with Chris Karas
Howard a Tiger at Heart!
Prime Minister John Howard revealed he is really a Tiger at heart at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday even though he is patron of his childhood St George Illawarra Dragons.
Mr Howard visited Leichhardt Oval where he was enthusiastically greeted by Balmain and Wests Tigers officials, players and Balmain juniors including Balmain Tigers legends Benny Elias, Garry Jack and Paul Sironen.
Balmain Tigers officials wanted to thank the Prime Minister for pledging $8 million towards the upgrading of Leichhardt Oval for the benefit of more than 100,000 people annually in a number of sports in addition to the Balmain Tigers, Wests Tigers and Balmain Junior Rugby League.
More than half of Balmain Junior Rugby League players live in the Bennelong electorate of the prime minister including the North Ryde Hawks, Holy Cross Rhinos, Carlingford Cougars and Dundas Shamrocks.
Prime Minister John Howard at Leichhardt Oval Sunday with Balmain Tigers legends Garry Jack, Benny Elias and Paul Sironen, front row, with lifetime Tiger Lady Gwennie Bosler and Balmain Tigers president David Trodden, director Danny Stapleton, CEO Tim Camiller and Wests Tigers CEO Steve Noyce.
Also pictured Balmain Junior League players including Paul Sironen’s sons Bayley and Curtis, Garry Jack’s son Brandon, Danny Stapleton’s son and John Stapleton’s grandson Billy Stapleton and representing other clubs Liam Maguire, Fabian Sirianni and Jordan Gernhoefer. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Tigeriffic Trio!
Prime Minister John Howard congratulated Tigers Kangaroo hooker-in-waiting Robbie Farah at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday with lifetime Tigers supporter Gwennie “Tiger Lady” Bosler whose father Robert Stuart was a dual Rugby Union and League international – a Wallaby 1910 and a Kangaroo 1911-1912 – and husband John Bosler a 1953 touring Wallaby. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Warm Welcome for ex-Tigers
LEGENDARY Balmain rugby league forward Greg Fryer caught up with old cricket team-mates at the Welcome Cricket Club reunion last Saturday at the Welcome Hotel at Rozelle.
He was one of several ex-Balmain footballers that attended the get-together to reminisce about their successful campaigns in the Balmain-Drummoyne, Western Suburbs and Gladesville Cricket Associations during the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Greg is pictured with brother Wayne Fryer, John Stanton, Barry and Ken Hogg, John Gibson, Bob Sundstrom, Ron Wicks, Noel Jamieson, John Watson, Bram Reed, Graham Pearce, Bruce Parnell, John Bateman, Greg and Mark Walters, Mick Campbell, Dick Sherriff and TWT Sports Editor Chris Karas. Kangaroo league greats Wayne Pearce and Greg Brentnall and top grade opener Gregg Everest also had stints with the Welcome. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Rain a huge factor
SYDNEY Cricket Club host Sutherland in a two day Sydney first grade competition fixture commencing this Saturday at Drummoyne Oval.
The new-look Tigers team have experienced a frustrating start to their 2007-08 campaign with narrow losses and washed out matches hampering the cause.
No play was possible against Hawkesbury and Fairfield-Liverpool clubs last weekend due to the big wet, leaving the Tigers in a huge predicament.
With only a solitary win in the top grade to date, Sydney skipper Jon Moss says the Tigers are desperate for points as they attempt to kick-start their season.
“It has been a tough time for the boys - we just can’t take a trick,” revealed Moss, who has led by example in the early rounds of the competition.
“We have some quality players that will only get better with experience” he said.
“Winning games is all about understanding the key moments and I believe we have the talent to turn things around.”
JON MOSS - strong leadership with Tigers.
Benji & Joey put on clinic
HE’S conquered all in the football arena and rubbed shoulders with the sporting elite - now Allan ‘Joey’ Jarvis has unveiled his entrepreneurial skills in the Ryde-Eastwood Touch Football Association.
‘Joey’ has lured two of the biggest names to the Putney Pirates First Division team this summer - Wests Tigers’ superstar Benji Marshall and fellow Kiwi international Bronson Harrison.
“They want to play with the best,” piped up Joey, who told The Weekly Times that he was approached by the Tigers’ duo at the end of the NRL season.
“After weeks of negotiations I can proudly say that Benji and Bronson are now fully fledged Pirates.”
“And what a show we’ve got in store with Joey and Benji to call the shots” he revealed.
For the record, the Pirates opened their 2007-08 campaign with a 5-3 victory over Raven Electrical and no prize for guessing who engineered the first-up win.
