By Casey O’connor
AND so our grand finalists have been decided although some might say that the script has been written for several weeks.
Once again no team outside the top four has made it to the main event and what an event it is shaping as.
Will the fairy-tale for the long suffering Cronulla Sharks finally have a happy ending, will porch lights all over the shire be extinguished or will it be the clinical professional Melbourne outfit making its seventh grand final appearance who dance off with the prize.
We are only several sleeps and 80 minutes from the answer.
The final composition of the two teams will probably not be known until shortly before the teams take to the field on Sunday the match officials have been announced.
Taking the centre will be Matt Cecchin and Ben Cummins.
Once upon a time in previous GFs the referees would hardly have rated a mention.
Let’s hope on Sunday evening we all need to be reminded that they and their friends were even there.
There are many fans especially north of the border who simply don’t like the Shark’s players but most fans would agree that Cronulla deserve a premiership win and they have certainly earned the right to challenge in 2016.
In Friday’s nights Preliminary final Cronulla were brimming with energy and confidence after their week off.
In contrast the Cowboys looked spent. Johnathon Thurston and the majority of his team mates looked out on their feet after 15 minutes as a tough finals season finally caught up with them and landed like a ton of bricks on their shoulders.
In the other Prelim Melbourne was probably not at its best but it was a case of cream rising to the top when it mattered most.
All the emotion will be with the Sharks on Sunday – how they handle it will go a long way to determining the winner.
Both sides have their superstars and their up and coming super stars.
The electrifying Melbourne wingers are sure to light up the game at some point.
Valentine Holmes Feki and Barba will try to weave some magic while the newest Cameron on the block, Munster will be hoping to instil some horror into the Sharks.
The guile of and experience of Cronk and Smith will be pitted against Ennis the Menace and Gallen public enemy number one north of the border.
I doubt the game can out do the 2015 grand final for sheer theatre but another amazing chapter waits to be written in rugby league folklore.
My heart hopes for the sake of Sharks fans that the fairy-tale has a happy ending but my head is leaning towards another wonderful performance from Smith Cronk Bellamy and Co.
I’ll be taking up an early position in my favourite chair with ample refreshments on hand and looking forward to a full day of exciting football.
CONDITIONS IDEAL FOR TRIALS
THE Granite Belt turned on almost perfect conditions for the 2016 Lucas Oils Logan Glass Australian Trials Championships last weekend.
Kyle Middleton took out his fourth straight Australian Trials Championship aboard The Hell Team sponsored Gas Gas 300 Factory.
Middleton opened his championship campaign with a clean score card after day one.
Some tougher sections and some fatigue saw the Newcastle rider drop a meagre seven points on day two.
Middleton’s closest rival in the Open Solo class was Tasmanian Chris Bayles (Gas Gas) who scored 41 points for the weekend.
Colin Zarczynski rounded out the podium on 43 points after debuting the new Vertigo Trials bike.
Highlighting the quality of the competitors in action on the weekend the winner Middleton has recently returned from competing in the Italian Trial World Championships.
Middleton is widely recognized by his peers as one of the hardest working trials riders in the country and well deserving of his fourth Australia title.
The top class riders were joined by an enthusiastic group of local competitors and plenty of spectators.
Organisers were full of praise for the Granite Belt course which they said had a great combination of rocky and rough terrain.
Despite the recent heavy rain the course stood up to competition well and there were no serious injuries reported over the weekend.
THOMPSON AND BECKETT WINNERS
MICHAEL Thompson and Tod Beckett returned a winning score in the Canadian Foursome played in Stanthorpe last Saturday.
The pair played a steady front none with birdies at seven and eight.
A back nine score of 39 secured the win for the pair and sees their names added to the Howard and Sons Cups.
Runners up Mike McAuliffe and Santo Cavallaro also played well.
Pin shots went to Michael Thompson at three, Ian Pickering at 12 and Wes Smith at 17.
The father son combination of Wes Smith and Hayden Smith collected pro-pins at 1/10 and 5/14.
In the run down, it was a ball each to Mark Hendry, Ian Harvey, Keith Jones and Ken Hinze.
