Gatton battle gamely to seal key Risdon Cup victory over Roma

Goondiwindi Emus and Dalby Wheatmen set the early standards with impressive victories in Risdon Cup.

USQ’s Martin van Staden takes on the Toowoomba Rangers defence. Picture: Kevin Farmer

UNION: Man of the match honours rarely go to “losing” players, but Dan Coulthurst has been immense this season.

Coulthurst was everywhere for the Roma Echidnas at the weekend in his side’s 29-14 loss to the Gatton Black Pigs.

In a tightly fought contest where both teams won scrums against the feed, Gatton’s superior fitness proved to be the difference.

At the Fish Tank, the Condamine Cods played host to the Dalby Wheatmen.

In another closely fought contest the Wheatmen claimed second spot on the Risdon Cup ladder with a gutsy 32-17 win.

At Riddles Oval, the Goondiwindi Emus easily accounted for an understrength Toowoomba Bears.

The Emus forward pack out-muscled Bears who had 12 players backing up from B-grade to secure a 57-10 win.

Proving just how impressive the Emus pack has been this season one of the game’s highlights was a rolling maul from 22m out that almost resulted in a try.

In the other A-grade clash Mac Grealy helped lead Rangers to a 63-7 win over USQ.

In the Emilee Cherry Cup the race for the Charlotte Caslick Medal is heating up.

USQ’s Briana Dascombe, St George’s Alice Rathie and Dalby’s Taleah Hornick are all square in the race for the best and fairest player medal after three rounds.