It has been a week where Debbie came eventually, went, but continues to leave her calling card.
Many sporting activities in the region were cancelled or affected by the weather event. Racing, it seems, copped a real caning.
Warwick cancelled their meeting last Saturday but would be considering themselves compared to other country clubs.
Racing will be severely disrupted from Bowen to Coffs Harbour, thanks to Debbie. The Rockhampton racecourse is currently under water with horses normally stabled in the area evacuated earlier this week. The Murwillumbah racecourse has been inundated and major work will be required before they are up and racing there. The Beaudesert and Lismore clubs have major clean-up work ahead of them also but racing folk are a resilient lot and you can be sure it takes more than flood water to put them off their game.
The Toowoomba Turf Club officials will have their fingers crossed if the improved conditions stick around until after the weekend as they prepare for the Weetwood Carnival. The main race of the day the Weetwood Handicap has attracted 41 nominations, and local trainer Michael Nolan will have a strong say in the results with his pair Upstart Pride and Jumbo Prince. The Toowoomba Cup also has strong nominations as trainers prepare for the Brisbane winter carnival. Nolan will saddle up Dream Finnish in the race.
All eyes, however, will be on the mighty Winx as she aims for her 17th straight win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on the final day of the Championships.
This amazing mare has ticked all the boxes in her preparation and decimated her opponents on a quagmire track at her last start.
Winx appears to have taken no harm from that run, and had a race day gallop at Randwick on Saturday. Her trainer Chris Waller said the gallop was to blow the cobwebs out, for her and the stable staff. Plenty of nervous energy around the group as the mare continues on her winning way.
It is two years since Winx was beaten – it was at this meeting when she was beaten in the Oaks by Gust of Wind.
Since then, she has captured the hearts of the public in much the same way as the might Black Caviar. If you are not a real racing fan, do yourself a favour and make time on Saturday to see this wonderful galloper in action. You can be sure I will be glued to a television set somewhere. Makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck just watching from afar. She is simply sensational.
– Casey
ANNOUNCEMENTS, APPOINTMENTS AND SURPRISES
While the tough rounds for tipsters continued last week, there have been some major announcements this week. Coach Cleary confirmed at the Tigers, Hasler is to remain at the Dogs till the end of time and the big one – the carnival will be over for the Storm and Cooper Cronk at the end of the season. It doesn’t get much bigger than that, and no-one saw it coming.
The Bulldogs pulled the Broncos pants down in a game played in unbelievable conditions. The torrential rain ensured the form guide went out the window. The Broncos would not have been happy with their second half performance which allowed the under pressure Dogs back into the game. They stole the Broncos bone and ran away with it back to their kennel as their under fire coach found an unlikely ally in Wayne Bennett. Hasler this week confounded his critics and resigned with the Dogs until 2019.
The Knights almost caused the upset of the competition when they drew 18-all with the premiers late in their clash. The deadlock broken by a Sharks field goal moments before full time. Those experts who loudly suggested the Knights and Dragons would be hard pressed to win a game this season are now reconsidering their position.
The Dragons have had a remarkable start to the season, but the crunch comes in the next few weeks when they meet some top quality opposition.
The Warriors finally snuck home with a win over the Titans but not before giving tipsters heart palpitations.
There are some big clashes in round six that will make life interesting for tipsters.
The Broncos and Roosters line up at Suncorp on Thursday night in a game where the Broncos get their chance to silence their critics.
Kodi Nikorima and Joe Ofahengaue who starred in the Broncos 2015 GF win have both selected as reserves on the extended interchange. The Roosters are coming off a loss to the Sea Eagles and will miss Dylan Narpa out with an ankle injury. At Suncorp, I am prepared to forgive the Broncos last performance.
The Knights make a rare Friday night appearance at home after causing Sharks fans serious stress last week. This week’s clash against the Dogs is an interesting game for tipsters. Will Hasler’s resigning inspire the Dogs further or can the young Knights team put them to the sword.
