Heelers gearing for Goondiwindi clash

RUGBY UNION: The Queensland Country Heelers will be looking to continue on a winning path towards Goondiwindi when its 2018 tour continues in New Zealand tonight.

The Heelers’ 2018 campaign climaxes on Saturday when they meet the New South Wales Cockatoos in their annual Battle Of The Border Cup clash at Riddles Oval.

The match highlights a gala Goondiwindi rugby day which includes the under 19 Queensland and New South Wales game and a round-13 Risdon Cup match featuring the Emus and UQ Gatton.

Darling Downs’ coach Rob Johnston is again in charge of the Heelers whose 23-man squad includes seven Downs’ players.

Five of those reps – Jay Schulte, Sam Tweedy, Harry Hawker, Jack Cook and Will Gilbert – are from the Goondiwindi club, with Dalby’s Sam Hogarth and Todd Daniels (UQ Gatton) rounding out the Downs’ contingent.

Hogarth captained the Heelers to a tour-opening win in New Zealand on Monday.

The Queenslanders proved too strong for Ellesmere, winning 29-10 at Dunsandel Rugby Football Club in Christchurch.

Tonight the Heelers face North Canterbury at Ohoka RFC Mandeville, also in Christchurch, at 5.30 Australian time.

The Heelers return to Australia on Friday to begin preparing for Saturday’s match where they will chase a hattrick of wins over the Cockatoos.

In other Risdon Cup matches this weekend Condamine hosts Toowoomba Rangers, USQ is at home to Toowoomba Bears and Roma travels to Dalby.

The Wheatmen will be at short odds to continue on their winning way against Roma while the other two games will have a hefty impact on the make-up of this season’s top

five, with seven fixture rounds remaining.

The Cods and Rangers’ tussle at the Fish Tank is for third place on the ladder while Bears can grab fifth spot from Saints with victory at USQ Oval.