By CASEY O’CONNOR
WE are heading into that crazy time of year when sports collide and vie for our support.
The Rugby League season proper is just around the corner and the NRL trials are in full swing. The All Stars game returns Friday night but looks unlikely to draw a massive crowd and may be on the way out.
The Bunnies, last year’s grand final winners, are heading to the UK for that poison chalice – the annual club challenge. That concept has now been expanded to a World Club Series adding more teams to the madness of travelling halfway around the world before the start of the season proper. This year the Bunnies will be joined by the Dragons and Broncos (as if our domestic rugby league season is not long and taxing enough). Their opponents, the Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Warrington Wolves.
Without a tackle being made in the 2015 season there is already talk of the future of various players – will Cherry-Evans sign with the Titans – will Foran move back to NZ – will there be expansion teams. Can’t wait for the feeding frenzy of innuendo and posturing to really kick in. Already rumours are doing the rounds about the Manly coaching position.
The AFL seems to be taking the quietly quietly approach as they prepare for the season, however a serious injury to Adelaide Crows defender Brent Reilly has rocked the AFL. Reilly suffered a fractured skull in a training accident and although he is recovering post-surgery, he may never play again.
Following the Asian Cup success the popularity of the round ball game continues to grow and so support for the A League. The competition is approaching the pointy end of the season and things are hotting up … and then there is the Cricket World Cup.
On Saturday, St Valentine’s Day (in case you had forgotten), Australia and the Poms get the ICC World Cup underway and it will be a six-week love affair – with back-to-back, wall-to-wall tournament cricket. Australia goes into the tournament warm favourites after some spectacular recent success. Let’s not get too carried away. Tournament cricket normally throws up some curly results and this will be no picnic in the park for the Aussies.
So cricket and sport tragics, my strong suggestion is clear your calendar, choose a comfy seat because you’ll be spending plenty of time there, work on some sick notes and your remote control surfing style. Perhaps even buy those dozen long-stemmed red roses for your loved one to bank some brownie points and tell everyone you’ll see them in six weeks and please don’t overwork the remote control or you will finish with RSI – World Cup Cricket style.
– Casey
OUT IN FORCE
SUMMIT bowlers were out in force on Saturday enjoying the great conditions for the club’s trophy day. Two-bowl triples were the poison of the day.
The local team of Kurt Empen, Alex Mattiazzi and Norm Gale proved too strong for the opposition team of Brown White and L. Covill and scored a 21- 17 victory.
On another rink Attilio Zamprogno, Eddie Zanatta and Keith Mungall had a big win over the team of Parker, R. Parker and M. Sweeney who went down 30-17. Experience showed in the other game where Graham Rubie, Ray Spiller and Brian Wilmot had a 29-10 win over Morris Zeppa and Sweeney. The Trophy winner with lowest winning margin was the team skipped by Norm Gale. Michael Sweeney’s team with low loosing margin claimed the runners-up spot.
A reminder that the Summit open triples are only a couple of weeks away and bowlers should mark 22 February on their playing calendar and forward their names or team names to the club as soon as possible.
Today (Thursday) is ladies’ day at the Summit – men are most welcome to join in but just remember the girls are in charge.
Nominations for SDMDBA pairs close this weekend – please get your nominations in before they close.
MONTHLY MEDAL FOR McCOSKER
MARK McCosker carded a nett 68 in Saturday’s competition at the Stanthorpe Golf Club and that – and a current membership – was good enough to win him the February monthly medal.
David Reeves, now a member of the golf club, returned to Stanthorpe and partnered McCosker for the round. Reeves returned a nett 67, but as the monthly medal can only be won by a Stanthorpe member Reeves was happy to collect second place. He also picked up the pin shot at 3/12 and the pro pin at 9/18. Nick Milne held the pin shot at 17. Aaron Simmers collected the pro-pin at 1/10 with his second shot of the day and is rueing the fact that he did not go home then.
Todd Beckett has swapped his cricket whites and bat for golfing clobber and clubs and looks to have slipped seamlessly into the swing of things. Beckett had no trouble scoring an eagle at the fifth and claimed that pro pin. The birdies nest went untouched.
