Warrigals warmed up for the upcoming finals with a comprehensive win over Cloncurry at the rugby grounds on Saturday.
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It wasn’t as easy as it looked on the final score with Cloncurry amassing a lot of possession which they were unable to turn into points on the scoreboard.
Cloncurry came into the game in good spirits with a fine win over Keas last week but they found the title-chasing Dingoes a different proposition.
The visitors started strongly pinning down Warrigals in their own half and forcing a penalty, which went wide of the the posts.
Undaunted Curry kept the ball deep in Warrigals territory but the defence stayed strong.
Warrigals’ speedy wingers were cooling their heels waiting for an opportunity and it finally came halfway through the half with a quick breakaway catching out Curry who conceded the first five-pointer of the day.
After a fine conversion from a difficult position Warrigals led 7-0.
That jolted Cloncurry and it was Warrigals who now began to dominate possession.
Cloncurry defended stoutly but it was only a matter of time before Warrigals added to their crossing in the corner, with another eye of the needle converting making it 14-0.
Cloncurry had a chance when Warrigals fumbled the restart but they quickly dropped the hot potato themselves to ruin the moment.
They kept coming and deservedly earned another penalty with the last play of the first half.
This time they scored to get on the board and that penalty made it 14-3 to Warrigals at the break.
The second half was a hard slog but it was Warrigals who quickly put the game out of reach.
A third try was added with another superb corner conversion to make it 21-3 and a fourth try with half an hour to play left matters at 26-3.
To Cloncurry’s credit they kept trying and picked up a lot of possession, unfortunately for them not in dangerous areas of the field and Warrigals’ defence was relentless.
As legs began to tire in the final stages it was Warrigals who skipped away to land another hammer blow.
They crossed under the posts for their fifth five-pointer of the encounter, and the extras were duly added.
Final score Warrigals 33, Cloncurry 3.
The margin of victory did not reflect Cloncurry’s intensity in the game which will give them heart at the business end of the season.
Warrigals now play Keas in the final round this Saturday while Cloncurry take on Euros.
There are three rounds of finals with the grand final on Saturday, March 25.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
