Downs Rugby completed its regular season last Saturday, with senior fixtures held at Gold Park, Highfields Sport Park and Heritage Oval - also, Gatton and Warwick. Goondiwindi Emus have secured Wagners Risdon Cup A grade minor premiership and will be presented the James Hayne trophy on grand final day. As minor premiers, Goondiwindi have earnt the right to host week one of the senior finals series at Riddles Oval.
With semi-finals contention on the line, Condamine travelled to play the Gatton Black Pigs on their home ground, at Courtney Oval Gatton. The A grade ladder was incredibly close, meaning the winner of this last regular season game would earn the right for a semi-finals position. Gatton Black Pigs were up at half time, through some excellent back-line play. Condamine Cods came out after the half-time break and built a healthy lead. Gatton Black Pigs scored a late try, however it was not enough to win the match. Condamine Cods secured fourth place on the ladder, winning 39-31. This win sees the Condamine Cods match up against the Dalby Wheatmen in the minor semi-final this Saturday at Riddles Oval, 1:45pm. Full credit must be given to the Gatton Black Pigs, who for part of the 2021 regular season were in second place on the ladder.
Highfields Sport and Recreation Park was used by the USQ Saints A grade side as their venue, due to a rain cancellation on their home field. Dalby Wheatmen travelled into play the Saints, and in a dominant performance, scored 11 tries and four conversions in the rout. USQ Saints' small team size unfortunately did them no favours, losing 63-0. Dalby Wheatmen secured third place on the regular season ladder.
At Gold Park, Toowoomba Rangers hosted the Goondiwindi Emus with first v second on the ladder. In a dominant performance, Goondiwindi scored seven tries to nil, to win 49-3 against the Toowoomba Rangers, and secured the minor premiership by a whopping 17 competition points. The Emus are pitched against the same opponent, Toowoomba Rangers, in the major semi-final at Riddles Oval, 3.30pm. The winner proceeds to the Wagners Risdon Cup grand final on Saturday August 7.
Also at Gold Park, round eight "super round" of the Black Isuzu Emilee Cherry Cup, 15 matches were played to decide the finalists. Now the regular season is finished, Roma Echidnas (1) are the minor premiers for 2021, with an unbeaten 25 matches throughout the regular season, followed closely by the reigning premiers USQ Saints only nine competition points behind. Only another six competition points away, in third place, the Dalby Wheatchix, followed in fourth place by the Toowoomba Bears, fifth place St George Filly Frillies and in sixth place, the Gatton Black Sows. The top six teams for 2021 will proceed to a finals carnival on Saturday July 31. The women enjoy a well-earned break for a fortnight!
At Heritage Oval, the Toowoomba Bears hosted the Roma Echidnas, on their sponsors day. Roma was down on players, and this eventually was their downfall due to fatigue and tiredness, with Toowoomba Bears winning 32-0.
In the Nutrien Ag Solutions B grade, this Saturday's semi-final will be played at the same time, 12.15pm on fields one and two at Riddles Oval, Goondiwindi. First placed Dalby Wheatmen play St George Frillnecks in the major semi. In the minor semi-final, third placed Goondiwindi Emus take on reigning premiers Warwick Water Rats. C grade minor premiership was also claimed by Dalby Wheatmen, and they will play Toowoomba Rangers in the major semi-final C grade, 11am. Also at 11am, the minor semi-final will see the third placed Toowoomba Bears against the Chinchilla River Rats.
Six Queensland Reds players were selected in the Wallabies line-up in the deciding test-match against France last Saturday, with Queensland's Tate McDermont scoring in the 10th minute and Taniela Tupou scoring in the 50th minute. It was a nail biting 33-30 victory, with a healthy crowd at Suncorp Stadium.