Three of the Panthers top players, including captain Moylan have been sin binned by their club for breaches of club protocol and find themselves relegated to NSW Intrust Super Cup duties this weekend. Tyrone Peachey is also out with a rib injury. The reshuffle will give the Bunnies a chance to redeem themselves, and Sam Burgess back from suspension will be a welcome sight. An injury to Robbie Farah opens the door for Damien Cook to further impress.
The Sea Eagles will be out to slay the over-achieving Dragons at Brookvale on Saturday afternoon. The Dragons will miss Josh Dugan who injured his hamstring in the game against the Tigers. In the reshuffle, Jason Nightingale moves to fullback and Kurt Mann to the wing. Centre Euan Aitken returns from injury.
No major dramas for the Eagles who field an almost unchanged side. Another tough task here for tipsters. See this as a good guide to just how well the Dragons are travelling.
The Titans can’t buy a break – with more injuries to key players after the Warriors game although Tyrone Roberts has been named on the bench after injuring his knee.
Centres Konrad Hurrell and Chris McQueen are welcome inclusions for the game against the Raiders. Back from suspension for the Green machine is Elliott Whitehead. The Titans are due for a change of luck, but hard to see it being this game.
At 1300 Smiles the Cowboys host the Tigers on Saturday night. New coach, old coach, interim coach it does not matter – it is almost impossible to see the Tigers causing an upset here. The Cowboys will be without the services of their nippy hooker Jake Granville who broke his leg last game, but welcome back the imposing Jason Talmalmo. Might get ugly for the Tigers before it gets better.
The Warriors Eels game could go either way, depending on who turns up with their eye on the prize. If Shaun Johnson gets involved for the full 80 minutes, you would have to think the Eels will go home winless.
The best of the round has been left to last with the grand final rematch albeit at AAMI Park as Melbourne and Cronulla meet for the first time since October. Melbourne will be keen to erase the memory of that loss and their underwhelming performance. All eyes will be on Cooper Cronk after news that the three amigos will be breaking up at the end of the season. Cronk announced he will leave the Storm and move to Sydney to be with his fiancée. And here, we all thought love affair of the league was Smith, Cronk and Slater and Bellamy.
Plenty of football to be played before Cronk’s departure, and perhaps a grand final to be won.
The Sharks must lift after their scare last weekend especially as Billy Slater’s form continues to improve and the Storm build. Another dangerous storm is brewing here.
Casey’s selections Round 6
Broncos
Knights
Rabbitohs
Sea Eagles
Raiders
Cowboys
Warriors
Storm
COME AND TRY SUCCESS
The impromptu Come and Try day held by the Warwick Clay Target Club last on Saturday 1 April proved popular. Six of the shooters had never previously fired at a clay target, however, by the end of the day all were regularly breaking clays and experiencing the thrill and challenge of hitting a rapidly moving target.
Clay Target Shooting is proving popular in the region and the Warwick club has members from 11 – 80 an indication of its broad appeal.
If you are interested but missed the open day, call president David Cox (Cox on 0427967567) or contact club member Pat Dignam- email address dignamp@halenet.com.au
MONTHLY MEDAL NO JOKE
The Stanthorpe Golf Club held their April Monthly Medal and Putting competition on Saturday, and with the course still showing the effects of the recent heavy rain, scoring was difficult.
It may have been April’s Fools Day but it there was no joking when Bob Watts reminded everyone of his golfing ability returning a score of nett 68 to claim the top spot one shot ahead of Stephen Kay (nett 69). On a difficult tough day, the pair was out on their own in returning nett scores in the sixties.
Watts also won the putting competition and the highlight of his round was the bunker shot he hit out of the front of the bunker and into the hole at three.
Stephen Kay had the best gross score of 78, and claimed the pin shot at 12. Tom Fittock held the pin shot at three. There were no takers at 17 in the men’s round. Pro-pins went to John Spiller, 1/10 and 5/14 and Matthew Beale collecting 9/18.
The ladies medal event was a close contest between eventual winner Fiona Kelly (nett 78) and runner-up Rachel Hendy who finished a shot back on nett 79. Rachel also had lowest gross score of 96 for the ladies and shared the putting honours with Mandy Benussi, both finishing the day with 30 putts for the round. Hendry also held the ladies’ pin at three and Lyn Ludlow had best approach at 17. In the run down, a ball to scores of 72 and better for the men and 85 and better for the ladies.
