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How does your club stack up against the top 10 clubs in the Darling Downs

Darling Downs fans have been treated to some true sporting spectacles this season. Now, from our cricket ovals right through to the hockey fields, we can reveal best sports club in the region. How does your club stack up to the best?

Rockville Rovers’ Charlotte Kidd celebrates winning the Football Queensland Darling Downs Community Juniors U13 Div 1 White grand final at Clive Berghofer Stadium. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Rockville Rovers’ Charlotte Kidd celebrates winning the Football Queensland Darling Downs Community Juniors U13 Div 1 White grand final at Clive Berghofer Stadium. Picture: Kevin Farmer

While athletes and individual stars often command the spotlight, a lot of the Darling Downs rich sporting history can be attributed to the work done by its clubs.

From developing junior pathways and coaches to creating ‘homes and second families’ for players, our clubs are among the best in Queensland.

Heading into the festive season break, here’s our look at the Top 10 sports clubs of 2024.

10. Toowoomba Twisters (touch football)

With 100s of elite stars to build squads around, touch football giants, the Twisters, are always a threat at the Queensland representative level.

In between torrential downpours at the 2024 Queensland State Cup in December – Twisters teams rounded out the year in style.

Toowoomba won the Premier Mixed and Women’s 30s divisions and finished runner-up in the Masters Mixed.

9. Western Districts Warriors (cricket)

Wests have been the Toowoomba cricket top dogs for a while now and this year has been no different.

Rounding out the 2023/24 season, the Warriors won the two-day title in beating Met-Easts in emphatic style in March.

Western Districts cricket captain Luke Neale accepts the trophy after his side won the 2024 TCI two-day competition. Picture: Allyson Gardener.
Western Districts cricket captain Luke Neale accepts the trophy after his side won the 2024 TCI two-day competition. Picture: Allyson Gardener.

This season they featured in the one-day men’s and women’s finals and won the C-grade title proving they are always a chance when trophies are on offer.

8. Coolaroo FC (Aussie rules)

Coolaroo sent veteran player/coach Miels Grice out in perfect fashion.

There were emotional scenes at Rockville Park on AFL Darling Downs grand final day with Grice retiring after helping guide the men’s team to a third straight premiership.

Coolaroo celebrate defeating Goondiwindi Hawks in AFL Darling Downs Allied Cup senior men grand final at Rockville Park, Saturday, August 31, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Coolaroo celebrate defeating Goondiwindi Hawks in AFL Darling Downs Allied Cup senior men grand final at Rockville Park, Saturday, August 31, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Coolaroo celebrate winning the 2024 under-12 AFL Darling Downs grand final.
Coolaroo celebrate winning the 2024 under-12 AFL Darling Downs grand final.

Coolaroo’s 111-24 defeat of Goondiwindi Hawks capped off a memorable day for the club.

Earlier in the day the club’s Under-12.5 side beat University 39-20 adding another trophy to their cabinet after finishing as minor premiers.

7. Gatton Hawks (rugby league)

Hawks proved themselves to be the benchmark club in Toowoomba’s premier league divisions this season.

After finishing the regular season as minor premiers in A-grade and the Women’s competition the club fell just short of premiership double.

Gatton Hawks celebrate their 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League grand final win.
Gatton Hawks celebrate their 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League grand final win.

Cameron Charlton Bundock wrote his name into the TRL A-grade history books – capping off a 50m, fifth tackle play to win it for Gatton in golden point extra time.

Play in fourth straight grand final – and chasing a fourth straight premiership – Gatton’s women’s team were toppled by Highfields Eagles 20-14.

While the loss upset the Gatton faithful – Hawks were the benchmark team all season and will no doubt return full of energy in 2025.

6. University Cougars (Aussie rules)

Grand final day didn’t finish the way they would’ve liked but the Cougars can hold their heads high.

Moses Amreis gets possession for University Cougars against South Toowoomba Bombers in AFL Darling Downs under-14 mixed grand final. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Moses Amreis gets possession for University Cougars against South Toowoomba Bombers in AFL Darling Downs under-14 mixed grand final. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Cougars lost all four finals they played in – Under-12.5, U14.5, U17 Girls and Women’s – but they performed consistently throughout the regular season.

They matched it with the Darling Downs best teams all year and could’ve had a few trophies if some of the ‘big moments’ went their way.

5. Dalby Wheatmen (rugby union)

Dalby were able to separate the wheat from the chaff this season.

