Bourke Warriors defeated Walgett Dragons 22-18 in an epic Barwon Darling Cup rugby league grand final. The Warriors were down 12-4 and 18-10 during the second half but stormed home with two late tries to win. Joash Mann was named man of the match for Bourke with two crucial tries in the second half, including the match winner in the final three minutes. In underage games, Collarenebri defeated Bourke 52-20 in the under 14s grand final, while Brewarrina defeated Collarenebri 48-32 in the under 17s decider.

1. Bourke Warriors win an epic Barwon
Darling Cup Rugby League decider
Walgett Captain Charley Kennedy and Bourke’s Bruce Morris with the Barwon Darling
Rugby League Premiership Cup
Bourke prop Daniel Knight is caught by
Walgett’s William Wright
who cut through the Bourke defence and found
Dragons halfback Cameron Dennis who crossed.
Bourke hit back through centre Gill Sutton to make
it 4-all, but when Kevin Murray dashed over Walgett
led 8-4 at half-time.
A sweeping backline movement from the Dragons
saw Douglas Murray cross and hand the Dragons a
12-4 lead.
Bourke replacement Joash Mann then scored the
first of his two second half tries, Warriors five-eighth
Stevie Elwood convertingto make it 12-10.
Murphy again showed his class when he sliced
over from a Walgett scrum win, Dragons five-
eighth William Wright convertingto handthe
hosts an eight-point leadagain.
But Bourke stormedhome with two late tries to win.
Strike Warriors centre Darryl Cubby found a small
passage down the left-hand edge to score, Elwood
again successful to reduce the margin to two points
(18-16).
And then Mann ran off a money ball to score his
second and hand Bourke their first Barwon Darling
Cup premiership.
At the presentation, Walgett five-eighth
Bourke completed a brilliant return to the
Barwon Darling Cup rugby league competition
with a gripping 22-18 grand final win against
Walgettat No 1 Oval, Walgett on Saturday.
The Warriors were down 12-4 and 18-10 during
the second half but stormed home to win a high-
quality decider that featured plenty of bruising and
scrambling defence.
Joash Mann was the hero for Bourke with a
second-half double including the game breaker with
three minutes left after the Warriors executed an
outside-inside ball set play with a pop pass that
Queensland Origin stars Sam Thaiday and Billy
Slater have made famous.
Warriors captain-coach Bruce Morris was handed
the Ronny Gibbs medal as man-ofthe-match aftera
tireless defensive effort.
He was delighted after the four-point win played
in front of a crowd of approximately 500 people.
“I can’t describe how it feels,” Morris said.
“I’m just proud to be captain of this side. It was a
big effort to come back. It’s great to win this
premiership and now we’ll aim to defend it next
year. I’m stoked.
“I can’t thank the boys enough. It’s the best we’ve
played all year.”
Morris described Mann, prop Daniel Knight and
centre Darryl Cubby as “soldiers” for their efforts.
Bourke president Stephen Howarth said it was a great
feeling to win the 2012 title.
He paid tribute to Morris’ efforts as skipper.
“Bruce is a true leader ... he led from the front all
season and deserved the Ronny Gibbs medal,” he
said.
“It was very exciting. This is what a grand final is
about ... a tough fought out win.”
Howarth said props Peter Mackay and Daniel
Knight were good along with Matt Gibbs but all 19
Warriors used lifted.
“It was a terrific effort ... we prepared well, we
knew we would have to dig deep to beat Walgett on
their home ground,” Howarth said.
“They showed that true Warriors spirit to come
home.”
Walgett captain Charley Kennedy admitted the
loss was tough to take after dropping last year’s
grand final 46-28 to Goodooga at No 1 Oval.
However, the Dragons accepted their second
straight grand final defeat with dignity.
“It’s very frustrating... leadingmost of the game,”
Kennedy said. Two years in a row, the boys will find
it hard. Bourke were just a bit hungrier. It was a
good challenge having Bourke in the competition.
We did our best but Bourke outdid us.Our defence
was strong... but I think we were a little lethargic at
times.”
Kennedy said Louis Murphy and Richard Dennis
were his side’s best.
Walgett coach RichardSimpson said it was a good
day for the Dragons club but didn’t have the ending
they wanted.
Simpson said he felt Murphy was the best player
on the field after the former NSW Country seconds
representative had a great game in attack and
defence at fullback.
He added Bourke was fitter with regular football
in recent times and the Warriors played a strong,
controlledstyle of game where Bourke’s entire side
contributed.
Both sides defended their goal-lines with plenty of
determination.
Walgett scored first after William Wright threw a
well-timed inside ball to Murphy,
William Wright was announced as Barwon Bourke’sIan Brown makesa break
Darling Cup senior leading pointscorer (98 points,
five tries, 39 goals) and best and fairest player of the
2012 competition.
Fellow Dragon Murphy (19) was the highest try-
scorer.
Under 17s Grand Final
In the under 17s Barwon Darling Cup grand final,
Brewarrina defeated Collarenebri 4832 with Golden
Googars halfback Kieran Ford named as Ronny
Gibbs medal winner.
