Former dual Bundaberg Rugby League A Grade Player of the Year Matt Craven is on track to smash points scoring records in his homecoming to Past Brothers after an 11-year absence after racking up three tries and nine conversions in their 62-8 demolition of Wallaroos in the second round of the Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership.
That followed one try and eight goals against Hervey Bay Seagulls in the season opener.
Wests Panthers are the only other unbeaten side after also smashing Seagulls 70-8 with a 28-point haul to Chris Robinson from two tries and 10 goals, while Waves Tigers hit their straps with a 30-18 dispatch of Easts Magpies.
The outright lead in the Premiership will be up for grabs when Wests Panthers and Past Brothers square off in a Round 3 blockbuster at Salter Oval at 6pm tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Magpies get the perfect opportunity to bounce back from their last-start 30-18 defeat at the hands of the Tigers when they take on the Seagulls in the earlier game on the program at 4.15pm.
Finally, Wallaroos get the chance to open their account in their first home match of the season against Waves at 5pm at Eskdale Park.
In the Northern Districts Men’s Premiership, Isis Devils made it two wins from two games in their comeback season with fullback Tom Jameson bagging a double in a 38-12 home blitz of reigning champions Miriam Vale Magpies at Childers Showgrounds.
The earlier scheduled showdown between Gin Gin Hawks and South Kolan Sharks was abandoned by mutual agreement between the two teams after it was delayed several times as an injured women’s player remained on the field while she was treated.
The Hawkettes defeated Isis 34-4 in that Women’s League Tag match with Ruth Tobin amassing 18 points with two tries and five conversions, while try machine Jessica Galea notched another hat-trick.
Agnes Water Marlins outgunned Avondale Tigress 42-4.
Tomorrow, all roads lead to Gin Gin and the Hawks will play their first match of the season at 6.30pm against the might of the Devils, after Avondale Tigers and the Sharks go head-to-head at 5pm.
There is just one Women’s League Tag game with the Hawkettes up against the Marlins at 4pm.
Football
Champion goal keeper Sam Collinson was again a hero as Across The Waves (ATW) marched on in the Australia Cup, defeating Central Queensland champions and arch-rivals Frenchville 7-6 in a penalty shoot-out after scores had finished at 1-1 after 90 pulsating minutes and 2-2 after extra-time in their fourth round battle royale.
Tomorrow, Waves will return to the Football Queensland Premier League Wide Bay Men’s competition, hosting fellow unbeaten side United Park Eagles (UPE) in what promises to be another epic duel at 6.30pm at Waves Sports Complex.
Bingera also have an important home match against KSS Jets at 7pm, while battlers SC Corinthians are away to Doon Villa in Maryborough, and Fraser Flames meet Sunbury Blues in a Local Derby.
In the FQPLWB Women’s League, UPE take on ATW at Martens Oval at 6.30pm tonight, and the Flames suit up against Tinana, before tomorrow at 3pm, Bingera hosts the Jets at 3pm.
AFL
After an unbeaten last season, Hervey Bay Bombers will start their AFL Wide Bay Senior Men’s Premiership defence with a grand final rematch with Brothers Bulldogs at NE McLean Oval tomorrow at 3pm.
That game will follow the Takalvans Women’s Premiership showdown between the Bombers and Bulldogs at Frank Coulthard Oval at 1.30pm.
Across the Waves Eagles will begin their guest for back-to-back Women’s titles at home against Bay Power at 2pm, before the Men’s shoot-out between the two clubs at 3pm.
Hockey
After having their bubble burst in the Premier League Men’s Division with a 4-1 away loss to Magpies a fortnight ago, Waves Cities are again away to the also unbeaten Granville Tigers in Maryborough tomorrow, while All Blacks also have a tough match against unbeaten leaders CBR in the Heritage City.
At Hinkler Park, HB Brothers meet Arrows/Athletics at 4.40pm, before Raiders/Rovers try to pluck the Magpies at 7.20pm.
In the Premier League Women’s at Hinkler Park, leaders Raiders/Rovers meet Magpies at 3.20pm, and Uni Roos take on fourth seeds Arrows at 6pm, and in Maryborough, All Blacks and Cities are matched against Bolts and Granville Rovers, respectively.
