Last weekend saw the ‘Hutchinson Builders’ Toowoomba Rugby League Premiership kick off from the mid-season peak and start the downhill race to the 2015 season finals series, still ten fixture Rounds away I might add, the finals commencing on the 5th & 6th of September.
TRL President Paul Dean is predicting the 2015 season second round to provide some outstanding rugby league in all grades for supporters, and quite possibly a few upsets as mid-ladder teams lift to challenge for the top five rungs.
Without doubt the Gatton ‘Hawks’ have been the form team of the A Grade premiership to date, with ten wins from eleven fixtures, Their only loss came back in Round 10 when the Highfields ‘Eagles’ halted the ‘Hawks’ winning run when they snatched a 22 – 20 victory.
Gatton succumbed to the Wattles ‘Warriors’ in the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy Final but last week finished ahead of the Pittsworth ‘Danes’ 30 – 22, resulting in the ‘Danes’ tumbling out of the top five.
Currently Gatton (20), Highfields (18), Wattles (16), Warwick (14) & Dalby (13) head the first five rungs on the premiership ladder as we head in to Round 13 this weekend. But complacency by any of the top teams will see Pittsworth (12) & Valleys (11) snapping at their heels to jump a rung or two.
It’s certainly exciting times league wise on the Downs, and the big matches continue this weekend with many eyes focused on the replay of the recent Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy Final with Gatton and Wattles confronting each other at Gatton’s Cahill Park on Sunday. Saturday’s games between Warwick & Pittsworth and also Dalby & Goondiwindi could well see the top five faces alter, and similarly when Highfields take on Valleys on Sunday. Souths with their new faces & firepower are up against Brothers, and both desperate for competition points as they grapple to climb the ladder.
Country Footy – Can’t Beat it: Was reading some enlightening comments and history of late in the Mundubbera Rugby League Club’s “The First 80 Years”. Many in the TRL area and particularly those with links to the former Newtown ‘Lions’, will recall tough forward for Newtown & Toowoomba Ronny Tessmer. I had the pleasure of working with Ron in the Fire Service in Toowoomba for a few years and learned that Ron was a former Mundubbera boy, and in Ronny’s words, “Only nice people come from Mundubbera”.
A wonderful fellow, a gentleman and good friend to so many, taken from this world far too early.
Ron lined up in the Mundubbera senior ranks from 1960 – 1963, and after heading to the Downs the tough forward was in the Toowoomba side the took on Great Britain in 1966.
‘Rest in Peace Ronny’
“I Wonder Who They Think They Are – Those Men Who Tell Us What’s Best For League ?”
(from ‘The First 80 Years’)
Have they ever gone around to pick up all the little ones and piled up to fifteen of them in the back of the family station wagon to go to a match ?
Would they know that you are always one child short when you get to a game ?
Do they know how you feel when you have them all togged out in their colourful new jerseys in weather you wouldn’t send a smelly dog out in to ?
Have they sat on the bench patching up bloody noses and twisted fingers with the cold rain running down your back ?
Do they know the abuse you cop when you lose – if you had done this or that you would have won ?
Have they ever collected the jerseys and the children to go home only to find half way home that now there is an extra child and you have to go back to let him go ?
Do they know that whenever you wash up the gear there is always one sock short ?
Have they ever dropped a child back to his mother with a busted arm only to be told that she knew it was going to happen and that this was the last time he will ever play ? She’s blowing smoke out through her ears and you know she has never smoked in her life.
Did they ever sell chook raffles in the pub, which didn’t want you there anyway ?
Did they ever sell raffle tickets around the grounds on a rainy day to raise a few bucks ?
Have they ever worked on the gate for what seems like hours in cold, wet, windy weather ?
Have they ever sold doubles ?
Have they ever marked out a field ?
Have they ever been there to clean up the field after everyone else has gone home to celebrate ?
Did they ever work at the bar on the day of the match ?
Have they ever helped in the canteen ?
Now all is done – but wait, there’s more. You can start all over next week !
(by Richard O’Kelly)
Well, having been involved at the games coal face and higher levels over many decades, the higher level identities I have known were familiar with all the listed tasks, but some did need reminding.
A great read anyway courtesy of Mundubbera RLF Club.
Intrepid Travellers – I mentioned a few programs back some of the discomforts of travel to footy games across the country & world. Had a laugh when reading of late about an incident involving the Guyra Rugby League Club. Back in 1922, the Guyra team (known as the Spuds nowadays) travelled to matches in a motor lorry and on one cold New England winter’s day they headed off to Uralla.
Alas someone in the cabin flicked a cigarette out the window and it landed on the lorry’s canvas rear covering, incinerating it completely. There was plenty of shivering among players during the lengthy night time trip home.
Coach Frustration – True story about a club coach in Central Queensland who was met by a disgruntled player on the sideline at half time. “How come I have to sit on the bench ? I want to be out where the action is.”
“Ah mate, you’re a deceptive player.” answered the Coach.
“How do you mean ?’
“Well !” said the Coach, “you’re a lot slower than I thought you were !”
Ron Teys Recognition – Outstanding former Toowoomba representative forward Ron Teys was given a big rap after the touring Great Britain side visited the ‘Garden City’ in 1954.
The Toowoomba side captained by International five-eight Bobby Banks were defeated by the British 25 – 14, and actually went through the entire Queensland leg of their tour undefeated. Post match press reports noted that “the Toowoomba forwards performed well against a much heavier and stronger pack. Lock forward Ron Teys played some splendid constructive football and if Australia is looking for another lock, the national selectors could very well consider Teys.”
Ron Teys represented Queensland on three occasions against New South Wales in 1950 (1) & 1954 (2).
‘Wonderful Sponsors’ – President Paul Dean and the TRL Board wish to thank our loyal 2015 sponsors Hutchinson Builders, Toowoomba Toyota, Clive Berghofer Land Sales, Slater Gordon Lawyers, Elastoplast, Garden City Cabs, Cracker Print & Paper & Mark Philipsons Wilsonton Betta Electrical along with our media partner ‘The Chronicle’ for their significant and sterling support.
See you all around the grounds for this weekend’s Round 13 fixtures, all the footy action on Saturday at the Dalby Rugby League Club and Father Ranger Oval in Warwick, and on Sunday at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba; Cahill Park, Gatton & Herb Steinohrt Oval, Toowoomba while the Oakey ‘Bears’ enjoy an RDO.
“Play for the name on the front of the jersey and they will remember the name on the back.”

Glyn Rees
Secretary, Toowoomba Rugby League Board.
“Rugby League – the Greatest Game of All”