FOOTBALL COVERAGE SPONSORED BY INTURA
By HARRY CLARKE
THE word is that Dallas Connolly is still being shouted drinks by teammates and Miles locals, a week on from when the young winger slotted a match winning field goal from nearly 40m out – with only seconds left on the clock – to deliver the Devils their first Terry Charles Memorial Shield in six years.
The scores were locked up at 10-all in the Miles-Chinchilla grand final on Saturday when Connolly positioned himself in line with the goal posts just as the Devils made a final, desperate push for the try line.
Bulldogs enforcers Jacob Sommerfeld, Hayden Bender and John Pitt shot out of the defensive line as the ball was fired deep towards Connolly.
The icy winger was pummelled by the trio, but the tackle was a split second too late as Connolly managed to get a perfect strike away to sail the ball through the uprights and put the Devils one point in front.
Devastatingly for the Bulldogs, there still was enough time for them to have one more attack at the other end of the field and attempt a field goal of their own – the ball went through the posts but the final siren had already blown.
WATCH: Winning field goal in Terry Charles Memorial Trophy final. VIDEO: Ashley Steel
“To Chinchilla’s credit, they came back. They actually kicked a field goal but it was after the hooter had sounded. Even if the ball goes through, if time’s elapsed you don’t get the field goal,” Miles Devils president Ken Brown said.
“It was a terrific game. The crowd was absolutely phenomenal – you couldn’t have asked for more. We were overwhelmed with the size of the crowd.
“Some of the boys pulled an all-nighter in celebration, but they’d better not count their chickens too early because we’ve got a whole season to go yet.”
FOOTBALL COVERAGE SPONSORED BY INTURA
Miles’ home ground victory in Western Downs rugby league’s annual annual pre-season tournament gives a huge shot of confidence to the battling club, which only last year recorded its first A-grade victory in four years.
But a hardworking, re-invigorated committee and a playing group which is growing in depth and enthusiasm is starting to deliver positive results.
“We’re heading in the right direction. We’ve got a few new players coming into the squad this year and we’ve got a bit of depth in the club. That’s something that the Devils haven’t had for many years,” Ken Brown said.
“We’re getting good numbers to training and there’s a buzz around the team at the moment. We’ve copped a lot of floggings over the last few years but the boys keep coming back.”
A sizeable local crowd turnout out to Centenary Oval last weekend for the Terry Charles Memorial Shield, contested by the Miles Devils, Chinchilla Bulldogs, Taroom Wandoan Battlers and Tara Panthers.
Terry Charles was a Tara local and a well known and well liked supporter of Western Downs rugby league. He died in a car accident some decades ago and the carnival is held in his memory each year.
Chinchilla beat the Tara Panthers and Miles beat the Taroom Wandoan Battlers to set up the grand final clash between to neighbouring towns, which have shared a friendly rugby league rivalry for decades.
“It was a great win for us and it really sets the scene for the next game between Chinchilla and Miles. That game will be on April 15 for Dagma Gleeson Memorial Trophy in Round 1 at Centenary Oval.”
