TRL finals picture clearer
Wattles has wrapped up a spot in the Hutchinson Builders TRL Premiership finals after beating Highfields 46-18 at Kuhls Rd Recreation Ground yesterday.
The result keep Wattles in fifth on the ladder, and most importantly for the Warriors, puts them four points ahead of Warwick and Souths in equal seventh with one round to play.
That leaves just one spot in the top six to be decided in the last round.
Wattles played from in front after opening the scoring with a Matt Duggan try in the ninth minute and got out to a 30-0 lead at half-time to give fourth-placed Highfields an uphill battle to get back into the game.
Wayne John Weribone proved dangerous for the Eagles in the second scoring two tries and putting on another, but Highfields could not peg back the deficit enough.
Wattles ran in three second half tries, two of which were to Ryan Duggan and another to Josh Henry to give him a double, to see the Warriors record an important 28-point win.
“It was great to get the two fixture points, we needed the two fixture points, and also getting some points helps our confidence going into the semi-finals now,” Wattles coach Gary Lawrence said. “That win will give us two points that will get us into the finals.
“We’ve still got Valleys next week but at the end of the day we won’t be playing off for sixth position, so that’s great.”
A sixth-placed play-off is still a possibility with Gatton on 16 points in sixth while Warwick and Souths are on 14 points heading into the last round.
Warwick had the chance to draw level with Gatton on the ladder when the Cowboys played Valleys at Herb Steinohrt Oval yesterday. But the competition leaders proved too good and won 52-16 after getting out to a 34-6 half-time lead.
In the other Sunday game, Oakey downed Brothers 42-38 to post its second win of the season and see the Bears join the Leprechauns in a share of ninth spot on the ladder. Josh Stanton scored four tries and Josh Robinson three for the Bears.