Some will say I am a dinosaur and living in an age long gone, but I am at a loss to understand the mind set of people who play team sports and don’t support their team. Having played team sports all my life, I come from the background that understood there was no “I” in “TEAM” and you played with and for your mates and your club.
It therefore amazes me that last weekend the Stanthorpe Gremlins struggled to get even nine players to travel to Inglewood for their game. As I understand at one point there were only six players committed to playing on Saturday.
How heartbreaking for the coaching staff, the club and their supporters. I am sure some players have no idea of the hard work that goes into running a football or any sporting club for a season. Surely, if they did they would be far more committed to the cause.
To travel to another town with only nine players, to me shows that there are players who have signed up for the season that disrespect not only their club jersey but also their opposition. I know the amount of preparation there would have been for the Inglewood Club to ensure everything was in order for the game. To see only nine players turn up and the game to be called off with the score at 62-2 is a slap in the face to them and is not good enough.
Those players who for whatever reason chose not to play last weekend also put their team-mate’s health and wellbeing in jeopardy.
It has been well reported that the BRL struggled to put a competition together this season. Teams from Killarney, Inglewood and Tenterfield are all doing their bit to ensure the success of the season, all much smaller centres than Stanthorpe. There will always be occasions when some things must come before football, and I understand that work commitments often impact on availability these days, however I believe it is time for the Gremlins players to get serious about their team, their season and support the tireless volunteers who are already putting in for them.
– Casey
Well finally the Blues have had their moment in the limelight with a well-earned win over the Maroons in Origin One. Of course one swallow does not make a summer and one win does not necessarily mean an Origin Series win. Admittedly, the Blues looked pretty dam good but their supporters should remember Game One 2014 and what followed.
The appointment of Peter Stirling to the inner circle of the Blues appears to have made a big difference but with the imminent return of Billy Slater, JT and the selection of a couple of new faces don’t write the Maroons off too quickly.
Round 13 of the NRL saw my tipping back on track, and I hope it remains that way this weekend as I seem to have a bit of ground to catch up.
This week several teams are on the road with games being played in the top end, and Bathurst could make things interesting.
It’s back to Thursday night footy this week with a top-of-the-table clash and a replay of the 2016 GF when the Sharks host Melbourne Storm.
Cam Smith sat out the game last week after the torrid Origin game and will be back at the helm this week. Cronulla are playing grinding if not pretty football and with the home ground advantage might just get Melbourne here but it really is a toss of the coin.
Friday night at Brookvale (can’t come to grips with Lottoland I’m sorry) the Sea Eagles will beat the Knights and back at Suncorp the Broncos should account for the Bunnies who have been woeful recently.
The Titans host the Warriors at CBUS. Their coach will be looking for a much better effort here from the recently resigned Jarryd Hayne, while Wallace will be looking to impress the Maroons coach Kev Walters. Again you just don’t know what to expect with the Warriors, but I am pinning my hopes on the Titans.
The Panthers and Raiders travel to Bathurst and will play at Carrington Park. A great initiative. The Panthers were awesome last week against the Dogs who had no bite whatsoever. The Raiders were a touch unlucky against the Eagles, but there slow starts are a worry. In another close decision, I have given the Panthers the nod.
JT has been named 19th man for the Cowboys clash with the Eels in Darwin though there is still a fair bit of doubt over whether or not he plays and for how long. The Eels looked impressive against the Warriors, but I liked the way the Cowboys won without their captain and think they should get the points here.
The Roosters look good things on paper to beat the Tigers who are another team in all sorts of bother.
The Bulldogs were savaged last week by the Panthers and their fans are baying for blood. The coach, the chairman, the board, their ageing playing roster in fact anyone and everyone are under fire. Doubt things will get any better after they are beaten by the Dragons in a rare Monday night game at ANZ headquarters.
EVENTFUL BUT SUCCESSFUL
It was an eventful opening to the day’s racing at Allman Park on Tuesday, but the meeting certainly received a better than pass mark.
The opening event was filled with drama. The winner Victory Dance crashed through the running rail after the field passed the winning post. The Rex Lipp galloper who hung out in the home straight dislodged apprentice Sally Sweeney, crashed through the outside running rail and fled the course. The apprentice was treated by the ambulance and transported to Warwick Hospital for further assessment after she complained of lower back pain. Sweeney was stood down from all further riding engagements. The horse meanwhile was captured unharmed in a nearby yard. The good news was that Sweeney was later released from hospital and returned to the course to attend the Stewards Inquiry into the first race.