In the ladies game, Hannah Reeves returned to the winners circle with a creditable nett 73. Neta Thouard scored a nett 77 to give her second place.
The monthly medal was sponsored by Wes Smith who also took part in the event. Madeline Jarman collected the ladies’ pin at 3/12 (not a birdie) and Hannah Reeves had best approach at 17.
Dylan Barraclough returned best gross score of 72, and on the putting front the least putts were shared by Mick O’Brien and Hannah Reeves with 26 for the round.
The rundown went to scores of 68 and better for the men and to 78 for the ladies.
A reminder to all golfers that the Wallangarra open is being held this Sunday. There is a flyer on the noticeboard. If you are planning on playing in the open please contact the Wallangarra club to assist them with their catering arrangements.
A single stroke event sponsored by helloworld is scheduled for Saturday with tee off from 11.30am. There is a timesheet on the board.
DIVA THE SECRET WEAPON
BATTING coach Michael Di Venuto was praised for getting the best from Steve Smith, now it appears Glenn Maxwell has benefited from his wisdom and it might be that Diva is Australia’s secret weapon in the 2015 World Cup.
The words of wisdom that transformed Steve Smith into one of the world’s most prolific run-scorers have helped Glenn Maxwell return to his belligerent best.
Di Venuto is credited with putting Smith at ease during a dry spell two summers ago before morphing into Australia’s leading run-scorer in all formats in 2014.
Now Maxwell says those same words that helped Smith have cleared his head during a lean trot with the bat.
“Even at the start of the summer when I wasn’t making as many runs I was still thinking I was only one hit away and it wasn’t too far off,” Maxwell said recently.
“Michael Di Venuto put a lot of things perfectly. He said to me ’you’re not out of form, you’re out of runs’.
With the dismissal behind him, a man-of-the-match performance in the ODI Tri-Series final and a sizzling century against India on Sunday, Maxwell seems to have found the go button and Diva looks to have done it again.
FINGERLINGS HIT THE WATERWAYS
There has been plenty of fresh water in our local rivers and creeks recently and now thanks to the members of the Warwick Fishing and Restocking club there are now a lot more fingerlings.
The Leslie Dam has been stocked with the largest ever number of Murray Cod fingerlings – 32,957. A total of 1400 were released into Connolly Dam and a further 2000 distributed along the Condamine River and Dalrymple Creek.
In addition, 20,000 Golden Perch were also released last Sunday and it is anticipated 1500 Silver Perch will join them in about three weeks.
There will be further stocking of 80,000 golden perch in coming days. As is usually the way, Silver Perch fingerlings are the last to be released and there are currently 1500 ordered for the Leslie Dam, 1500 earmarked for the Connolly Dam and a further 1500 for the Condamine River.
The fingerlings have been supplied by Nick Donges of the Granite Belt Fish Hatchery and have been carefully released by club members at various points around the dams, rivers and creeks.
This round of restocking was made possible in part by a grant of $4850 from Southern Downs Regional Council under the Community Support Program.
SPORTERS POPULAR
Sunday Sporters in Stanthorpe is proving more popular than ever and at the most recent event 31 players took to the course. After a good round Aaron Simmers got his name on the winners list. Runner-up was Mick Speer with rundowns going to Ian Anderson and Angelo Maugeri. Hannah Reeves continued her good form and once again had the best gross. The pin shot on the third went to Kev Rowlings and Rob Reeves took the pro pin. Heading home with a meat tray each were Terry Byrnes and Marg Locke.
It is same time same place this Sunday and there is always room for more.
RSL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE
RSL have had the measure of their opponents in the Stanthorpe Cricket Association competition all season and their dominance continued last Saturday when they played Souths on Sheahan Oval.
With first use of the wicket, Souths posted a total of 116 runs. The openers made a steady start but captain Ben Staley was dismissed for 23 by Duane Lihou. The father and son duo of Mark (Bluey) Lanza and son Jordan pushed the score along to 59 with a 36-run partnership before Bluey was caught off the bowling of in-form RSL paceman Ross Lupton. Souths managed several small partnerships throughout their innings but five ducks – and not the feathered variety – did little to help their overall score. Danny Folkers remained not out 42 and was Souths’ best batsman. They say ’no pain no gain’ and it was certainly the case for Folkers who endured his share of pain off the bowling of Lupton.