Benji turned on the style with his customary jump, step and flick pass to a flying Joey who positioned Harrison to score a crucial try.
“Forget the Benji flick - what about Joey’s attacking instincts and off load to Bronson that smacked of true class,” said a modest AJ.
“We might have the likes of big brother Paul and Cameron Nicholls in our stable but watch Joey strike up a lethal combination with the master Benji.”
And AJ has a message to his representative colleagues: “I’m back for the State Cup to run the show and entertain my loyal female supporters.”
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JOEY will manage both Pirates squads this summer but the RETFA salary cap has claimed an early victim - yours truly!
“We’ve released ‘Scoop’ to top up the contracts of heavyweights Rod Farlow and Col Lawson and cagey veterans Richard Jones and Doug Nicholls,” said AJ.
“Scoop’s ice cream deal was not renewed so he’ll sit the season out.”
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WHO were the prominent First Division players and ex-Tigers stars that missed their team’s first up victory last week - due to a wine tasting.
The pair were spotted at a local establishment, sampling a selection of Watershed wines while their under-manned team mates conjured up a gutsy win. It looks like the pair will be starting off the bench in coming weeks.
FIRST DIVISION: (Round 1) Putney Pirates 5 Raven Electrical 3; Cactus Imaging 5 First National 3; Ken Morrow 5 Polo Smash 1; Ross Patten 6 Ray White 4; Balmain Tigers 4 Fitzpatrick Joinery 1; Vikings 4 Nothin Over 12 1; Blues 9 Ogala 0; Gladesville Sporties 5 West Ryde Trophies 2; Taxi Clothing & Attractive Blinds (byes).
SECOND DIVISION: (Round 1) Putney Pirates 4 Damo’s Dodgers 2; Boronia Park Framing 4 Vintage Nads 2; Southern Cross Switchboards 5 Cougars 3; Moonies 7 Palmer’s Glass 0; Polo Smash 1 The Tahs 1; Page 96 3 Fosters 1; Lightning Numbers 2 TCS 1; The D as (bye).
MIXED: (Round 1) Ken Morrow 5 Untouchables 1; Dupay 3 Custom Building 1; Touchdowns 8 Little Boys 4; Page 96 7 Ray White 3; The Other Mob 6 Pitto’s 0; Drugstore Cowboys (bye).
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ALL SAINTS U/12 Div 3 soccer team that defeated Macquarie Combined Sports 3-0 in the Grand Final to collect a deserved premiership title. Pictured are Nick Banu-Lawrence, Beni Bodonvi, Luke D’Ambrosio, Tom Fahey, Nick Frankland, James Lewis, Joshua Manton, Jordan Sintras, Cameron Stevens, Tom Treseder, Rebecca Vadnay, Kelham Waterfield, Julian Wise, Hamish Miles. Goals by Stevens (2) and Fahey secured the trophy for the Hunters Hill club.
Pirates Junior Cricket Roundup
U/8: Ryde-Hunters Hill Royals 88 (Matt Luke 17, Eden Bradford 17, Will Lawson 16) d Balmain Golden Tigers 38 (Jacob Speedy 2-0, Peter Munns 1-0, W Lawson 1-0, E Bradford 1-0); Concord RSL Blue 6-31 (Prakhar Sharma 1-2) d RHH Mariners 7-20 (Daniel Monardo 7, Christian Morfuni 5, Tim Khoo 5, P Sharma 5); RHH Jack Sparrows 1-60 (Josh Lewis 15, Cameron Dalton 7, Eshen Shaikh 6) d Five Dock RSL 4-30 (E Shaikh 1-1, Caleb Galeh 1-3, C Dalton 1-3); RHH Galleons 3-77 (David Mulherin 1-6, Liam Scott 1-8) d RHH Buccaneers 4-74 (L Scott 19, D Mulherin 10, Rory Downes 4); Holy Cross 2-61 (Daniel Viana 1-5, Ben Kirby 1-15) d RHH Blackpearls 6-42 (Ethan Garrett 11, D Viana 6, Adam Houssenloge 6);
U/9: RHH Swashbucklers 3-171 (Nick Ford 30, Alastair Dunstan 26, Anthony Lawrence 26, Gabe Doran-Jones 26) d Holy Cross 67 (G Doran-Jones 3-19, N Ford 2-3, Alex Parry 2-4); Balmain White 4-130 (Ben Leotta 1-11, Harry Foristal 1-13) d RHH Mariners 65 (H Foristal 13, B Leotta 6, Lachlan Seers 5); RHH Jolly Rogers 5-129 (J Hansen 27, Will Roser 22, Josh Bass 19) d Concord RSL White 18 (W Roser 3-4, Niall Cummins 2-2, Harry Pascoe 1-2); RHH Jack Sparrows 1-157 (Jack Parkinson 21, Matt Rudge 16, Oliver Stevens 15, Madeline Williams 15) d Gladesville RSL 6-90 (Scott Brooks 2-8, M Williams 1-12, M Rudge 1-12); RHH Buccaneers 5-102 (Max McKay 19, Angus McElroy 13, Sam Clark 7) d Balmain Bengal Tigers 42 (Tom Jullienne 2-2, Zac Sheffield 1-2, M McKay 1-2); RHH Blackpearls 6-124 (Matt Bencsik 17, Max Jones 14, Xavier Rickard 12) d Balmain Raj Tigers 91 (James Raciti 2-8, X Rickard 2-9, M Bencsik 2-15).
