Rugby’s best vie for medal honours
Individual performances will add to the intrigue of a final Wagners Wellcamp Risdon Cup round when the fixture season comes to a climax on Saturday.
Toowoomba Bears, USQ and Condamine will look to keep their seasons alive this week as they battle for two remaining finals’ spots while Dalby and Goondiwindi’s minor premiership tussle will go down to the wire.
Saturday’s final regular season round is also the last chance for players to bag valuable points in the Mal Eiby Medal count.
The medal is awarded to the player polling the highest number of 3-2-1 votes awarded by referees after each season match.
The 2017 winner will be revealed at Saturday night’s Downs Rugby Award’s Night at City Golf Club.
Previous winners of the Mal Eiby Medal — first introduced in 2014 — have been forwards from teams in the top five.
Matt Roberts (Rangers) was the inaugural winner followed by Brendon Ralph (USQ) and Roger Geldard (Condamine) last year.
Time spent on injured list is sure to impact on the medal hopes of several leading players including Dalby’s Sam Hogarth and Goondiwindi prop Jack Cook.
Both will be counting on their good early-season form to have them in medal contention.
Dalby fullback Paul Maguire sits third on the competition point-scorers’ list and is also likely to poll strongly along with Tom Jobling of the Emus.
Emerging Rangers’ fullback Lachlan Sperling heads the cup try-scoring list and looks sure to figure prominently in the final medal count.
Toowoomba Bears have been well served this year by forwards Callum Sattolo and Damian Vagg.
USQ forward Andre van Staden and five-eighth Angus Ramsey have been among Uni’s best this year and should be aided in the count by Saints’ strong start to the season.