A target of 117 should have been a doddle for the RSL batsmen given their recent form but a good spell from the Souths opening bowlers had the competition front-runners in trouble at 4/46. An outstanding partnership between Luke Brady and Will Dowie added much needed stability and 71 runs. The pair remained not out 26 and 37 respectively as they steered their side to what was in the end a very comfortable win, collecting another bonus point along the way.
Danny Folkers had a good day with bat and ball in a beaten side. He backed up his 42 not out by taking 2/34 with the ball.
It was a good all-round performance from RSL with three of their top bowlers each claiming a pair – Sam Dowie took 2/19; Ross Lupton 2/23 and Anthony di Bella starred taking 2/2.
Luke Brady bagged three wickets for only 18 runs in addition to his 26 not out with the bat.
Saturday’s win and bonus point put RSL further ahead in the chase for the minor premiership. They are sitting on 53 points and with five fixture games remaining – 24 points ahead of Valleys (29).
In a tight battle for the third spot Souths are sitting on 20 points and Wanderers 18.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR
SUNDAY was another fine day for a shootout at the Inglewood Range, which it appears is becoming an International destination.
Overseas visitor Ludovic Le won the shootout from true blue local Tom Donald with another overseas visitor Sam Nabik filling the other minor placing. Who knew the Inglewood Range was so internationally acclaimed.
Rimfire events were also held and it was here that the locals prevailed. Martin Unwin took the top prize ahead of placegetters Quentin Chapman and Stephanie Dudgeon.
You can’t help but wonder what or who the muzzle loading and centrefire events will draw out this weekend.
MURPHY’S LAW
The 2014 Medal of Medals was held in conjunction with the February monthly medal last Saturday. It was a treat to see a field of 60 players out on the course. Declan Murphy returned 67 nett to win the division one medal. Division two was won by John Porter with 68.
Shane McKenzie claimed the division one monthly medal. He returned a score of 63. In the runners-up spot was Graham Clarke with 69. Division two was won by was Ben Brownlie (66) ahead of John Porter (68).
Tim Sutton had the best gross off the stick (77) and it was no surprise that Declan Murphy was the top junior with a gross score of 78. Rundown balls went to Scott McLennan, Viv Roser, Bob Lester, Josh Hynes, Ken Burley, Don Maher and Mark Thomas. Collecting pins were Allan Matthews (5), Greg Wallace (7), Nick Tomkins (9), Robin Farrell (11), Charlie Morrison (13) and Frank Seidl (16).
A small field backed up on Sunday to play a nine-hole and 18-hole competition. Rowan Harland (31) took out the 18-hole competition after a countback just edging out Johnny Osborne. Osborne (17) in turn edged out Nick Timkins in a countback to win the nine-hole comp. Both the pins were skinners.
A single stableford has been scheduled for Saturday. This Sunday is Cancer Council Charity Golf Day. It is a four-ball ambrose and is open to members and non-members. Timesheets for both competitions are available in the pro shop (4661 3664).
A BOURKE AFFAIR
MARYVALE Condamine pace bowler Michael Bourke had a big day out at Slade Oval on Sunday in the game against Wheatvale. Bourke bagged six wickets in an innings for the second time in his career. He finished the game with 6/20 from a seven-over spell. In fact the game, which Maryvale Condamine won comfortably, could be classified as a “Bourke Day Out”.
Wicket keeper Pat Bourke top scored with 29 with the bat. His father Kevin was not out 20. Michael took six wickets, and behind the stumps Pat had three dismissals.
Maryvale set their opponents a moderate chase of 130 runs but Wheatvale was in trouble from the start of the batting innings and never recovered as the bowlers took the upper hand. Dave Walker made early inroads taking three of the early wickets and then it was over to Michael Bourke who showed that good line and length get you wickets.
With just one round left to play Maryvale Condamine is assured of a top two finish.
