Fans are a fickle lot

Carter Bilborough dodges a ball.

By Casey O’connor

SPORTS fans are a fickle lot – after giving our Test side a shellacking for their poor performance against South Africa in the first two Tests, we have been quick to forgive after the Aussies redeemed themselves with a win in the final Test and two comprehensive wins over our Kiwi cousins in the short ODI series.
It has been a good turnaround of form, and we have seen some of the sensational batting we have come to expect from our cricketers. Steve Smith seems to have found his mojo and is leading well from the front. Seems that once again he can do little wrong and his team mates look to be following his lead. Dave Warner’s ton at Manuka Oval on Tuesday night was possibly the most exciting thing to come out of Canberra all year.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who has endured a horror summer including that unbelievable dismissal in the previous ODI, scored a stunning unbeaten 76 off 40 balls, reminding us all of his enormous potential.
There was plenty to like about the performance of the whole team and while “the big show” was sent to the sin bin for talking out of school, the signs look good.
With the Hadlee-Chappell trophy safely in the Aussie’s keeping, thoughts now drift to next week’s day night Test at the Gabba. Support for the concept appears to be good, with tickets sales encouraging for Cricket Australia and the Gabba Trust after last year’s poor attendance.
Lots to like about the new Test format with a beach, a pool and plenty of off field entertainment ensured for patrons.
Although I will be front and centre at the Test, the one thing you won’t see is this columnist donning the budgie smugglers and heading into the pool – and cricket lovers all over the world can all be grateful for that.
– Casey
BUSY TIME FOR MALLET PLAYERS
For those who enjoy Mallet sports, the end of the playing year is approaching almost as quickly as Santa’s sleigh, however mallet players still have some days yet to play. Last week association croquet players Val Shepherd and Pat Schnoor teamed up to play rivals Val Richards and Grace Howard. Schnoor had two breaks of four and a couple of peels and she and her playing partner pegged out to win 29-9.
Margaret Dickenson and Effey Russell also played doubles, their opponents Joy Newman and Andrea Denkewitz. In a very close game, Dickenson and Russell won 23-21. Heather Widderick played Carol Verwey and despite having two breaks of two in her score went down 20-29. Carol Verwey score included three breaks of two.
Organisers of golf croquet were forced to think outside the square and try something a little different last week. With an odd number of players in the first round, three players played singles against each other while the remainder played the usual two groups of doubles.
In the singles games, the top scorer was Judy Lock with seven. Opponents John Castles (4) and Shirley Page (5) were not too far away.
In other games, Val Fancourt and Justin Liddy had a 13-5 win over Teresa Pyne and Bev Sullivan. Liddy looked to be striking the balls well as he topped the scoring with eight. Liz Ellway and Dianne Wren (13) were too strong for an out of sorts Elaine Brown and Marian Castles (3). Dianne Wren top scored in this game with seven while her partner was also in good form also scoring six.
The second session saw a hoop scored in a game where John Castles and his partner Val Fancourt defeated Dianne Wren and Judy Lock 12 – 9. Justin Liddy played two balls against Shirley Page and Bev Sullivan teamed up to play Justin Liddy (playing two balls) and had a narrow 13 – 11. In this game, Sullivan top scored. In the final game, Teresa Pyne and Elaine Brown had a convincing 13-7 win over Marian Castles and Liz Ellway. Top scoring in this gem was Elaine Brown.
There was a large turnout for gateball games on Friday despite the predicted high temperatures.
Andrea Denkewitz refereed the first two games in which Margaret Dickenson captained the White team of Les Williams, Bill Golding, and Carol Verwey and Effey Russell. Leading the Red team of Joy Newman, John Draper, Heather Widderick and Jenny Tunbridge was cptain Val Fancourt.
The White team notched up two wins, the first 11-8 and followed that with a 13-8 win. Following the break, John Draper took over the refereeing duties and Andrea Denkewitz replaced him in the red team. Game three saw another win to the White Team who looked to be in great form and took out the game 15-8.
The Red team picked up a consolation win in the final game with a 17-10 win over Margaret Dickenson’s team. Bill Golding was the most consistent player of the day. The final playing day for the gateball group is 16 December. Games will resume on 13 January.
