The 2017 Downs Rugby season finished with a thrilling Grand Final day over the weekend. Downs Rugby would like to thank estimated 2000 people who attended to support their team..
The Chinchilla River Rats did not go down without a fight in the first match of the day up against the Goondiwindi Emus in the C Grade Grand Final. It seemed that the Emus were going to run away with an easy victory holding a 19-0 lead with tries to Brock Lawless, Doug McDougall and Sam Munsie. Chinchilla turned up the heat in the final 15 minutes of the match when they ran in their first try after a strong line break from Josh Wolski crashed over the line. A short time later Fred Sheppard raced down the sideline and bumped off his opposing winger to bring the scores to 19-10. Immediately after the kick off Chinchilla were back in attack and a break by Chris McEvoy saw another River Rat cross the line and converted for 17 points to 19. Goondiwindi Emus showed their courage and strength to hold out the line for the final minutes of the match and went back-to-back as the C Grade Champions.
The B Grade Grand Final saw a rematch of 2016 when the Dalby Wheatmen took on the Toowoomba Rangers in an epic clash. The Wheatmen were on the attack straight from the kick off and a try saving tackle in goal prevented Wheatmen’s Ben Cullen from grounding the ball. Shortly after, a charge down on Dalby's 22m line resulted in Rangers’ Matthew Krelle regathering ball to draw first blood with a successful conversion opening the score to 7-0. Shortly after halftime, the Wheatmen spread the ball wide to Brodie Schwerin who sped away for the tryline bringing the score to 7-5. Lachie McVeigh then crashed over the line again for the Wheatmen after some powerful pick and drive action to take the lead. Rangers then retaliated as Adam Maxwell took advantage of an open blindside to dart around the corner for an easy try to level out the score to 12 a piece. In the dying minutes the Wheatmen's discipline slipped resulting in a short arm penalty on Dalby's tryline. Rangers flyhalf Ben Tuesley saw an opening in the backline and swerved his way through defenders to seal the victory and Rangers emerged as Grand Final champions for B Grade.
The Women’s 7s were competing for the inaugural Emillee Cherry Cup, with Cherry in attendance to present the trophy to the Grand Final victors. After a tight win over the Dalby Wheatchix in the Preliminary Finals, the Minor Premiers, Warwick Water Rats, were up against their rivals, Toowoomba Bears in the Grand Final match. The Bears comfortably ran away with the lead early in the match putting on two quick tries before halftime to see the score open to 10 - 0 at the break. Bears came out strong again with another two tries after quick feet from Kiara Taylor, excellent control and vision from Ainslie Gale and strong metres gained by Maria Chong-Nee. Warwick Water Rats refused to give up and ran in for a try, but it was too late for a comeback and the Toowoomba Bears finished as the inaugural Women’s Rugby 7s Champions.
The biggest rivalry in Downs Rugby was set to take the field in the Wagners Wellcamp Risdon Cup Grand Final when the Goondiwindi Emus were challenged by the Dalby Wheatmen in the main event. The first half of the match was equally contested with both teams desperately attempting to open the scores, but each time foiled by the opposition. It was nearly certain that Matt Donovan was going to crash over after finding space on the wing, but a crunching tackle saw him go into touch. After a lineout steal and forward momentum from Dalby they were only inches from the line when Dan Merker fired a pass out wide to flanker, John Moloney and quick feet saw him pound the ball into the tryline and open the try scoring margin to 7 - 0.
Shortly after kick off, Dalby were back on the attack and Matt Donovan again found open space, but with defenders sliding off Donovan found the line and Dalby found themselves 14 points ahead leading into halftime. The Goondiwindi Emus came firing back in the second half, however the Wheatmen's defence was too strong and were able to regather possession every time. A discipline error 10m out of Goondiwindi's tryline gave Dan Merker an opportunity to fire another shot at goal and lengthen the lead 17 - 0.
After a slick set piece from the Emus, Tom Jobling was able to shoot down the sideline and open the score for Goondiwindi 7 points to 17. This lit the spark Goondiwindi needed for a comeback and it was Sam Jobling who dealt a second blow to bring the score to 12 - 17, however Dalby was able to hold out every attack until the Emus ran out of steam. Dalby Wheatmen, for a second year in a row, secured the Risdon Cup and remain Rugby Champions on the Darling Downs.
Mal Eiby Medallist and captain of the Wheatmen Sam Hogarth performed outstandingly and was awarded the Vince Bermingham Cup for Player of the Final.