The ladies also played Canadian foursomes and it was the team of Linda Kelly and Kay Webb winning the day by a good margin from runners up Lyn Ludlow and Rachael Hendry.
Neta Thouard held the ladies’ pin at 12 and Helen Jones had best approach at 17.
Run downs in the ladies event went to Margie Locke and Helen Jones.
Many thanks to the boys from Howard and Son Mitre 10 for their sponsorship of this very popular event and to Ian Harvey who handled the presentations at the end of play.
September it seems is coming swiftly to an end and that means play this weekend will be for the
October Monthly Medal and is sponsored by 4 Waters Supplies.
There is a time sheet on the board and players are reminded tee off reverts to the summer time of 11.30 am.
Dates for golfer’s diaries include the upcoming mixed foursomes and the Open carnival. Time sheets for both these events are on the board.
PISTOLS POPULAR
THE fourth weekend of each month marks pistol weekend on the range at Inglewood SSAA.
It is always a popular weekend of events and competitions were held on both Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday it was Ray Dudgeon who won the 25 metre standard pistol event out scoring Vamshi Gandreth and Tom Donald.
Glen Holmes showed his liking for the 50 metre slow fire event when he defeated Tom Donald and sharing third spot were Vamshi Gandreth and Ross Jackson.
Tom Donald is always thereabouts in these events and grabbed a win in the 50 metre Gongs.
Sharing second place were a trio of shooters – Glen Holmes, Ray Dudgeon, Ross Jackson.
Third place went to Michael Tweedie.
In the overall standings it was a win to Vamshi Gandreth with Ray Dudgeon and Tom Donald taking out the minor placings,
Some black powder silhouette fun followed to finish off an enjoyable day.
On Sunday it was more of the same.
Tom Donald grabbed an early win in the 25 metre standard pistol defeating Ross Jackson and Peter Jones.
Peter Jones was only just warming up as he went on to win the 50 Metre Slow Fire and 50 metre Silhouette events leaving Tom Donald and Ross Jackson to share the minor placings.
Jones also won the overall event with Tom Donald runner up and Ross Jackson in third placing.
Capping off an excellent day Jones also won the Action Pistol event.
Placegetters were Ross Jackson and Lynne Shepherd.
This Sunday is clay target day at the club and a reminder visitors to the club are always welcome.
Last weekend the club welcomed Swedish visitor Carolina Andersson and from closer to home Jessica Croft from Inglewood.
Follow all the Inglewood Sporting Shooters news and events on their Facebook page.
GALLOWAY CAPS OFF GREAT YEAR
COWBOYS captain Dylan Galloway capped off a successful 2016 season to be named the Warwick Cowboy’s Footballer of the Year at the annual club presentation evening at the Warwick Clubhouse at Fr Ranger Oval on Friday night.
Galloway was a worthy winner of the award after returning to the Cowboys after several seasons in the Intrust Super Cup.
Galloway was praised for the level of professionalism he has brought to the club both at training and on the field.
His attitude has been instrumental in attracting new players to the club and he is already talking to players about the 2017 season.
The Peter Small memorial for A Grade Best and Fairest was won by Jamie Abbas.
Dan Watson was named Colt of the Year winning the Max Thorley memorial Trophy.
Watson stepped up to A Grade this season and also took on the kicking duties.
The youngster nailed two sideline conversion in the grand final showcasing his kicking ability.
Angus Croft won the Allan Farrell Memorial trophy for Best and Fairest in the Under 18 side.
Josh McIntosh picked up the Reserve grade Best and Fairest.
Michael Brackin was awarded Best and Fairest in the C Grade competition.
Trent Richardson impressed all season and was recognised for his efforts with the Eric and Carmel Cochran memorial Trophy for outstanding achievement.
WEATHER CAUSES MORE DISPRUTIONS
GOLF Croquet players will certainly be pleased with the recent change in the weather conditions after they suffered yet another wash out last week due to rain.
The chilly weather on Thursday did not prevent a hardy group from bracing the conditions to get in a few games.
