill 2 goals) defeated Wattles 0.
Round 17
Sunday August 15
Newtown v Wattles – Jack Martin Centre, Drayton
11.45pm Open Women (Newtown v Dalby)
1pm Reserve Grade
2.30pm A Grade
Saturday August 14
South Burnett v Wattles – Murgon
