Tigers tame Winton's Devils

IF the huge successes on and off the field at last Saturday’s rugby league grand final between Winton’s Diamantina Devils and Longreach’s Thomson Tigers are anything to go by, rugby league in the Central West is back on track.

The festive atmosphere began early with hard fought matches in the age-grade competition. Longreach Under-13s proving to stong for Winton in the curtain raiser taking the game 40-14.
Through out the day favoured team colours were seen parading the streets.

While just about every shop in Longreach decorated their windows, demonstrating more than a little one-eyed support, the visitors from Winton were not to be out done and took every opportunity to rark up the locals before kick-off.

As the sun set on the field, it was the big boys that the 1,500 strong crowd converged upon the showgrounds to see. Thankfully the match didn’t disappoint, with a tight tussle unfolding before excited onlookers.

By half-time many locals were praying their bets were safe as Winton edged to a 16-14 lead.
During the break the Tigers chose to stay on-field, as some of the older heads in the squad laid the future of the match squarely on the line.

Gavin Ballard had the final word telling his team-mates in no uncertain terms the game was theirs "for the taking" as he pounded his water bottle into the turf in frustration.

Rather than slink from the paddock as pussycats, the Tigers found a new lease of life and ran the Devils ragged, despite having lost the cool head of Shaun Walliss to injury.

Quick ball generated two early tries as the Tigers went on a rampage, forcing the possession-starved Devils to stand back and watch. To their credit Winton never gave up, but a late rally was too-little-too-late as the Tigers took the Central West crown for the first time since 1997.

The 36-26 victory sparked celebrations which rolled well into Sunday as the mantra of ‘Go the Tigers!’ was still being shouted down Eagle Street by a hardy few late into the evening.

Longreach 36 Tries: Glenn Forbes 2, Kien Dickson 2, Dave Bielenberg, Marc Fickling and Brad English. Goals: Fickling 4.
Winton 26 Tries: Grant Haddon 2, Brenton Grant, Jason Fogarty and Ernie Ellis. Goals: Fogarty 3.
The 2006 honours board: Player of the Grand-Final Marc Fickling, L'reach.
Referees Player of the Year Jason Fogarty, Winton.
Player of the Year Graham Maloney, Barcaldine.