Round 7 of 10 regular season rounds are now completed. The Wagners Risdon Cup race is heating up for finals positioning. Toowoomba Rangers remain unbeaten after another nail-biter at the Ants' Nest Fox Gallas Park. The hosting Roma Echidnas played a blinder dominating the scrums to be up in the dying minutes in a high scoring encounter. Toowoomba Rangers' loose forwards were the difference with a converted try with two minutes remaining to secure a 34-33 victory again for Rangers, only just. Tom Vinson again earned three points adjudged by referee Tim Biggs toward Mal Eiby best and fairest calculations. Rangers have managed to hold on in close matches including 11-10 against the Cods in Round 2 and a famous 22-22 all draw against the Bears in Round 3. The Wagners Risdon Cup Match of the Round 8 is Toowoomba Bears hosting the Toowoomba Rangers at Heritage Oval 3pm this Saturday. Bears and Rangers played a 22-22 draw in Round 3 and both sides are backing up from close games. This is community rugby at its finest.
The Ants' Nest at Roma also played host for the namesake of our Women's 7s competition: Emilee Cherry. The hometown hero who accomplished Olympic Gold in 2016 at Rio and was the 2014 World Rugby 7s Player of the Year, greeted our current crop of 7s rising stars from the Downs in a full weekly tournament. Emilee was impressed with the Echidnas' performance and youngster Antonia Ratima-Hendry. After nine matches from Pool A and Pool B, the USQ Saints won the weekly carnival against Toowoomba Bears by two points to stay atop the Emilee Cheery Cup ladder, which ventures this weekend to Rowden Oval, St George.
The Condamine Cods have moved into second position on the Wagners Risdon Cup ladder after Round 7. With their third win of the season, the Cods narrowly defeated the Toowoomba Bears 31-25. The match was really close throughout, but in the end, the difference was territory and passion when it counted. In their two encounters this year, only seven points in matches separate these two teams. Could it be a finals clash in the making? Close games are a common feature in 2020, Downs Rugby action is exciting.
The Nutrien Ag B grade Bill Flamsteed trophy is a hotly contested race with St George remaining unbeaten with a 33-22 victory over the Roma Echidnas. Warwick piled on the points to defeat USQ Saints 55-5. St George and Warwick are separated by three competition points, noting that Warwick has played one less game due to the bye structure. The best regular season B grade showdown is this Saturday from 3pm at Risdon Oval, St George. The St George Frillnecks take on Warwick Water Rats - 1 v 2 on the Nutrien Ag B Grade ladder. This clash follows an exciting Women's 7s tournament at the same venue.
Darling Downs Super Schools Cup grand finals were last evening at Gold Park. Results and photos to follow in next week's edition. The latest directive is that community sport adhering to the v5 Field Sports Industry Plan is to exclude all spectators with flu-like symptoms, or who have been in contact with COVID-19 infected or been to COVID tracing hotspots. More information at www.downsrugby.com.au. Play your part and stay safe, in turn protecting the health of fellow Queenslanders.