U/10: RHH Mariners 3-62 (Saul Lewis 9no, Nathan Dufficy 7, Charlie Hollands 6no) d Gladesville RSL Green 4-61 (Liam Storan 1-5, Darcy Searl 1-5); RHH Buccaneers 9-106 (Will Foristal 24, Will Hinchey 18no, Joel Foristal 8no) d Balmain Sabre Tigers 85 (Sam John 3-4, Jack James 3-7, Dan Greco 1-8); Five Dock RSL Green 4-74 (Roshan Kander 1-7, Jacob Smith 1-8) d RHH Blackbeards 7-72 (Frazer Campbell 12no, R Kander 11no, Alex Cerroti 9);
U/11: RHH Mariners 3 dec 161 (Ben John 52 ret, Jordan Naylor 29no, James McGarry 24no, Mackenzie Baldwin 22) d Five Dock RSL 103 (Eddie Yabsley 4-10, B John 3-13) & 9-38 (B John 2-2, Matt Bass 2-8, Mike Spackman 2-11);
U/12: RHH Royals 181 (Anthony Meagher 52, Doug Paish 32, Connor Rae 18) d Concord RSL White 74 (Adrian Byrne 4-4, C Rae 2-6) & 84 (Shashvat Sharma 3-15) outright.
U/14: RHH Pirates 7-215 (Jordan Millar 64, Larson Rungwerth 46, Franco Rocca 39, S Caccamo 16no) drew with Epping YMCA (washed out).
Swim star Sean a quiet achiever
OUTSTANDING 14 year old swimmer Sean Grant is the North Ryde RSL Youth Club Sportsperson of the Year for 2007.
The award caps a stellar rise for the “quiet achiever” who is now ranked one of Australia’s top 10 breaststroke swimmers for his age.
Last year he was the recipient of the North Ryde RSL Encouragement Award for sportspersons over 12 years and it certainly had the right effect - capturing three gold medals and a bronze at the 2007 RSL State Championships.
Sean, who is vice captain of the North Ryde RSL Youth Club Swimming, won gold in the 50m breaststroke, freestyle relay and medley relay and bronze in the 50m freestyle events.
In the process he qualified for the Australian National Age Championship in 100m breaststroke (U/13s), earning himself a top ten national ranking.
Sean’s participation with North Ryde RSL these past three seasons has been the catalyst for him to progress upward to the highest levels in competitive swimming.
Last year as a member of the SAC Seals at Homebush he qualified for the U/12 NSW Age Short Course Championships in the 50m & 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke.
Sean has also represented Zone 2/7 in four events - the maximum available to any one competitor- at State level for the past two seasons.
This year he is swimming as part of the SOPAC Swim Team at Homebush and represented North Ryde RSL at NSW State Age Short Course and Long Course Championships.
Sean won silver in 100m breaststroke (1 min 13:94) at the Sydney Metropolitan Short Course titles and gold in 200m breaststroke (2 min 43:87) at the Wizards Meet.
An excellent role model, Sean has the potential to go a long way in the sport and is earmarked for higher honors.
Other Sportsperson of Year contenders were Jarryd Stanley, 14 (baseball); Tom Crockart, 15 (cricket); Peter Ireland, 12 (gymnastics) and Stephanie-Kay Zakarija, 14 (netball).
Sportsperson of Year Sean Grant with North Ryde RSL Youth Club president Andrew Moylan at the Club’s 50th Anniversary luncheon last Sunday. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Jessica is China bound
GOLFING whiz Jessica Noh has qualified for the Aaron Baddley International Junior Championship to be held at the Dragon Lake Golf Club, Guangzhou, China from November 26 to December 2.
The 16 year old Marsden High School student earned an invitation after winning both the International Junior Championship at Cessnock Golf Club and Brett Ogle Junior Masters at Goulburn Golf Course last month.