Here are all the results from April 1:
HOCKEY BUNDABERG
U11
Raiders Rovers 5 (Beau Kendall 1, Isabella Wyllie 1, Levi Kendall 3) defeated Arrows Athletics 0
U13
Raiders Rovers 8 (Beau Kendall 1, Alexis Smith 1, Molly Crow 1, Courtney Kendall 2, Silvana Powell 3) defeated Arrows Athletics 1 (Eddie Rayner 1)
U16
All Blacks 5 (Indah Lawrence 1, Aaron Chanoff 1, Lachlan McLaren 1, Timothy Wales 2) defeated Waves Cities 0
Arrows Athletics 6 (Ethan Kenny 1, Bridget Stehbens 1, Tully Dorgan 4) defeated Raiders Rovers 0
Division 2 Women
Waves Cities 4 (Angela Asnicar 1, Karen McGuire 1, Indianah Fidock 2) defeated All Blacks 0
Raiders Rovers 7 (Hailey Kendall 1, Naomi Paulsen 1, Silvana Powell 1, Emma Kendall 2, Amanda Wightman 2) defeated Arrows Athletics 0
Division 2 Men
Waves Cities 2 (David Wenban 1, Campbell Baldwin 1) defeated All Blacks 1 (Bayley Fagg 1)
Premier League Women
Arrows Athletics 2 (Bridie Stehbens 1, Ally Dunn 1) defeated Bolts 1 (Olivia Hanley 1)
Granville 7 (Kyra Crick 1, Ashleigh Kelcher 1, Meka Crick 5) defeated All Blacks 0)
Premier League Men
CBR 5 (Trent Goldenstein 1, Darcy Rampton 1, Philp Scougall 1, Dan Mooney 2) defeated Arrows Athletics 0)
Tigers 4 (Luke Helmstedt 1, Connor Innis 1, Jack Staples 2) defeated All Blacks 1 (Isaac Wales 1)
Magpies 4 def Waves Cities 1
HB Brothers def Raiders Rovers on forfeit.
Rugby League Bundaberg
BUNDABERG BROADCASTERS A GRADE PREMIERSHIP
PAST BROTHERS 62 (Eden Hess, Bryden Blair, Connor Jones 3, Matthew Craven 3, Quinton Olive, Tyrell Priestley, Thomas Kronk tries; Matthew Craven 9 goals) d Wallaroos 8 (Jackson Gouge tries).
WESTS PANTHERS 70 (Connor Yeats 2, Israel Power, Chris Robinson 2, Gage Laird, Ilaiasi Pongi, Viliami Molisi, Dyirun Johnson, Kamini Lelenga tries; Chris Robinson 10 goals) d HERVEY BAY SEAGULLS 8 (Isaac Mielczarek Paula Bete tries).
WAVES TIGERS 30 (Sam Tobin, Brendan Grills, Lachlan Patterson, Brad Clarke, Joshua Hill tries; Lachlan Dullaway 5 goals) d EASTS MAGPIES 18 (Ben Hudson 2, Bennett Ooms-Ootineru tries; Jayden Smith 2 goals).
RESERVE GRADE PREMIERSHIP
PAST BROTHERS 26 (James Turnbull 2, Jack Battleday, Ben Kuskey, Daniel Finter tries; Jack Rowan 3 goals) d WALLAROOS 22 (Edward Booth 2, David Ball, Jamie Warner tries; Jorden Kemble 2 goals).
WESTS PANTHERS 32 (Robert Telfer, Ryan Sharpe, Joshua Johnson, Kamini Lelenga, Zac Egan, Lochlan Modrow tries; Lochlan Modrow 3, Ryan Sharpe goals) d HERVEY BAY SEAGULLS 26 (Michael Robinson, Steven Brudzinski, Lachlan Tanna 2, Tomas Ashfield tries; David Woodbridge 3 goals).
WAVES TIGERS 26 (Lepani Banuve, Alfred Norman tries; James Tairawhiti 3 goals) d EASTS MAGPIES 0.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
MEN
Gin Gin drew South Kolan – Match abandoned.
Isis 38 (Thomas Jameson 2, Zac Dann, Royce Blair, Bailey Kimber, J Murray-Bryant, Jake Thompson tries; Zac Dann, Brent Hass 4 goals) d Miriam Vale 12 (Cody Guymner, Jordan Kellett tries; Ricky Noy 2 goals).
WOMEN’S LEAGUE TAG
Agnes Water 42 (S Moran 2, Sophia Mojica, J Smith, Teika Keleher, Georgia Abbott, Amity Burke 2 tries; Lisa Irving 4, Georgia Abbott goals) d Avondale 4 (Josie Thorne try).
Gin Gin 34 (Ruby Tobin 2, Jessica Galea 3, Jude Bust tries; Ruby Tobin 5 goals) d Isis 4 (Courtney Jackson try).
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