The highest pointscorer in the under 17s was
Brewarrina’s Derek Eyre (96 points, 14 tries, 20
goals) while Collarenebri’s Shaun Morgan (15) was
highest try-scorer and Bourke’s Billy Brissenden
was the competition best andfairest.
Collarenebri won the under 14s Barwon Darling
Cup grand final 52-20 against Bourke with Bulldogs
five-eighth Carl Mason named best on ground to
collect the Ronny Gibbs medal.
Lane Simmonds (Collarenebri) was the under 14s
competition’s best and fairest player and highest
pointscorer (98 points,
highest try-scorer with Walgett’s Dale Jones (21).
All three highest point scorers for the season,
Simmonds (14s), Eyre (17s) and Wright (seniors)
all cracked the 100-point barrier on grandfinal day.
Barwon DarlingCup rugby league senior
grand final 2012
BOURKE 22 (Joash Mann 2, Darryl Cubby, Gill
Sutton tries; Stevie Elwood 3 goals) defeated
WALGETT 18 (Louis Murphy, Kevin Murray,
Cameron Dennis, Douglas Murray tries; William
Wright goal).
Ronny Gibbs medal – Bruce Morris
(Bourke)
Barwon Darling Cup rugby league under
17s grand final 2012
BREWARRINA 48 (Lane Salt 3, Edward
Simpson 2, Derek Eyre, Kieran Ford, Darren Doole,
Martin Boney tries; Eyre 6 goals) defeated
COLLARENEBRI 32 (Travis Brazier 2, William
Lamb 2, Shaun Morgan, Lochlan Peters tries;
Brazier 4 goals).
Ronny Gibbs medal - Kieran Ford
21 tries, seven goals). Simmonds was joint (Brewarrina)
with the three keyconductors starringon
song guided minor premiers
Collarenebri to a 52-20 Barwon Darling Cup
rugby league under 14s grand final win against
Bourke at Walgett’s No 1 Oval on Saturday.
Shaquille Peters scored four tries, Ronny Gibbs
medallist Carl Mason bagged a hattrick and the
strong-running Lane Simmonds posted a double in
the Bulldogs’ strongwin.
The big three for Collarenebri liftedon grand final
day but Collarenebri coach Chris Kirkland felt it
was the work of the other players that helped his
stars shine.
He noted the efforts of a player like little Steven
Morgan.
The Warriors kickedthe ball to Morgan constantly
and Kirkland notedhis little winger was safe under
pressure.
“I think all the boys played their roles,” Kirkland
said. “No-one did anything wrong. We were good
across the park.”
Kirkland said in a footy-madtown of around 600
people winning this 14s premiership was exciting.
Collarenebri had two teams in on grand final day
and went home with one title and a happy cheer
squad who made the trip to Walgett in big numbers.
“The support was great ... the kids cherish having
their families and friends there,” he said.
“Football means a lot to the community.
“The boys were the best team in the competition
and deserved the grand final win. It’s great and I’m
proud of them all.”
Bourke under 14s coach James Simmons said that
Collarenebri deserved their victory.
The Bourke 14s coach felt some of his players
may have pulled up a little tiredafter playinglots of
football last Friday at Coonamble at a Clontarf
Sporting Academy event.
But he added backing up a day later that shouldn’t
have worried his youngsters and said the Warriors
had a good season.
“We came up against a very good side that
“We startedwell but Collarenebri got on top.”
When Bourke were down at half-time Simmons
pointedto one of his side’s great comebacks of 2012
as inspiration.
The Warriors travelledto LightningRidge back in
July and were down 38-10 during the second half
against the Redbacks before storming home to win
46-38.
That win kick-startedBourke’s run into Saturday’s
grand final and helped shatter
Lightning Ridge’s finals hopes but the Warriors
couldn’t muster such a comeback a month later
against Colly.
“I thought if we’d done that before, we could do it
again,” Simmons said.
“We got as close as eight points but it wasn’t to
be.
“Overall I feel pretty privilegedto have coacheda
good bunch of kids. Hopefully we can keep the
junior footy goingin Bourke, it’s been good to have
it back.”
Simmons said fullback Connor Elwood was
named as Bourke’s players player while Roy Smith
and Raymond Simmons were strong in the middle
of the field.
Coach Simmons said Bourke playmakers Ernest
Johnson and Clynton Edwards both had good
seasons.
Lane Simmonds (Collarenebri) was the under 14s
competition’s best and fairest player and highest
pointscorer (98 points, 21 tries, seven goals).
Simmonds was joint highest try-scorer with
Walgett’s Dale Jones (21).
Barwon DarlingCup rugby league under
14s grand final 2012
COLLARENEBRI 52 (Shaquille Peters 4, Car
Mason 3, Lane Simmonds 2, Jeffrey
Flick, David Cunningham tries; Mason 2,
William Adams 2 goals) defeated BOURKE 20
(Robbie McKellar 2, Jamahl Smith, Mal Edwards
tries; Ernest Johnson 2 goals).
Ronny Gibbs medal – Carl Mason
(Collarenebri).

2. Collarenebri def. Bourke in
14’s
A polished grand final performance played well,” Simmons said of Collarenebri.
“The Western Herald”, Thursday, August 23, 2012 15