Playing triples Elaine Brown and Justin Liddy defeated Dianne Wren, Teresa Pyne and Marian Castles 7-5.
The best player in this game was on the losing team.
Di Wren who scored all five hoops for her team.
In game two Wren and Liddy combined for a 7-4 win over their opponents.
The unpleasant conditions eventually drove the players off the court.
There were two Association Croquet games last week where the winners pegged out with a full score of 26.
In the first game it was Effey Russell who defeated Val Richards 26-11.
The team of Pat Schnoor and Heather Widderick defeated Val Shepherd and Jenny Tunbridge 26-13.
In this game Pat Schnoor head breaks of six and four in her score.
In the other game played Margaret Dickenson and partner Carol Verwey scored a narrow 17-16 win over Grace Howard.
The weather also played its part in the Gateball games on Friday and although numbers were lower than usual enthusiasm was high.
Andrea Denkewitz, Pat Schnoor and Les Williams teamed up against Margaret Dickenson, Heather Widderick and John Draper.
Both teams won two games each and scores were generally close.
Saturday afternoon players heading to the Toowoomba this weekend for the annual Gateball tournament took the opportunity to get some practice.
Flying the flag for the Stanthorpe club are Andrea Denkewitz (captain), Margaret Dickenson, Pat Schnoor, Les Williams and Carol Verwey.
The round robin teams event will be played on Saturday with final games played on Sunday morning.
The Doubles event will be played following the completion of the team event and Stanthorpe will be represented by Andrea Denkewitz and Margaret Dickenson.
FAIRWAYS TOUGH
MEMBERS at the Wallangarra Golf Club played a two ball Ambrose competition last weekend on a course where the fairways were playing tough following the recent rain.
Players, however, were relishing the return to sunny conditions and returned some good scores.
The eventual winners were B Black and Steve Hampstead.
In a result that went down to the wire the pair finished one shot ahead of K Williams and A Thompson.
On a tough day only three pins went off. Thompson picked up the third and Hampstead claimed the ninth and the approach shot on the second.
This week members will be playing for the Monthly Medal and Putting competition sponsored by the Wallangarra Railway.
A reminder to all the members that the 36 Hole Foursome Championships will be held on the 16 September so arrange partners early and get nominations in.
A barbecue will be held following the day’s play.
WARWICK VOLUNTEER RECOGNISED
NETBALL in Warwick is growing in leaps and bounds and much of the success can be attributed to Linda Bunch who works tirelessly for the association.
Last Saturday night it was no surprise to many of her counterparts in Warwick when she was named Netball Queensland Volunteer of the Year.
Alongside Bunch, who was one of three grand finalists, was former Australian captain and Allora’s favourite daughter Laura Geitz who was MC.
Geitz said the award was great recognition for the wonderful contribution made by Linda.
IDEAL CONDIITONS FOR SMALL FIELD
ONLY a small field of sporters enjoyed the ideal conditions on Sunday morning for a round of golf on the Stanthorpe course which looks in great conditions following the recent rain.
Taking out the win last Sunday was Terry Byrnes who defeated runner up Phil Zikan.
The run-downs went to John Walsh and Angelo Maugeri.
Dick Hilton returned the Best Gross.
Dave Williams took the Pin Shot on the third and snuck off with a meat tray in hand .The Pro Pin went unwanted. Aaron Simmers was the other meat tray winner.
Sporters will once again tee off on Sunday between 8am and 8.30am and, of course, visitors are always welcome.
FAST 5
AS WOMEN’S Sport in general starts to kick some long awaited goals, Australian netball fans get their first opportunity to taste the newest netball format when the Fast5 Netball World Series comes Melbourne’s Hisense Arena on 28-30 October.
The action-packed two-day series will feature featuring dynamic rules changes including five players a side, shorter quarters, power plays and super shots.
The Fast5 Netball World Series will feature the world’s best, with teams from Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, Malawi and South Africa.
All teams will play six 24 minute games across the two-day series. Each team will feature on both days of competition, with finals held on Sunday.
Melbourne has jumped on the bandwagon and has won the rights to host the Fast5 Netball World Series which began in 2009 from 2016 to 2018.
