By CASEY O’CONNOR
THERE was nothing “Good” about the way the NRL game between the Bunnies and Dogs ended last Friday night.
The disgraceful scenes on and off the field were a blight on sport in this country and something I am sure we all hope to never see again.
The 2015 season is only a few rounds old but I have found myself less and less enthusiastic about the game.
Gone are the days when I would rush to watch the Friday night game – then watch the replay of the second game and follow the remaining games on the radio or TV over the weekend.
I am not alone when I say the game of football that I love so much seems to be a long way from what we are served up each week. The game appears to be descending into something just short of thuggery interrupted at every turn by decisions referred to the video ref and continual player dissent.
What happen on Friday night was disgraceful. No official in any sport should be treated in the manner the Bulldogs players stooped to. While they now have time to consider their actions over the coming weeks, I feel they were treated lightly.
Ray Murrihy, NSW chief racing steward commented that any jockey speaking to a race steward in that manner would find themselves the recipient of a long holiday. Thing is it would not happen in racing as respect between stewards and jockeys is paramount.
I was disappointed that the Bulldogs CEO, Raelene Castle who until now has been a revelation in the administration ranks seemed happy to slap her players with a feather. I am sure I am not the only person who felt sterner words were warranted.
If there is one good thing to come of Friday night’s disaster it is that the NRL has finally had enough. Players, coaches and supporters have been put on notice. This behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The problem is that it has been allowed to fester for far too long. Players at the elite level set the example for others all the way down the food chain and we too often see officials at grass roots and junior levels having to deal with the fallout.
Would you be encouraged to send your 15 or 16-year-old out to referee or pick up the whistle and do a ref’s course yourself after those scenes? I doubt it – you would certainly think long and hard about how you might like to spend your weekends.
Fans also need to take a cold shower.
While rugby league is a tribal game – it is just that from the elite level to the grass roots – it is just a game.
If your team is beaten this week the sun will still come up in the morning and they will play again next week. Chances are if the rub of the green was tough on your team this week it will go their way next week.
One thing that was highlighted in the aftermath of the incident was the fact that players, fans and also commentators do not fully understand the rules.
Perhaps while disgraced Bulldogs captain James Graham sits on the sidelines with team-mates they could do worse than study up.
Let’s hope the fans for want of a stronger word that resorted to throwing missiles last weekend are identified. As they enjoy their lifetime bans from games they too could enjoy brushing up on the rules, while throwing missiles at their television sets.
– Casey
SUMMIT CO-HOST DISTRICT EVENT
THE Summit Bowls Club is co-hosting the SDMDBA 2015 District singles competition this weekend. Saturday the opening games of the championships will be played and the Summit bowlers who progress to the post sectional play will then play in Texas on Sunday.
It is good to see a group of Summit players have nominated for the event and those players are reminded that as this is a district competition they are required to wear the club uniform/whites.
The district competition rolls out at 9am and there are sure to be some talented bowlers on display.
Club members not involved in the District event will be readying themselves for the following weekend – the $100 trophy day (Saturday 18 April), play commences at 1pm.
Players are sure to use this as the perfect hit-out before the 2015 Summit club singles Championships the next day (9am start).
RAIN NO PAIN FOR BARRACLOUGH
CONDITIONS were a little bleak and threatening last Saturday but it was not enough to deter those dedicated Stanthorpe golfers who chose to forgo an Easter vacation to play in the monthly medal stroke event.
Dylan Barraclough the eventual winner paid little attention to the conditions.
Barraclough was able to take advantage of his length and accuracy, returning a score of 71 for nett 70.
A countback was required to split three players at the pointy end of the scoring. Barraclough also held the pin at 3/12 and the pro-pin at 9/18.
Father, Greg, picked a good day to play, scoring 81 with a provisional handicap of 12.
Mark McCosker won the pin at 17 and Mark Hendry collected the remaining pro-pins at 1/10 and 5/14.
Mick O’Brien won the putting competition with a fine display on the slow damp greens needing only 24 putts.
In the rundown, Stephen Kay, Eric McLellan and Mark McCosker, all with nett 70 received a ball.
The ladies were not as adventurous as the men, deciding that nine holes of wet golf was a better option than 18 holes of wet golf. Neta Thouard was declared the winner of the modified event.
She also collected the collected the pin shots for the ladies. Margie Locke was the runner-up in the ladies event.
Warwick golf pro, Rob McConnell will be on hand at this Saturday’s event. If you are looking for lessons or have special requirements please give him a call at the pro shop in Warwick (0404 761 376). McConnell will also have his mobile pro shop open at the Stanthorpe clubhouse ready to fill your every need.
