Our top weekend performers

THE Toowoomba Mountaineers played their first games of the QSL season, with the sporting landscape continuing to surge across Toowoomba and the Downs.

The Chronicle looks at the five best performances from the weekend.

MELANIE LLOYD (FOOTBALL)

The South West Queensland Thunder striker has always had an eye for goal.

Normally she finds the back from a little closer than her top shelf strike against Eastern Suburbs at the weekend.

Taking possession well inside her own half, Lloyd capped off her run through the Easts defence with a majestic strike from 35 yards out.

Lloyd’s 89th minute strike earned her team a 1-1 draw.

JOSH MCPAUL (HOCKEY)

The form upfront of Josh McPaul continues to run hot.

He added another hat-trick to his growing tally of goals in this year’s COVID CUP, and is playing a key part in Newtown’s good form through the opening five rounds.

With an intense rivalry developing with Red Lion, McPaul’s stick could prove the difference later in the season.

RHIANNON PHELAN (BASKETBALL)

The 16-year-old had her first taste of senior statewide basketball at the weekend, and more than acquitted herself well. She finished with 13 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals as the Mountaineers were downed by Sunshine Coast.

Phelan is definitely one to follow as her experience and confidence increases at the QSL level.

GEROME BURNS (RUGBY LEAGUE)

There’s a reason why he was a staple at the Intrust Super Cup level before moving back to Toowoomba. Burns played his first game of league for Valleys at the weekend, and was superb as the Roosters got the better of Southern Suburbs. The crafty halfback finished with a double and played a hand in others, and will go a long way to leading Valleys to success in the Volunteers Cup.

SHANNON TYRRELL (FOOTBALL)

Tyrrell was at her dynamic best for Willowburn at the weekend.

The Willowburn attacker scored a hat-trick in her side’s 5-2 Toowoomba Football League Premier Women’s division win over West Wanderers.

Tyrrell’s first two goals (42nd and 57th minutes) propelled her side into the lead and her third (65th) ended Wanderers hopes of a comeback.

She has now scored six goals in four games.

Picture: Kevin Farmer HAT-TRICK HERO: Pink Batts Josh McPaul (right) looks to avoid a Lachlan Brownhalls during the Iron Jack Challenge earlier this year. Suiting up for Newtown in the COVID CUP, McPaul scored a hat-trick at the weekend.