By CASEY O’CONNOR
WE MAROONS supporters will be basking in the glory of a record win in Origin for some time to come, but for cricket supporters things are not quite so rosy after the Aussies loss to the Poms in the first Test.
The question now is what of Watto – does he go or will selectors persist. I personally think his number is up and will be surprised if he is not replaced. News that Marsh senior was seen boarding a plane bound for London earlier in the week might be a clue that there has been an early whisper.
While the loss was a blow, if Haddin had gloved the catch of Joe Root we may well have been singing a different song – but that is cricket. What I find interesting is the criticism from many quarters of Michael Clarke. I doubt there has ever been an Australian cricket captain who has come in for such poor treatment from some quarters of the press.
At the same time as the Test, Wimbledon wrapped up in spectacular style with yet another win to the powerhouse of women’s tennis Sarina Williams who must go down in history as one of the most dominant women players of all times. She too continues to polarise the public despite her successes.
In the men’s final, Novak Djokovic must have felt like public enemy number one when he played Roger Federer such was the support for the Federer.
As former champions Laver, Borg and Neale Fraser watched on, Federer laid impressive early foundations but the Serb broke back and engineered a masterful win over the master. He is the first man to successfully defend the Wimbledon title since Federer in 2007.
Now for those Blues supporters hiding in our midst, did I mention that Queensland won Origin game three – now what was that score again – yes that’s right 52-6 – and that of course meant yet another series to the Maroons. It’s tough being a Queenslander.
– Casey
COLLECTING FOR A CAUSE
TIM Gaske director of coaching at the Wolves Development Academy is an ambassador for the Reagan Milstein Foundation.
You may not have heard of this foundation. It was established in 2010 to honour the memory of a quite remarkable 14-year-old who had a passion for sport – especially football (soccer) and who wanted to make the world a better place. This remarkable youngster never got to realise his dreams of coaching a junior football team, building a career as a sports journalist and doing good things in the world. He was fatally injured in a scuba diving accident and passed away in July 2010. His family and friends honoured his memory by establishing the RMF to make a difference to others on his behalf.
Since its launch in November 2010, RMF has assisted a number of initiatives and programs to help less fortunate children in Australia, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam and many other countries.
Currently, the RMF through Ambassador like Tim Gaske is busy collecting boots, sneakers and old jerseys to distribute to less fortunate places. Bunnings, Warwick, donated a large wheelie bin to collect second hand gear at Queens Park and one box of boots is already headed to Vanuatu.
Tim is keen to see the donations continue, so don’t toss those old boots and gear. Tim can organise collection points at either Queen’s Park in Warwick or through the Bendigo Bank in Stanthorpe.
The foundation has also provided Tim’s son Hayden Gaske with the opportunity of a lifetime this week. He will be one of a number of kids who get to run onto the field at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night with the Liverpool players prior to their game against the Brisbane Roar. A group of academy coaches and kids has also been invited to the Liverpool training session at Suncorp. It is sure to be a memorable event.
MCCOSKER SIZZLES IN CONDITIONS
MARK McCosker put aside the arctic conditions and returned a hot round to take the honours in last Saturday’s stroke event in Stanthorpe sponsored by Reece Plumbing. McCosker retuned a nett 66, four shots clear of runner-up, Santo Cavallaro (nett 70).
Visitor Ryan Gaske, who plays off plus 4, returned a gross score of 74 off the stick and along the way took the balls on offer for the 17th pin, pin shot at 1/10 and the birdies nest at 9.
Ian Pickering played a good tee shot at 3/12 to hold the pin, Kev Rowling collected the pro-pin at 5/14 and Keith Barnett held on to 9/18.
The ladies event was much closer with Tric Fittock on nett 75 winning the day, two shots clear of runner-up, Neta Thouard, with nett 77.
The winning pair also shared the pin shots, with Tric collecting at 3/12 and Neta holding the approach at 17.
In the run down, it was a ball each to Aaron Simmers, Keith Barnett, Viv Thouard, Ian Pickering and Kay Webb.