The improved weather conditions allowed the renovation work to be completed as planned on the greens on Monday.
There was a good representation of volunteers who operated under instruction from greenkeeper Bill’s. A really good cross section of members pitched in including men, ladies and juniors. Work was completed, and all enjoyed refreshments supplied by ladies. Many thanks to all those who volunteered.
The club is looking forward to a busy few days – on Saturday Michael Lane is the sponsor of the Single Stroke event with tee off from 11.30am, and you will find a sheet for this competition on the board at the club house.
That will be followed by the annual Maureen Bates Memorial Day on Sunday. The nine-hole two-ball Ambrose competition is open to all Sporters and club members. The nomination sheet for this event is also on the board.
To round out three full days of golfing action on Monday 10 April 10, Stanthorpe is hosting Darling Downs mixed veterans in a 4BBB Stableford event.
DD DAY FOR BORDER RUGBY LEAGUE
Sunday is looming as the day of reckoning for the Border Rugby League clubs and the future of the competition. A meeting between the clubs and the BRL Executive is scheduled for Sunday. It is at this meeting that clubs will have their final chance to save the BRL competition in 2016. BRL chairman Norman Crisp has given the clubs until then to show that they have the numbers to field competitive sides for the season. If clubs cannot prove they have adequate legitimate signings, then the competition will fold.
Rugby league has long been one of the cornerstones of country communities, and while the BRL has had player retention problems in the past few seasons, it will be a real kick in the guts to those who have worked so long and hard to keep the competition afloat if players do not come forward this season.
Where the answer lies to these problems in country areas is anyone’s guess. In Stanthorpe, we have facilities second to none yet the Gremlins who were competitions winners only two seasons ago cannot attract a full team of players.
Tenterfield who have been competition front runners for the past several seasons without winning a premiership are also struggling.
Wallangarra have been a borderline club since rejoining the league, yet they have good numbers for their League Tag side while Texas who have won more premierships than any other BRL side have once again failed to reform this season.
Killarney after a shaky 2016 look to have put together good numbers this season as have last season’s premiers Inglewood.
I urge anyone who is interested in playing rugby league to put your hand up and contact officials at these clubs or BRL chairman Norm Crisp. The future of the BRL depends on everyone having a go.
JUNIOR ORIENTEERS HIT THE TRAILS
The Southern Downs will host 26 young orienteers who will be taking part in a three-day training camp this week. The juniors, from across South-East Queensland range in age from 12 to 14 years, will be participating in a range of training activities at Warwick, Applethorpe, Stanthorpe and in the Passchendaele Forest during the camp. Many of the students selected in the Darling Downs team will use the camp to help develop their navigation skills ahead of the school championships in July.
The program includes a sprint event on Saturday at the Stanthorpe State School from 3pm to 4pm. On Sunday morning, the local Bullecourt Boulder Bounders Club will be conducting a club event in the Passchendaele State Forest from 9am – 11am.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about orienteering is welcome to come and give the sport a go at either of these events. There will be short, easy courses for beginners and instruction available on basic map reading and navigational skills.
Orienteering is a sport suitable for people of all ages. You can complete courses by walking, jogging or running, depending on your level of fitness.
Details of this weekend’s events can be found on the website www.oq.asn.au/events or for further information, call 4683 6374.
WIN FOR THORN
Sporters’ stalwart Ray Thorn notched up a win on Sunday with Max Jones filling the runner-up spot. In the run-downs it was a ball each to Aaron Simmers and Jim McPherson. Honours were pretty well shared across the field with Paul Armstrong retuning the best gross. Paul Byrnes collected the pin shot on the 12th. The 17th and the pro pin went to No Won Kim. Dick Hilton and Mark Lynam did not go home empty-handed, each leaving with a meat tray.