Winner of the China event will gain automatic qualification for the 2008 Australian Womens Open.
To cap a big year, Jessica has received the prestigious Combined High Schools Blue Award for outstanding achievement in golf.
All Saints march on to soccer titles
ALL SAINTS Hunters Hill Soccer Club recently conducted a successful Presentation & Skills Day at Gladesville Reserve.
Trophies and medals were presented to all members including the club’s premiership teams - U/9 Division 4, U/11 Division 6 and U/12 Division 3.
ALL SAINTS U/9 Div 4 team (pictured above) that defeated Holy Cross 1-0 to clinch the Gladesville-Hornsby soccer premiership. Pictured are Zachary Banu-Lawrence, Andrew Chapman, Michael Denniss, Ben Juergens, Roshan Kander, Min-Hee Keane, Bayley Lucas, Callum Paterson, James Rennie, Aiden Water-field, Harry Whiston, Wilson Wise, Oliver Young. Chapman scored the winning goal.
ALL SAINTS U/11 Div 6 soccer team that toppled Saints United 3-0 in this year’s Grand Final to clinch the Gladesville-Hornsby premiership.
Pictured are Tim Bullock, Daniel Calvetti, Charlie Cummins, Rohan Downs, David Evans, Jack Hearn, Emily Lightowler, Isobel McKenzie, Patrick McManus, Harrison Moffitt, Nick Sherbinski, Louisa Sinclair, Sally Van Der Vegt, James Webb. McManus starred for the All Saints with a hat-trick of goals in the title decider.
U/14 netballers win Pan Pacific title
MODEL Farms Under 14 netball team has taken out the inaugural Pan Pacific Netball Championships held recently in Canberra.
Teams from all over Australia and New Zealand competed at the championships with Model Farm winning all 12 games to clinch the trophy.
The Model Farm girls were meant to travel to Fiji in 2006 to compete in the South Pacific Games but due to the coup happening at the time, this didn’t eventuate. The girls have spent 18 months fund raising, applying for sports grants, running cake stalls, garage sales, trivia nights and selling chocolates.
They had finally reached their goal with the help of Castle Hill Country Club.
Model Farm played in gale force conditions and proved too strong for their opponents.
The Grand Final was played against a Brisbane team and it went down to the wire with Model Farms securing the championship by a point. They were the only NSW team to win and now hold the title of 2007 Pan Pacific Netball Champions Under 14 division.
Coach Lisa Moses said the quality of skills displayed by the entire team was proof of the hard work the girls had put in all year.
“Their exceptional teamwork, hard play and never die attitude got them over the line in the end,” said Lisa.
“By the end of the week the girls were absolutely exhausted but showed true determination to win. They deserve this trophy and I’m extremely proud of each and everyone of them.”
The team would like to thank the Castle Hill Country Club for their support, along with family and friends who encouraged the girls all the way.
Special thanks go to Emma Mansfield for taking time out to come to Canberra and umpire and astute coach Lisa for her total commitment to the girls.
PICTURED back l to r Amy Sommerville (Carlingford Flames), Amber Buckland, Lisa Moses (coach Carlingford Flames), Jessica Nelson, Isabella Figg; front Aimee Calderara (Carlingford Flames), Lauren Dowle, Rebecca Kosiak, Emma Moses (Carlingford Flames).
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Col Hilder, Max Byrne and Greg Carroll (pictured) defeated Tony Marcellino, Jim Hamilton and Dick Vinton 28-20 to clinch Ryde City Mens Bowling Club’s 2007 Triples championship.
Golden memories for Ruth & Barry
FORMER East Ryde identities Barry and Ruth Milwain (pictured) celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with a recent weekend trip to Port Stephens with 28 members of their immediate family.
Barry, originally from Camperdown and Ruth from Hurstville, met while on holidays at Greenmount Guest House in Coolangatta Queensland and after a two year courtship were married on November 2, 1957 at St Declans Catholic Church Penshurst. In 1961 they built a new home in the Dress Circle Estate at East Ryde where they raised their four daughters Sandra, Robyn, Karen and Jeanette. Daughter Sandra (Hutchinson) is an administrative dynamo with Balmain District Rugby League Football Club and Tigers Leagues Club, where she’s worked for the past 18 years. Barry and Ruth lived in East Ryde for 41 years before retiring and moving to Kellyville. They now have eight grandchildren. The popular couple are continuing their anniversary celebrations with a trip just for themselves to Perth on the Indian Pacific. Family and friends congratulate the pair on reaching a golden milestone.
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