In separate incidents, prior to the race two runners were scratched. Royal Routine was found to have suffered an injury on the way to the course and was scratched while the start was delayed when Phar Czar misbehaved behind the barriers and could not be loaded. It too was subsequently withdrawn.
It was a dramatic opening to the meeting which was well supported by owners, trainers and jockeys. Fortunately the remainder of the meeting progressed without incident, however the bookies may have been left licking their wounds after plenty of favourites tasted success on the busy race card.
Local trainers Norm Hilton and John Collins reaped the rewards at the additional meeting.
Hilton’s galloper Had Me At Hello started $3 favourite in the third event the Gross Wholesale Meats Fillies and Mares Benchmark 58 Handicap. With claiming apprentice Michael Murphy in the saddle she was too strong for Bo Rossa and Jai’s Luck.
Collins’ winner came in race five when Starwood ridden by Paul Hamblin saluted. Starting at $4 the five-year-old gelding won in a tight finish beating Mr Boxvale and another local runner the Len Bryant-trained Felix. Winning rider Paul Hamblin found himself in hot water post-race, fined $200 by stewards for excessive use of the whip.
Lockyer trainer Caroline Allardyce had no luck in the first event when her runner Royal Routine was a late scratching but made amends in the next race when favourite Limbo Star having his first start at Allman Park got the money. Sunshine Coast galloper Tactical Manuever and Rejuvenate who was blocked for a run in the straight after racing ungenerously in the early stages filled the minor placings.
Apprentice Nicholas Keal also found himself in hot water with the Stewards after winning the fourth race for his whip use. He too was fined $200 and then copped another $200 fine for the same misdemeanour later in the meeting.
His mount Cambooya Rock started favourite and narrowly beat Strive to Succeed and Sonador’s Princess. Warwick is becoming a happy hunting ground for the gelding’s owner trainer Eric Ferguson who had a winner at the last meeting.
Ballina galloper Collins Creek was another favourite to do the right thing by punters when he won the Grove Juice Class 1 handicap. Starting at $2.20 and ridden by Kenji Yoshida the four-year-old backed up the good form of his previous start in Grafton.
The meeting closed with the running of the Warwick Automotive Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1500 metres. I’m No Ruby ensured Oakey trainer Peter Kings made the trip home with a smile on his face after the seven-year-old lumped 61kgs to victory.
Starting at $6 the winner gave bookies some reprieve with favourite Priceless de Hero finishing down the track.
The additional prizemoney associated with TAB meetings was certainly a lure with trainers from the Sunshine Coast to St George and the Northern Rivers happy to travel to the Allman Park meeting with each race worth $11,000 to the winner.
Club officials were happy with the support from the public after throwing open the gates to the public and opening the member’s area to all patrons.
The success of the meeting certainly showed the boffins at Racing Queensland that Warwick is well equipped to host mid-week TAB meetings.
The club’s next race is on 17 June – the annual Killarney Cup meeting.
MEDAL WIN FOR SMITH
Wes Smith shot the best nett (68) and Gross (75) round in the race for the June Monthly Medal at the Stanthorpe Golf Club last Saturday. He set up a medal win with a good back nine that included three birdies for par on that nine. Bob Watts who the previous week wrapped up the ‘C’ Grade club championship filled the runner-up position just one shot back. Watts was compensated somewhat by recording least number of putts for the round, 25 in total.
Visiting golfers helped themselves to some of the pin shots. Cameron Beale claimed the pin at three and Andrew Leigh, 12. Hayden Smith got one for the locals at 17. He also picked up the birdie’s nest. The pro pins went the way of Tom Tom Fittock at 1/10, Rick Chapman at 5/14 and Matthew Beale at 9/18. Birdie’s nest at 17 was won by Hayden Smith.
Special mention has been made of Chris Fittock’s consistency. His tee shot at nine finished two fairways from the one he was playing. Unsure of exactly where his ball had finished he played a second ball only to land it once again – two fairways away but within a couple of metres of his original shot – what are the chances? Now there is no denying that is consistency on a different level.
Madeleine Jarman and Helen Jones made things interesting in the ladies medal round. Both finished with nett 74. A better back nine score gave Jarman the win after the countback. Lyn Ludlow had best gross score (95) for the ladies, and also had least putts (28) during the round.