Players from all three disciplines of mallet sports enjoyed an end-of -year get together at Jamworks.
FOOTBALL 2017 GOOD TO GO
THE football season for 2017 in Warwick is assured after a new committee was elected by the Warwick District Football Association on Monday night.
Fears were building that both the junior and senior season for 2017 might not go ahead with the previous committee bowing out after years of dedicated service to football in Warwick and a lack of nominations to replace them.
The WDFA held its AGM at Char-Belas Restaurant on Monday night, 5 December, with the new committee comprising president Karen Welsh, vice-president Luke Duff, secretary Mark Brunt, treasurer Jade Shanks, sponsorship co-ordinator Amanda Watts and registrar Jeremy Sollars.
Outgoing WDFA vice-president Paul Butler said he and the other 2016 committee members were pleased with the new committee line-up.
“We’re very thankful that football in Warwick is going ahead for 2017 and beyond,” he said.
“The outgoing committee have done a lot of hard work to grow the club and create a good culture, and it’s pleasing to know that growth will continue.
“I’d like to pay a particular tribute to outgoing president Garry Spence – he has served the club for the last six years in a number of different positions, his contribution has been enormous.”
Other outgoing committee members include secretary Ange Goodwin, treasurer Hayley Cooper, registrar Scott Clegg and sponsorship co-ordinator Rebecca Butler.
The WDFA is now looking for a senior men’s and senior women’s coach and a senior football co-ordinator for the 2017 season.
Other positions which also require filling before the start of the 2017 season include a grants co-ordinator and an assistant registrar.
Anyone interested in these roles could contact Karen Welsh on 0429 335 573.
TESTING CONDITIONS
SHOOTERS at Inglewood’s Clay Target shoot had to contend with fine and humid conditions last weekend, but neither the 40 degree heat nor the flies and there were plenty of those seemed to deter the eager beavers.
Experienced shooter Tom Donald likened trying to look through a fly net at the targets which seemed to slow down in the humid air as akin to using pinhole reading glasses. It must be something he practices on a regular basis as he still managed to take out the event defeating Richard Roese and Michael Dudgeon.
A reminder that this Saturday the club is holding an open day with all visitors welcome to try a shot or two from a variety of firearms. Sunday the club is holding the Christmas novelty shoot and party.
MUG OF MUGS AND MONTHLY MEDAL DECIDED
MEMBERS of the Wallangarra Golf Club played the December Monthly Medal and Putting Round on 3 December. The event and the Mug of Mugs were sponsored by the Wallangarra railway station.
M. Ellis claimed the final 2016 Monthly Medal with an impressive 65 nett. Gary Sutcliffe was the runner-up and shared the pin shots with T. Murphy. K Williams had his flat stick running hot and took out the putting prize. After a consistent year, T. Murphy took out the Mug of Mugs.
This weekend, golfers will be playing a single stableford competition for the Paul Hampstead Memorial trophy.
A reminder that a general meeting will be at 10am prior to tee off and the club would like to see a good roll up of members for this meeting.
GOOD TURN OUT FOR WARWICK CLAY SHOOT
The Warwick Clay Target Club shoot on Sunday was well supported. Despite the intense heat a field of 56 shooters took part. One person who shoots on a regular basis is Andrew Mauch. Mauch has been a regular competitor for the past 25 years. Despite being born with spina bifida, Mauch, who was introduced to the sport in his early twenties, shoots from his modified wheelchair. His participation in the sport was made possible at the outset by the donation and modification of his shooting chair by Michael and Carolyn Loy.
It has certainly paid off for Andrew who collected two of the club’s perpetual trophies the Don Cameron Annual Double Barrel and Alex H. Smith Memorial Handicap trophies at Sunday’s meet. It capped off a great day for the inspirational shooter who also tied with Aaron Lawlor in the B grade competition with a score of 82/90.
Results of the shoot:
30 Targets Double Barrel: AA: Dan Johnson 39/39, J. Lee 39/39; A: Ray Potter 54/54, David Cox 53/54; B: Tom Ham 30/30, Ken Ashton 37/41; C: Mick Lawlor 28/31, Paul Reid 28/31.