Saturday’s event is a single stroke sponsored by Richard Reardon. The timesheet is on the board and tee off is from 11.30am.
Players are reminded that over the coming weeks a number of visiting golf groups will be playing the Stanthorpe course.
Timesheets may appear a little different to accommodate the increased field numbers. Regular players should check the timesheets early to avoid disappointment.
PENNANTS SEASON TEES OFF
SATURDAY marks the opening round of the golfing Pennants season. The Stanthorpe club will have just one team competing in Pennants this year. They are scheduled to play Warwick Golf Club at Pittsworth on Saturday.
Stanthorpe will have just one team this season and are listed to play Warwick GC at Pittsworth.
SLOW PLAY
SLOW play can be the bane of a golfer’s life. Check for signs that that your group is not keeping up with the flow of play.
What you should be looking for:
The group that was in front of you has disappeared and the fairway is vacant.
The group behind you are waiting nearly every shot for you to finish your play.
If this is happening you are holding up play and you need to speed up.
Take a moment to be aware of your surrounding and your position in the field of play and show courtesy to other players. If you have lost a ball and are having difficulty finding it, allow the next group to play through.
A commonsense approach to the situation is all that is required.
DEDICATED HOOP RUNNERS
A COMBINATION of the Easter holidays and poor weather conditions kept many of the mallet sports fans off the green last week.
Cold damp conditions however did not faze a hardy group of dedicated Hoop Runners who turned out and played two games.
Congratulations to Elaine Brown who scored her first hoop in one. Bill Golding was also on song in the conditions showing plenty of skill. Shirley Evan had a ball sitting in the hoop in perfect position to score on her next turn only to be spoiled by Golding who somehow jumped his ball over hers and through the hoop.
New players are always welcome to try any of the three disciplines played at the Stanthorpe Croquet Club. Further details can be obtained from Elaine Brown 4681 4357; Val Fancourt 0420 415 154 or Shirley Evans 4681 2683.
SUPERBIKES HEADING TO MORGAN PARK
THE Australian Superbike championship is coming to Morgan Park Raceway this weekend. It will be the first time the ASBK series has been to Morgan Park Raceway and a new group of riders are about to be introduced to the track.
Morgan Park presents a challenging layout for riders. It has changes in elevation and the variety of corners make it a real rider’s track. Organisers rate it as undoubtedly one of the best layouts in Queensland.
Ex MotoGP, WSS and WSBK rider Chris Vermeulen recently rode the track, declaring “Morgan Park Raceway the best track in Queensland to race on”.
This weekend there will be a departure from the previous format. Each of the ASBK rounds across the country will be run by a host club and helps to better define the progression from club and state level racing to national championship events.
The club-based model also helps the clubs improve, allowing officials to gain experience at a higher lever.
The inclusion of two club-level classes in ASBK Round Two at Morgan Park Raceway is a first. Formula Three and Supermoto competitors will be invited to demonstrate their skills.
Formula Three is the epitome of club-level racing. Supermoto combines the grace of road racing with the thrills of motocross. Riders take to the track on motocross-style machines with slick tyres, racing on asphalt.
The multiple layouts offered by Morgan Park Raceway mean that the Supermoto competitors need only use a small part of the road-race circuit, making for a real spectacle.
As well as the racing action there will be a large expo area where there will be machines on display; information on local sporting and social motorcycle clubs as well as a big range of motorcycle gear for all enthusiasts.
CAUGHT UP IN GEOCACHING
IT WAS hard to miss the additional 950 visitors in Stanthorpe over the Easter break. Hard not to notice those cars around town flying flags or a bevy of excited people ferreting in some of the strangest locations around the town – and no, they apparently were not hunting Easter eggs.
The Spin team inadvertently became involved in the “geocaching” game when a “cache” was accidentally unearthed at a secret location just across the border a couple of years ago. It had been strategically placed outside our gates and held a very prized possession.
The discovery led to some detective work and no it was not someone “having a loan of us” it was geocaching.
We registered with the group last weekend and like Big Brother tracked those who unearthed what we have now claimed as our very own cache, the aptly named “Howzat.”
We also joined the hunt (albeit from the sidelines) to uncover some of the 600 caches hidden around the town and surrounds.
This mega event was two years in the planning and organisers are to be congratulated on a great event. There was certainly something for everyone. Geocachers are obviously not bothered by conditions – they were out in force in the Easter downpours on a mission to find as many caches as they could.
An unexpected find more than two years ago has whet the appetite of this novice cacher and his offsider.
