Wattles clip Eagles wings, book spot in grand final
Wattles have put their toughest week behind them to book a grand final battle with Valleys on Sunday.
The Warriors claimed a 38-32 victory in a fierce encounter with Highfields in yesterday’s preliminary final at Glenholme Park.
Travis Burns stepped into the halfback role after Matt Duggan was suspended for three weeks for a dangerous throw, playing a hand in two tries and scoring one of his own in a man of the match performance.
Duggan’s brother and co-captain Ryan said the decision of the judiciary to uphold the verdict was a shock.
“It impacted us massively,” Duggan said.
“As everyone knows he’s one of the best players in the TRL and he’s been consistently one of the best for the last 10 years.
“You go from having such a dominant figure in your side to being rubbed out in what I see as a very controversial decision.
“It’s been disappointing and it’s been hard for the boys to get their head around it and bounce back this week.”
With Burns teaming up with Jake Hargreaves in the halves for the do-or-die fixture, Duggan said the player-coach rose to the occasion.
“Trav stepped up. Up until this game he hasn’t had to play such a dominant role, Matt’s sort of played that role,” he said.
“He said all this week that this was his week. I suppose we all tried to use Matt not playing as motivation, but Travis said he was going to be up for it.
“That’s the best game Travis has played this year.”
After controlling the early running and having Travis Burns held up in their opening set, they eventually opened proceedings with a penalty goal to Burns in the eighth minute.
A dislocated shoulder to Mitch Koina continued a momentum swing to Highfields, who made the most of their field position after a pin-point Jarrod Lee kick hit winger Aaron Hooper on the chest, who then popped a no-look pass to a trailing Denzel Burns to touch down in the corner.
They extended score to 10-2 in the very next set after Conor Nolan powered his way to the line after the Eagles went the length.
Duggan said despite the early setback, they knew what was required to get through the contest.
“We were down early but we always just knew if we completed our sets we were always going to be a chance, at some point,” he said.
Just when Highfields looked poised to kick away, Wattles cut the lead back to two in the 22nd minute after Denzel Burns failed to contain a Travis Burns grubber, allowing Ty Gardner to crash over next to the posts.
The pair linked again just minutes later after a Travis Burns short ball gifted Gardner an early double.
Both sides battered each other for the remainder of the half, before Denzel Burns grabbed his second after an inside ball from Lee in the 39th minute, as Highfields led 16-14 at the break.
Travis Burns again showed his class, throwing a dummy to slide past the Eagles defence, putting Wattles ahead 20-16 after 47 minutes.
After forcing a repeat set after receiving the kick-off, Price/ Webcke Medal winner Jackson Green cut across field, pushing through enough of a gap to push the lead to 10.
Another penalty goal continued Wattles scoring run as tensions between both sides continued to flare, resulting in referee Adam Stevenson giving both captains a stern talking to.
Wattles held their nerve best, and extended the lead to 16 as a barnstorming Nathan Gaulton steamrolled his way to the line from 30 metres out.
Lee kept his team in the game with 12 minutes remaining, but it was all in vain as Hargreaves’ try with six minutes left sealed the victory.
LOWER GRADES
Southern Suburbs continued their fairytale run to the U18s decider, thumping Dalby 44-4 to book their spot against Highfields this weekend.
The Tigers ran in nine tries in the dominant display, keeping the Diehards scoreless after leading 24-4 at the break.
Pittsworth will get the chance to extract revenge against Warwick in the second division grand final after defeating Gatton 30-20.
The Danes fell to the Cowboys in the major semi final during the first week of finals.
Pittsworth ensured they would have two teams represented on grand final day with their reserve grade side overcoming Highfields 18-16.
Trailing 16-10 at half-time, Jackson Briskey-Luscombe tied things up, before a penalty goal with 15 minutes to play secured a win.
THAT’S THE BEST GAME TRAVIS HAS PLAYED THIS YEAR.
WATTLES CO-CAPTAIN RYAN DUGGAN