Margie Lock had the best approach at 17 and there were no takers for the other pin shots.
Run down for the men went to nett 74 and better and nett 76 for the ladies.
This week is a single stroke event sponsored by Keith and Helen Jones. Tee off from 11am and time sheet is on the board.
SMALL CREW
A small but very enthusiastic group turned out for golf croquet last week. Val Fancourt and Teresa Pyne paired in the first game and defeated Liz Ellway and Sharyn Roser 13-10 in a tight game. Scores were similar for when the second group finished their opening game also. Bev Sullivan and Justin Liddy defeated Shirley Page (playing with two balls) 13-10. After the break, Bev Sullivan and Teresa Payne played Shirley Page and Sharyn Roser and scored a 13-7 win. In the second game after the break, latecomer Judy Locke joined Val Fancourt and the pair scored a win over Justin Liddy and Liz Ellway. Val Fancourt took the scoring honours with a total of nine hoops and one jump shot for the day.
BIG WIN FOR WATTLES
Wattles notched up a big win in the TRL A Grade competition in Round 10, with Wattle thrashing the visiting Goondiwindi Boars 82-6.
Despite the win, Wattles coach Chris Lawrence is not getting carried away, but admits his side is on the improve. It was a good result for Wattles who looked like they were struggling with numbers earlier in the week and were missing their gun player Matt Duggan.
Max Rubie, Brenden Perkins and Tom Morris made their debuts in A Grade while former Texas player Bennett Sutton made a return for Wattles.
Wattles set up a big lead in the first half and went to the break 36-6. There was no backing off in the second half as the team gave the Platz Oval crowd plenty of tries to get excited about crossing the line another eight times.
Braydon Wilson relished his shift to centre by scoring five tries. Michael Pearson, Max Ruby and Ryan Duggan also played well for the Warriors in the tryfest. Ryan Duggan kicked 11 conversions.
The win sets things up nicely for this weekend’s local derby against the Cowboys at Fr Ranger Oval.
Both teams have been improving steadily as the season progresses and are each sitting on 10 competition points. The Cowboys are coming off a bye last week after they too posted a win against the Boars at their last outing and will be primed for a big game on Saturday night.
Results Round 10 A GRADE: Wattles 82 (Braydon Wilson 5, Josh Lucas 3, Jamie Abbas, Michael Duggan, Ryan Duggan, Ty Gardner, Josh Henry, Joe Morris tries Ryan Duggan 11 goals) d Goondiwindi 6 (Adam Tribe try Adam Tribe goal)
RESERVE GRADE: Wattles 20 d Goondiwindi 12
UNDER 18: Goondiwindi 30 d Wattles 14
BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR NIKKI
The starts are becoming a little more chilly, but not so the competition last Sunday when a large group teed off. Back in the club house it was Nikki Waterworth who had bragging rights over husband Matt when she relegated him to the runner-up spot and claimed a Sporters win for herself. Figuring in the rundowns were Paul Armstrong and Aaron Simmers while it was Norm Steel who took the pin shot on the 12th. There were no takers at the 17th. Phil Zikan and Terry Byrnes each skipped off with a meat tray in hand.
Sporters will tee off again on Sunday between 8am – 8.30am. If you are joining them, it might pay to put out the winter woollies the night before – forecast says Jack Frost will be joining you out on the course.
MADSEN-RASMUSSEN MOVE
The TRL mid-season finals are a highlight on the Toowoomba Rugby League calendar – the Madsen-Rasmussen Final in First Grade and the President’s Cup finals in the other three grades have stand-alone status in 2017. The four games will be played on Valleys home ground, Herb Steinhort Oval in Pillar Street, on Sunday 18 June.
The move has been made necessary as the dressing rooms at Clive Berghofer Stadium are undergoing a major refurbishment and the Pillar Street complex has been selected for the games.
The Valleys club has been working hard to ensure that the spectator experience is maximised. The event will see the opening of the new can bar in the north-western corner of the ground and the entire northern bank and eastern side of the ground will be free of vehicles to allow the expected big crowd to spread out and watch the games in comfort. Seating is limited, so those attending the game are encouraged to bring their camp chairs and enjoy the day from the large number of vantage points. Plenty of car parking will be available on and near the second field. As well as the usual Valleys canteen a number of other food outlets will be operating. The bar in the clubhouse will also be operating.