Of course this Sunday is the big Maureen Bates Memorial Day. It is a nine-hole two-ball Ambrose with a shot gun start at 9am. There are some great prizes to be won on the day. There will be a barbecue after the game and a multi draw raffle. Hope there is a great roll-up and everyone is welcome to join in the fun
A reminder that there will be no Sporters on Easter Sunday and on the following Sunday, 23 April Sporters have an afternoon game, with tee-off at 12.30pm. Sporters can enjoy a lazy Sunday morning, thanks to the Pennants competition in the morning.
RANGE ISOLATED
The Inglewood Sporting Shooters were forced to cancel their weekend’s activities due to heavy rain isolating the range.
Organisers will be hoping for better conditions for this weekend’s State Championships Gallery Rifle. Jump on the club website for further details or contact club officials.
LOCK IN THE DATE
With officially less than one year to the opening of the Commonwealth games, it has been announced that ticket requests will open on 24 April. It is anticipated that demand for tickets will be high and in an effort to give everyone a fair and equitable chance to attend their favourite events in the first instance tickets will be available via a ticket request phase. Requests will be accumulated over four weeks – during this time no tickets or payments will be confirmed.
You can jump on line, create and account and place a request during the four-week period commencing on 24 April – no preference will be given to date and time your request is placed.
Following the allocation of tickets through this method, any remaining tickets will be put on sale on a first come first serve basis.
The schedule of events and ticket pricing is available from the Gold Coast 2018 website.
With a wide variety of sports to choose from and the largest medal event program in the history of the Games, and with the most number of sessions ever conducted, this is your chance to “Share the Dream” in August 2018 so bookmark 24 April and place your ticket request.
VASTLY DIFFERENT TRL RESULTS
The Cowboys and Wattles suffered vastly different fates in last weekend’s TRL competition where both sides had home games
The Cowboys and their supporters watched anxiously as the waters rose on Thursday, but breathed a sigh of relief as they quickly disappeared without causing any headaches. The same could not be said for the Dalby Diehards who gave the Cowboys plenty of headaches.
Only one of the four Cowboys sides was able to claim a win in round three. The C Grade side winning 34-6. In a disappointing result the A Grade side suffered a 38-6 loss to the Dalby Diehards after trailing 12-6 at half time. Despite a good game from captain Paul Cantwell, the Cowboys were their own worst enemies with a second half riddled with errors, and the visitors took full advantage scoring five unanswered tries. Adding to the pain of the loss, Joe Fuimano picked up a shoulder injury.
In reserve grade, the picture was no prettier, with the Cowboys going down 34-16.
The under-18s squandered a 36-14 half-time lead and were defeated in a nail-biter 38-36 after failing to cross in the second half. Dalby scored on full time to wrap up the game.
A GRADE: Dalby 38 (Corey Blades 3, Chris Wilkes 2, Alex Ambia, Steve Franciscus tries Zac Morris 5 goals) defeated. Warwick 6 (Craig Donn try Daniel Watson goal)
RESERVE GRADE: Dalby 34 defeated Warwick 16
UNDER 18: Dalby 38 defeated Warwick 36
SECOND DIVISION: Warwick 36 defeated Dalby 6
Things were much brighter for Wattles who continued their impressive start to the season by posting a 34-16 win in a physical game against a much-improved Oakey side at Platz Oval.
Despite the win, Wattles coach Gary Lawrence was critical of his side’s statistics across after the game saying they must improve continue winning games. Twenty-one-year-old Tye Gardner in only his third year of rugby league was one of the stars of the game.
It has not been all good news for Wattles. Matt Duggan has reinjured his knee and is likely to spend a few weeks on the side lines, and in a big blow to their season plans Pommie recruit Jordan Gale has returned home to the UK due to personal reasons.
In the under 18 game, Wattles notched up a gutsy 36-20 win while the Reserve Grade was a 90-nil whitewash to the home side.
A GRADE: Wattles 34 (Michael Pearson 2, James Johnson 2, Michael Duggan, Tye Gardner tries Brenden Wilson 5 Goals) defeated. Oakey 16 (Nathan Thomas, Josh Stanton, Jason Lucas tries Josh Stanton 3
