COUGARS SURGE
University moves to second ahead of grudge match
AUSSIE RULES: There’s still a long way to go according to their coach, but the University men have continued their impressive start to the Allieds Cup season.
The Cougars made it three wins from four games in their return to competition, this time suffocating the Warwick defence in a 9.15 (69) to 2.3 (15) victory at USQ.
University started strongly, opening up a 50-point lead at halftime, and despite kicking just two goals in the second half, were able to run out comfortable winners.
The performance left coach Geoff Dunning in two minds – frustrated that they didn’t continue on in the second half, but full of praise for a dominant defensive display.
“I think we’ve got a long way to go,” Dunning said.
“We played an undermanned Warwick side and only kicked two goals after halftime. We went down to their level a bit and just didn’t finish the game off.
“It wasn’t a four-quarter effort and we haven’t done that yet this season.
“We needed to continue on with it. There were some skill errors there and it wasn’t a good look. That’s what happens though. When we play the top four teams we’re up for it, but when we play guys down the bottom, we’re sort of not into it as much.
“The average age of our defensive line is 20, and we’re still waiting on Cory Balnaves to come back from an ankle injury.
“They’re doing a great job. I’m rapt in our defence, but kicking goals is our problem. We’re still missing too many easy shots.”
The Cougars will face another stern test as they take on Goondiwindi at home this weekend.
Dunning said this was a game they’d had marked in their calendars, as they prepared to meet for the first time since going down to the Hawks in the 2019 grand final.
“This is the one we’ve been waiting for,” he said.
“This will give us a good guide on where we think we can finish.
“I haven’t come across Goondiwindi yet, but I watched last year’s grand final and they’ve got a lot of older players that are smart and use the football well.
“With the big ground at Uni, we’ll try to run them off their legs. I don’t think they’ll like that.”
The Hawks will come into the contest off the back of a 25.15 (165) to 5.3 (33) defeat of an understrength South Toowoomba at Riddles Oval.
Angus Croft kicked 11 majors and David O’Toole added nine in the one-sided display.
Coolaroo showed why it was the team to beat in 2021 after a thumping 22.10 (142) to 3.4 (22) demolition of Toowoomba at Rockville Oval.
The Roos scored 13 goals to one in an explosive first half, as Lawton Elliott booted eight goals in his first game of the season.
South Burnett secured its first win of the season, downing Dalby 8.11 (59) to 5.4 (34).
The Saints opened up a 32point lead at halftime, which proved a bridge too far for the Swans to run down.
BOMBERS FIGHT HARD AGAINST GOONDIWINDI
South Toowoomba was given its biggest test of the senior women’s competition so far in 2021.
The Bombers were forced to work hard in a low-scoring encounter against Goondiwindi at Riddles Oval, before coming out on top 4.3 (27) to 2.5 (17).
Brianna Pogany’s goalscoring form continued, kicking two majors to give her a season tally of 11 from three games.
Toowoomba remained undefeated after downing University 7.5 (47) to 3.3 (21) at Rockville Oval.
The Tigers led by just six points at the last change, before three goals in the fourth guided them home.
Dalby overcame a slow start to score its first win of the year, defeating South Burnett 2.6 (18) to 1.2 (8). The Swans went scoreless in the first term, before opening up what proved to be a matchwinning lead in the third.
STANDINGS ALLIEDS CUP
1. Coolaroo 4-0, 2. University 3-1, 3. Goondiwindi 3-1, 4. Sth Toowoomba 2-2, 5. Toowoomba 2-2, 6. Warwick 1-3, 7. Sth Burnett 1-3, 8. Dalby 0-4
SENIOR WOMEN
1. Sth Toowoomba 3-0, 2. Toowoomba 3-0, 3. Goondiwindi 1-2, 4. University 1-2, 5. Sth Burnett 1-3, 6. Dalby 1-3