30 Targets Mixed: AA: Ross Bartley 30/30, Dan Johnson 30/30; A: Terry Shelton 29/30, David Cox 38/40; B: Tom Ham 29/30, Aaron Lawlor 37/40; C: Paul Reid 29/30, Jason Austin 28/30.
30 Targets Points: AA: Cameron Schoenfisch 90/90, Bruce Pethers 90/90; B: James Kennedy 87/90, Ray Potter 86/90; B: Aaron Lawlor 82/90, Andrew Mauch 82/90; C: Merv Johnson 87/90, Jason Austin 82/90.
Side by Side: Keith Simpson 15/15, Ross Bartley, 14/15 Wayne Eastwell 17/19.
Annual Trophies: VB Crowthers (Most Improved) Zac Hamill; Dan and Kylie Green (Ladies) Kylie Green; Dan and Kylie Green (Point score) James Bomford; Terry and Kaye Davis (Junior) Joseph McNally; Alan Self (Single Barrel) Ross Bartley; Arthur Carpenter (Double Rise) James Bomford; Don Cameron (Double Barrel) Andrew Mauch; WCTC (Veterans) Ian House; Len Shanco (50 Target Continental) Dan Johnson; Don Cameron (Continental) Dan Johnson; Alex H Smith (Handicap) Andrew Mauch.
STEKETEE EARNS CA XI CALL UP
THE credentials of Warwick quick Mark Steketee have not gone unnoticed by Australian Cricket selectors. Steketee has been selected in a Cricket Australia XI brimming with players identified as emerging talents to play Pakistan in a three day game at Cazaly’s Oval in Cairns as the visitors prepare for the Gabba Test.
He joins fellow Queenslander Jimmy Pierson in the CA XI.
It is another string to Steketee’s selection bow coming shortly after he was selected in the Queensland Bulls Sheffield Shield Side to play WA.
CRAZY CRICKETERS
THEY say only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun, however crazy cricketers should probably be added to that list after last weekend.
Stanthorpe players turned out in the heatwave conditions last Saturday in T20 games.
Valleys and Souths have been the two form teams of the competition again this season, and on Saturday went head to head in a thriller which came down to the final ball of the game.
Souths captain Ben Staley certainly played a captain’s knock. His side required two runs from the last ball of the innings to secure a nail-biting win and the captain delivered.
It was a game where all players from both side contributed to their team performance whether with the bat or the ball.
In the other fixture game, things were much more one sided as RSL posted a big win over Tenterfield. Chasing only a mediocre total of 85, RSL picked up two bonus points when they passed the required total in less than 10 overs. Sam Dowie was in good touch and remained unbeaten on 55 at the end of the game. Luke Brady (25) also batted well.
HONOURS SHARED IN REP GAMES
WEATHER conditions were almost as severe for cricketers on Sunday when Warwick and Stanthorpe went head to head in the Mitchell and Davis Shield games played in Warwick.
In the Mitchell Shield game, Warwick posted a score of 238 for Stanthorpe to chase but thanks to some good performances from the Stanthorpe batsmen the visitors were able to run down the total to claim a three-wicket win.
One of the highlights of the game was Warwick batsman Lachlan Gross’ maiden century. Warwick players believe it was the first century scored by any Mitchell Shield player for about eight years
Warwick claimed the bragging rights in the Davis Shield game with a comfortable 74-run win after setting their opponents another big run chase.
T20 FIXTURES IN WARWICK
With Rep games scheduled for Sunday, T20 games were played in Warwick last weekend.
At Mayhew Oval, Rascals set Colts a run chase of 86, but Colts were all out for 81. Tom Morris bowled well taking five wickets in the game.
At Slade, Maryvale Condamine played Redbacks and posted a comfortable win after setting a Redbacks a target of 157. Pat Bourke (54) top scored for Maryvale. In reply, Redbacks were out for 100.
Wheatvale and Sovereign Animals also played at Mayhew and set up a win after scoring 152 runs for the loss of only three wickets. Mainstays of this innings were Carter Bilbrough (57) and Chris Cantwell (62no). Bilbrough also took two wickets as Sovereign Animals finished well short of the total on 118.
Maryvale and Colts head the Condamine Cup Points table with 30 points followed by Wheatvale and Inglewood on 22 points. Allora and Redbacks each have 18 points with Allora Rascals on 11 and Sovereign Animals on 7