In the match play, there was one game decided on Saturday. Keith Barnett advances to the next round after his win over Bill Pyne. The second round of the match play begins this Saturday.
In club events this Saturday, Aqua Rural is the sponsor of the single stableford. Ian Pickering and Len Leigh have answered the call and are in the starter’s box. Tee off is from 11am and the time sheet is on the board at the clubhouse.
BREEZE BLOWS IN MEMORIES
THE cool breeze that greeted the Single Action shooters at Inglewood last weekend brought with it memories of times long past.
Conditions definitely raised thoughts of the past when the cool snow-filled breeze brought coming of winter to the plains.
However, the local gun slingers were unperturbed by thoughts of snow- filled dry gulches as they fought the jail escapees. Doc Solomon defended the sheriff’s office with valour.
The results ended up as follows:
Tom Donald showed his liking for the conditions with a win over the good Doc and Ross Jackson.
Down to the future there was a 50 Rimfire shoot underway at the bench rests.
Martin Unwin had success over Quentin Chapman and Paul Cassis. In the junior event, it was another Unwin taking the honours with Tristan Unwin outgunning William Patterson.
On Sunday, Muzzle loading and Centrefire are on the program and everyone is hoping for kinder conditions.
CIESOLKA RECORD HAUL
BRODIE Ciesolka starred in Wattles big win over Souths last weekend. The five eighth scored a club record six tries in Wattles 70-24 demolition of the Tigers.
The six-try haul has propelled the Wattles player to second place on the TRL try scorer’s list just one try behind Billy Jackwitz. Ciesolka has scored 18 tries this season with 13 of those coming in the past six games which bodes well for Wattles.
Wattles romped in 12 tries in total to make it a clean sweep in all grades. Their reserve grade also had a big win 64-0 while the under 18s had a 44-16.
Wattles now have a firm grip on number one spot on the TRL leader board and this week host Toowoomba Valleys.
Ciesiolka’s six-try haul is an impressive stat however the TRL record is held by former Stanthorpe Gremlin Rod Reeves. In a TRL game against Gatton in 1991, Reeves scored eight tries for the Gremlins. The score in that game was 48-8 – Reeves scoring all but one of the Gremlins tries the remaining try scored by Paul Shatte.
DIFFICULT CONDITONS FOR PLAYERS
BOWLERS at the Summit were forced to deal with the bitterly cold wind and rain last Saturday as they fought out the sectional play in the B grade singles. Against the odds, players managed to get in three rounds. Thanks to the Ray Spiller Michael Sweeney, Len Covill Quinton and Darren Stanley and Wayne Thomas who gave up the warmth of the clubhouse to act as markers for the event. The greens were once again prepared in fine style for the event.
Given the less than ideal conditions on the greens, the results were pleasantly surprising. There were some good bowls played and some really tight heads which always makes for intriguing games.
The players who managed to get through to the semis were Tyler Sweeney, Kurt Empen, Trevor Morris and Brian Wilmot. The knockout semis will be played on a day yet to be determined.
Bowlers are reminded that the Southern Cross Club Warwick is holding the Presidents Singles this weekend. Players who have nominated are required to be there by 8.45am on Saturday to begin play at 9am. Post sectional play will continue on Sunday.
Pennants competition is just around the corner and players are asked to mark their availability or otherwise on the notice board at the summit club. There will be three divisions this year.
TIGERS BACK IN FORM
THE Tenterfield Tigers showed they are back to almost their best with a 64-20 win last weekend over the Killarney Cutters.
Halfback Jack Thomas and centre Josh Lucas each scored three tries in a dominant performance by the Tigers. Captain coach Brendan Minns said he was pleased with the way the side played last weekend and was looking forward to the semi-finals. Aside from Thomas and Lucas, Minns said he was impressed with the performance of Matt Brown, Adam Gennings and Jake Kelly who also kept the scoreboard attendants busy.