The Wheatmen were the form club this finishing in the top two across all three senior men’s competitions.

They claimed the ES Dooney Hayes Cup (C-grade) minor premiership and finished second behind Goondiwindi Emus in A and B-grade.

Dalby Wheatmen celebrate winning the 2024 Risdon Cup on Downs Rugby grand final day.
Dalby Wheatmen celebrate winning the 2024 Risdon Cup on Downs Rugby grand final day.

Featuring in all three grand finals the Wheatmen were dreaming of a premiership hat-trick but fell short in B and C-grade.

They did however enjoy success in the Risdon Cup – a competition often described as one of country rugby’s toughest titles.

Trailing 7-6 at halftime and with the Emus dominating play the Wheatmen fought back to claim a 23-12 win.

4. Rockville Rovers (football)

Toowoomba’s Captain Cook Reserve was rocking and roving this season.

The home of Rockville Football Club was the place to be with Rovers a force to be renowned with in the FQPL Darling Downs junior and senior competitions.

Rovers have always been a club full of promise and talent but this year they were full of production.

Rockville Rovers Blue are grand final champions after defeating Football Dalby in Football Queensland Darling Downs Community Juniors U13 Div 1 White. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Rockville Rovers Blue are grand final champions after defeating Football Dalby in Football Queensland Darling Downs Community Juniors U13 Div 1 White. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Lining up in five of the nine junior and senior grand finals, Rovers secured four trophies.

The club’s U13 Div 1 White team were the star performers beating Football Dalby 4-2 while their FQPL 3 Men were the unlucky losers – falling 4-1 to a well-drilled Gatton Redbacks.

3. Southern Suburbs Tigers Juniors (rugby league)

Tigers clawed out one of their best seasons in recent memory and looked prime to shine in the years ahead.

Under the guidance of coaching director Matt Gainey has worked hard to develop its coaches and players and the moved paid off this season.

Southern Suburbs celebrate a try against Valleys in U13/14 boys Toowoomba Junior Rugby League grand final at Toowoomba Sports Ground. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Southern Suburbs celebrate a try against Valleys in U13/14 boys Toowoomba Junior Rugby League grand final at Toowoomba Sports Ground. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Nine Southern Suburbs sides lined up in the first round of finals this season with six qualifying for grand finals.

Five of those six teams walked away with premierships after a thrilling day of finals at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium.

2. Valleys Roosters (rugby league)

From hosting the increasingly popular Walker Weekend Challenge to starring in the junior and senior Toowoomba rugby league finals, the Roosters further established themselves as one of the region’s benchmark clubs in any code.

This year’s Walker Weekend Challenge was the biggest on record with organisers forced to turn away a number of under-13 teams for the first time in the event’s history.

The success of the WWC kicked off what would ultimately be a big year for Valleys particularly at the junior level.

Valleys celebrate a try against Southern Suburbs in U13/14 boys Toowoomba Junior Rugby League grand final. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Valleys celebrate a try against Southern Suburbs in U13/14 boys Toowoomba Junior Rugby League grand final. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Six Roosters teams featured in grand finals and four of those squads claimed premierships.

At the senior level all four Valleys teams qualified for finals.

The U19 men lost at the preliminary final stage while the A and Reserve Grade sides featured in their respective grand finals.

Valleys Reserves beat an impressive Warwick Cowboys outfit 28-20 while the A-grade lost 24-20 in an absolute thriller with Gatton Hawks.

1. Newtown Tigers (hockey)

Newtown performed at every level of the game this year.

The Tigers won six of the 18 premierships on offer during Toowoomba Hockey Association’s grand final weekend with Past High, Red Lion and Rangeville clubs evenly splitting the titles.

Grand final could’ve been a lot grander for the club as well with another four Tigers teams losing on the day.

Action from the A3 Women's Toowoomba Hockey grand final between Newtown and Past High Hawks. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Action from the A3 Women's Toowoomba Hockey grand final between Newtown and Past High Hawks. Picture: Kevin Farmer

It was the nature of Newtown’s six wins however that proof why they deserve their spot on this list.

The club won in every age group from juniors through to Opens and Masters.

Newtown knows how to produce players and they’ll a force for years to come.

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/how-does-your-club-stack-up-against-the-top-10-clubs-in-the-darling-downs/news-story/82df62a9e6b81f72d6955c31e9513cd6