PURCELL BAGS BACK-TO-BACK MEDALS
The Wallangarra Golf Club was another club to hold their June monthly medal and putting competition last Saturday. A good field was on the course for the round. Jamie Purcell continued his good form to claim consecutive Monthly Medals after scoring round the course to finish with nett 65. Steven Hampstead settled for the runner’s-up position. Hampstead’s putter was also on song, and he claimed the putting competition with 23 putts. Tony Murphy grabbed the captain stakes and the only pin shot recorded after a fine shot at the ninth.
It is another big weekend at Wallangarra. There is a club Single Stableford competition scheduled for Saturday and don’t forget on Sunday 11 June, the club is holding the annual Breast Cancer Day. Tee off for the Two Ball Ambrose is from 9am – 10am. The cost is $25 and includes lunch. Both golfers and non golfers are welcome and organisers are hoping for another successful fund-raising event. Ambrose, $25 per person includes lunch, tee off from 9am to 10am. All golfers and non golfers are welcome. Hope to see you all out there.
WARWICK BOWLERS NAIL ANOTHER WIN
It is certainly not your normal Cricket weather, but local Over 40s cricketers dragged out their white gear last weekend for the annual clash against the visiting Queensland Cricketers Club team. The Warwick side made it five wins on the trot when they again won the Bill Hoiberg Trophy.
The Warwick side batted first and scored with apparent ease with Michael Bourke and former Mitchell Shield player Darren Byrne both retired at the mandatory 40 with the score heading towards 200. With a steady fall of wickets throughout the innings the pair returned to push the score to 233.
The visitors began their run chase well and the openers piked on 71 runs in quick succession. Chris Fitzgerald retired on 40 and his replacement Scott Rice was dismissed for a golden duck.
Despite a fight back from the QCC in the middle stages of their innings, the Warwick bowlers looked to have their measure.
Fitzgerald returned for QCC once again they hit back and looked to be heading for victory before Michael Bourke returned to the attack. Bourke had the Santer caught on the boundary and shortly after secured the win for the home side when Fitzgerald was out LBW.
It was no surprise that Chris Fitzgerald was named Man of Match for the visitors and Michael Bourke got the nod for Warwick.
The entire Bourke family will be out in numbers this weekend for the annual Bourke Cooper charity match at Maryvale. Lew Cooper has put together another strong side in an effort to win the trophy. Hopefully, the weather this year will be a little kinder to umpires and players after last year’s game saw play start amid a heavy layer of fog. It certainly made for interesting umpiring playing and spectating.
TIGERS BANK ANOTHER WIN
The Tenterfield Tigers added another win to their 2017 tally last weekend with a narrow 29-22 win over the Killarney Cutters at Rugby League Park.
The Tigers are working into some good form as the season progresses and had to dig deep to hang on to win on Saturday. The big Killarney forwards caused the home side some headaches and plenty of unforced errors crept into the Tigers game. Both sides scored five tries with the three of the Tigers tries coming from Malcolm Wightman. The difference was the conversion rate with Brendan Minns successfully converting four from five attempts. Coedie Tandie returned to the side and put the game beyond doubt neatly slotting a field goal to secure the win and another two points.
This week the Tigers face a tough test when they take on the Roosters at home in Inglewood.
The Stanthorpe Gremlins were only able to field nine players last week when they travelled to Inglewood. The game was eventually called off with the Roosters up 62-2.
WOLVES DOWN 2-1
The Warwick Wolves suffered a 2-1 loss to Garden City in the final of the President’s Cup in the Toowoomba Football colt’s competition. The game was played on Tuesday night at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Warwick took a 1-nil lead to the half time break, but conceded two goals in the second half. The Wolves were not without their chances to equalise but on two occasions were deemed to be offside in the play.
LITTLE ATHLETICS ON THE PROGRAMME
Little Athletics has over the years been a breeding ground for many of our most successful Australian athletes and the programme is set to get underway in the Stanthorpe and Granite Belt District if two enthusiastic young mums have their way.
Toni Jackson and Chloe Morello will host a public meeting on Monday 12 June at the Country Club Hotel and are urging all those who may be interested in getting Little Athletics off the ground to get along to the meeting and get involved.
The pair is proposing a season that runs from September to March providing a sport for kids during the summer.
Little Athletics caters for kids of all abilities from five to 16 and involves running jumping throwing and walking events.
CASEY’S TIPS
SHARKS
SEA EAGLES
BROCNOS
TITANS
PANTHERS
COWBOYS
ROOSTERS
DRAGONS