COWBOYS GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH HAWKS
AFTER the Easter break the Cowboys head to Gatton this weekend to take on arch rivals the Gatton Hawks.
After an impressive pre-season and a round one thrashing of Brothers the Cowboys have suffered two losses.
They went down to Pittsworth by 16-14 in their first away game of the season. In round three they gave up a 14-point half-time lead against Wattles in the local derby.
The Cowboys were guilty of poor ball control and a lack of intensity in the second half and captain coach Matt Gainey will be looking for more from his players this weekend.
The Cowboys will need to be at their very best in this game. The Hawks are currently sitting second on the ladder after impressive wins against Pittsworth and Wattles.
The Under 18s also face a tough task. The Hawks will be tough to toss at home, although the Cowboys are coming off a big win against Wattles.
The Hawks also have a win against Wattles and both sides have suffered a loss to Pittsworth. On paper this looks a close game.
BORDER BUSHRANGERS IN ACTION
THE Border Bushrangers travel to Miles this weekend for the annual South West Country trials.
Although the Bushrangers have had their share of players in the representative South West teams in recent years, they have been unable to break though for a win at Miles.
This year the team will be bolstered by the return of Jason Wilmot and Brendan Perkins who have had several successful seasons with the Gatton Hawks.
Jim Loneragan who played in the Queensland Outback side last year has also been selected and will be a huge asset to the team along with several players from the Killarney premiership side.
Tenterfield base Butch Smith has stepped up to take the coaching job for the second year and has a good cross-section of players to work with after the team selection following the recent BRL Round Robin.
Players will looking to gain selection in the South West Country side to play in the 47th Battalion carnival. The carnival this year will be played in Roma in conjunction with the centenary celebration of football in the area. Players will also be looking for selection in the South West Country side to play in this year’s Outback Country Carnival and will be keen to follow in the footsteps of Jim Loneragan, Michael Bloomfield and Jason Wilmot who all played with success in recent Queensland Outback sides.
The Border Bushrangers team shapes up this way:-
1. Jarrod McIntosh (Stanthorpe Gremlins)
2. Jordan Binge-Swan (Stanthorpe Gremlins)
3. Tom Cameron (Stanthorpe Gremlins)
4. Marc McGrady (Wallangarra Rams)
5. Ryan (Stanthorpe Gremlins)
6. Chris McGregor (Killarney Cutters)
7. Jason Wilmot (Stanthorpe Gremlins)
8. Kyle Marsh (Stanthorpe Gremlins)
9. Jake Kelly (Tenterfield Tigers)
10. John Trindall (Killarney Cutters)
11. Jack Daniel (Tenterfield Tigers)
12. Brendan Perkins (Stanthorpe Gremlins)
13. Jim Loneragan (Tenterfield Tigers)
14. Ashley Flemming (Wallangarra Rams)
15. Richard Taber (Wallangarra Rams)
16. Wayne Woodbridge (Wallangarra Rams)
17. Brett Lambert (Killarney Cutters)
18. Brendan Minns (Tenterfield Tigers)
19. Farron Anderson (Wallangarra Rams)
20. Josh Airs (Wallangarra Rams)
21. Jeremy Parker (Tenterfield Tigers)
21. Josh Lucas (Tenterfield Tigers)
Coach: Graham (Butch) Smith
OUT OF ADVERSITY
GRANT Hackett and training partner Daniel Smith proved at this week’s National Swimming Trials that if you want something enough, out of adversity can come success. Both went into these championships carrying as much baggage as a 747 yet both realised success that only a short time ago would have seemed incomprehensible.
All Australian swim fans know Hackett’s ability and we are all well versed in his fall from grace – his problems with addiction and domestic violence and his remarkable resurgence in recent times, however the story of Daniel Smith is equally remarkable.
Smith struggled after also going through a much publicised battle with sleeping pill addiction and his personal life unravelled last year.
Smith the ex-child prodigy who was inspired to return to the pool by Hackett and was once homeless clocked one minute, 47.08 seconds to incredibly top the 200m timesheets.
In the final both missed out on medals but their performances were outstanding in one of the hottest 200m fields assembled. Hackett finished fourth in one minute 46.84 seconds in the event won by Cameron McEvoy. Hackett’s training partner Daniel Smith finished fifth in 1:47.27.
Hackett’s result has booked him a place in the 4x200m relay squad for the world titles at Kazan in Russia in August and hopefully his training partner’s swim will be good enough to see him there alongside him.
Not a bad result for two super athletes who only returned to the pool to help with their road to personal recovery.