GOOD FIELDS CONTINUE TO RUMBLE
Friday’s Red Rooster Rumble continues to draw good fields. Over recent weeks there has been a roll up of over 30 players, mostly members all searching for a chook or two. Winning the gong on Friday was the ever-consistent Mick Banks with 22 points over the front nine holes. Runner-up on a countback was Greg Wallace 19. Rundown balls went to 17 or better. Greg Wallace picked up the pin at five and Brett Donovan on nine.
LOW SCORES – EXCITING GAME
It was a low-scoring game between Valleys and Wanderers at the C.F. White Oval but there was plenty of excitement and highlights.
Wanderers won the toss and their decision to bat first turned out to be less than ideal when they were dismissed with only 90 runs on the board. Curtis Allen proved a nightmare for their openers and had two wickets in his first two overs. With two wickets down and only nine runs on the board Wanderers were desperately seeking a steadying partnership when skipper Tim Harslett and Jamie Carnell came together. The experienced pair moved the score to 47 before Alistair Middleton caught Harslett with one of the catches of the year off the bowling of Anthony Marino. Not to be outdone Marino dismissed Carnell with a classic catch of his own – running and diving to grab the cherry. The score was 4/49 but Wanderers looked to be back on track.
Valley’s captain Damian Anderson brought himself into the attack with immediate success. In his first over he ripped the middle order apart claiming the second hat-trick of his career. In an attacking and sometimes bruising spell Anderson took 4/11.
Josh Anderson made it a family affair when he took 2/23 in a spell that saw plenty of balls flying through the slips cordon. Wanderers were dismissed for 90.
Small targets can sometimes prove difficult to chase and Valleys’ task was not made any easier when opening batsman John Fletcher was clean bowled for a duck. It was left to Alastair Middleton and Curtis Allen to provide some stability and they batted well to take the score to 47.
Wanderers latest recruit Damian Petrie (4/31) and Andrew Einam (2/13) put the vulnerable Valley’s batsmen under pressure with some good bowling. Valleys have been known for some spectacular collapses in the past and looked like they might implode when they went from 1/47 to 6/65 before Josh Anderson and Alex Archibald-Binge came together. The pair steered Valleys to a comfortable win and despite the middle order wobble collected a much-needed bonus point for the win.
The highlight of the bowling performances was undoubtedly Damian Anderson’s hat-trick. Andrew Middleton turned in a great performance in the field taking three catches.
CLOSE THING AT ‘GARRA
THE monthly medal and putting competition was decided last Sunday at Wallangarra in perfect playing conditions. Kevin Williams and Peter Butler finished the round equal with a 68 nett. After a countback, Williams was declared the winner and so there was no early birthday present for Peter Butler.
In a day of close encounters Steve Hampstead and John Green also tied for the captain’s stakes. Hampstead won the putting with 27, and collected pin shots on 3/15 and nine approach.
This Saturday players will have an opportunity to fine tune their game in a single stableford competition prior to the Wallangarra Open on Sunday.
Sunday’s tee-off is from 9.30am to 10.30am. Green fees will include lunch, tea and coffee.
ALLORA TAKE POINTS
Allora hosted the Inglewood cricket side on Saturday and chased down Inglewood’s total of 193 to pick up a win. The consistent David Elsley claimed another half-century for Inglewood. He was Inglewood’s best batsman, top scoring with 54, and was well supported by Matt Shaw (40) and Ted Callaghan (33).
Allora bowler Matthew Keirnan finished the innings with three wickets and Luke Cullen and Scott Sparksman each finished with a pair.
In reply Allora passed the Inglewood total with three wickets in hand to claim a win and the points.
Jamien Smith performed well with the ball taking 3/20 from six overs.
CYCLISTS OUT AND ABOUT
There was a good turnout of riders for That Dam Ride in Stanthorpe on Sunday morning. A large cross-section of cyclists of varying experience headed out on the three courses. In all 65 riders took part. Event organiser Dan Cuthbert, who rode the 100km course, said it was a certainly a challenging course.
Cuthbert said that following the success of the event, planning would begin for the 2016 ride. Organisers are hoping to grow the ride even more, promising to have even more services for the riders next year.