In a beaten side, Brett Lambert and Blake Graham were two of Killarney’s best. John Trindall led from the front in normal style, scoring two tries.
The Killarney ladies forfeited their game against the unbeaten Tigerettes.
This weekend Tenterfield host Wallangarra and Killarney host the Gremlins.
GAMES KEENLY CONTESTED
SCHOOL holidays and the less than ideal conditions kept numbers down on the croquet court, but games were keenly played in all three disciplines. In association croquet games last week, Jenny Tunbridge and Pat Schnoor, Pat had breaks of seven and four before pegging out with 26 against her opponents 15. Joy Newman defeated Grace Howard and Andrea Denkewitz 21-17 in their game.
Hoop runners played two games of doubles on Wednesday. The first game was a tough close game – the final score 11 -9. Shirley Evans’ produced some outstanding play in the second game, top scoring with seven hoops including another hoop in one. The final score 13-5. No great surprise that Saturday’s game did not proceed because of the poor weather conditions. Contact Elaine Brown on (07) 4681 4357 for any further details on the game weather. A few stalwarts faced the unsavoury conditions on Friday for Gateball. Players were joined by a couple of eager youngsters, Emily Dickenson and Kara Pereira. The young players enjoyed the game and managed to be on the winning side for two of the games. Game three was a tied event, and in the fourth game the white team managed a win. The court was hired recently for a Christmas in July celebration and the visitors had a wonderful day. The court is available for hire anytime by contacting Margaret Dickenson on 4681 0475.
COWBOYS KNOCK HAWKS OFF THEIR PERCH
THE Warwick Cowboys scored an upset win over the Gatton Hawks at Fr Ranger Oval. The Cowboys win knocked the Hawks off the top of the leader board, a position they shared with Wattles and Highfields and keeps the Cowboys hopes of a top-five finish this season alive.
In a tough game, the Cowboys players stood up, recording a 32-30 win. The home side established a 14-point lead early in the first half. At half time, scores were 24-20. The teams traded tries in the second half. With the game in the balance, a solid team performance and strong defence saw the Cowboys claim two very important competition points. Cowboys fullback Craig Donn bagged three tries in the game.
The Cowboys now sit on 16 points in sixth place just a point behind fifth- placed Dalby. The Cowboys have a bye this weekend and return in round 18 to play Souths at Clive Berghoffer Stadium
NO BEARS BUT A WIN FOR BYRNES
SPORTERS golfers were sure there were polar bears lurking somewhere on the Stanthorpe Golf Course on Sunday. In the cold and windy conditions, Paul Byrnes didn’t find any bears but he found a win probably just keen to get back in to the warmth of the clubhouse ahead of runner-up Jim McPherson. The run-downs went to Dick Hilton and Ray Thorn. Hannah Reeves had the Best Gross and claimed the Pro Pin. The Pin Shot on the 12th went to No Won Kim but Dave Williams took the 17th. Mark Lynam and Terry Byrnes each went home with a meat tray. Sporters send out a very big thank you to their barman Don Carey for coming out in such freezing weather to make sure all players were well hydrated. No point being thirsty as well as suffering hypothermia. A reminder that there will be no Sporters on Sunday 26 July due to the Landmark Golf day, however you can join in the fun this Sunday with tee of scheduled for 8am-8.30am.
GREMLINS DOMINATE
IN BITTER conditions last Saturday, the Stanthorpe Gremlins notched up another impressive win. The Gremlins are dominating the Border Rugby league in season 2015 and on Saturday notched up a 46-12 over the Wallangarra Rams.
The Gremlins skipped away to an early 10-0 lead before the Rams hit back. In the second half, the Rams had no answers against the solid Gremlins attack. Ben Staley had an outstanding game at lock and was instrumental in the Gremlins win while the combination of two of the young Gremlins Tom Cameron and Tom Jensen is developing into a nice partnership.
The ladies game between the Gremlinettes and Ramettes brought the crowd to its feet as the two sides played out a 10-all draw.
