with Chris Karas
TWT Club 6 Sports Stars
Australian womens rugby league rep Jessica Palmer and exciting baseball prospect Adam Barbaro received their $300 TWT Club Six/Ryde Sports Foundation Sports Star of the Month awards last Friday night at Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club.
They are pictured with RSF committee members Ray Seary, deputy chairman Edna Wilde OAM, treasurer Beryl Ackroyd and TWT Sports Editor Chris Karas, Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club directors Jack King and Dennis Petkovich, North Ryde RSL Community Club president Barry Herbert, North Ryde Golf Club General Manager Brenden Ellam, Gladesville Sporties Club president John Lucas and senior vice president John Gibson and Ryde Ex Services Club director Andrew McLellan. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO. To nominate a Sports Star write to: RSF Secretary Neita Matthews OAM, PO Box 395 Ryde 1680.
Tigers on prowl in State Cup finals
BALMAIN-RYDE EASTWOOD rugby league team have qualified for the 2008 NSWRL State Cup finals series after a gutsy 28-16 win over title contenders Newtown last Saturday at a rain-drenched Henson Park.
Paul Fletcher’s gallant and rejuvenated Tigers produced another herculean effort against the experienced Jets to seal eighth spot and regain the Neil Pringle-Trevor Ryan Shield.
It was a fourth consecutive triumph for the Balmain-Ryde boys and set up a finals showdown with minor premiers North Sydney this Saturday at North Sydney Oval at 3pm.
Key forwards Ryan Tandy, David Gower, Alan Schirnack and utility Jarred Farlow turned in powerhouse performances as the Tigers roared to victory with a dominant second half showing against Newtown in the wet.
Tandy (3) and Gower (2) scored all their team’s five tries and proved a handful in the wet conditions.
Decimated by injuries and player transfers for much of the season, the Tigers have shown character and spirit in recent weeks to zoom into premiership calculations.
For coach Fletcher - a City of Ryde Council employee - the NSW Cup campaign has proved an emotional rollercoaster with the Tigers losing nine games by three points or less.
A month ago the team was languishing at the bottom of the ladder - but now the former Balmain and South Sydney playmaker has his charges firing on all cylinders and in a giant-killing frame of mind.
Fletcher’s revved up Tigers played with purpose and composure and wrapped up a finals berth when prop Tandy burst through to score his third try of the match with two minutes left on the clock.
The try enabled Balmain to secure the Shield on a points for and against over two competition matches basis.
This trophy is conducted annually between the Tigers and Jets and has become a keenly-contested prize between the two 1908 rugby league foundation clubs.
It honors two league legends in Pringle and Trevor Ryan, who served both the Balmain and Newtown clubs with distinction during their careers.
The popular Pringle and ex-Tigers centre Denis Bendall sang the Balmain victory song with gusto in the dressing room post match as the visitors celebrated one of the club’s finest achievements.
Balmain lost rep forward Tevita Metuisela and centre Chris Tuatara before the clash and gun fullback Rhys Hanbury (shoulder) in the opening minute but showed tenacity and skill to repel the Bluebags with a super defensive effort after the break - restricting the Jets to one second half try.
Schirnack was a rock in defence while utility Stephen Moses, half Gavin Cowan and Justin Hunt also shone for the stout-hearted Tigers.
Newtown were best served by hooker Rory Kostjasyn, lock Hep Cahill and skipper and five-eighth Sean Rudder who used all his experience and guile to try and prise open the Balmain defence.
The Jets tackle the Windsor Wolves in a preliminary semi-final this Saturday at Henson Park at 3pm.
Balmain-Ryde coach Fletcher urges all Tigers supporters to flock to North Sydney Oval this Saturday afternoon to spur on his resurgent young team.
BALMAIN-RYDE EASTWOOD 28 (R Tandy 3, D Gower 2 tries; S Moses 4 gls) d NEWTOWN 16 (H Cahill 2, S Foley tries; H Cahill 2 gls).
Neil Pringle with triumphant Balmain-Ryde Eastwood captain Lee Bennett, Newtown skipper Sean Rudder and Jets’ president Barry Vining. Photo by Jason McCawley Photography.
Brett bows out winner
WESTS Tigers warrior Brett Hodgson ended his NRL career on a positive note with a Player of the Match performance on the Gold Coast last Sunday.
The inspirational fullback produced a vintage display in the Tigers’ rousing 28-12 victory over the Titans at Skilled Stadium - with his sure catching under the high ball and scything defence a feature.
Hodgson - who is bound for English Super League club Huddersfield - sparked the Tigers with his backline forays, pulled off five try saving tackles and booted four goals to cap an outstanding game.
The unpredictable Tigers saved their best until last with mercurial five eighth Benji Marshall also starring in the impressive win.
But it was all to no avail as the Tigers finished a disappointing tenth in the NRL competition with 26 points.
Marshall bounced back to his dynamic best and menaced the Titans with his tricky step and magic passing to help engineer a morale-boosting victory.
It was just the tonic for the gifted Marshall who will spearhead the New Zealand Test side in this year’s Centenary World Cup that kicks-off next month.
Other Tigers to shine were forwards Dene Halatau, Chris Heighington, Liam Fulton and Bronson Harrison, half John Morris and rookie centre Tim Moltzen.
MEANWHILE Wests Tigers surrended a finals berth with a 38-22 loss to Gold Coast in the NYC U/20 competition.
The Titans came from behind to sink the Tiger cubs and snatch eighth spot.
WESTS TIGERS 28 (T Moltzen 2, C Lawrence, B Ryan, T Tuiaki tries; B Hodgson 4 gls) d GOLD COAST 12 (S Prince, B Delaney tries; S Prince 2 gls).
Jubilant Tigers’ skipper Lee Bennett and team-mates celebrate their Pringle-Ryan Shield win over Newtown last Saturday at Henson Park that clinched a NSW Cup finals berth. Photo by Jason McCawley Photography.
Green Shield Cricket Trials
SYDNEY Cricket Club will hold its 2008/09 A.W Green Shield U/16 trials on Sunday September 14, 21 and 28 at St Ignatius College (Riverview) No 2 Oval nets from 11am to 2pm.
The College is situated in Tambourine Bay Road, Lane Cove.
Bring all your own cricket gear, drinks, afternoon snacks and sunscreen.
Wear clothes suitable for cricket practice (whites not necessary). Rubber soled shoes. A number of players may be invited to an intra squad match in the October school holidays. Inquiries Daryl Chappelow 0423 798 956.
Hawks win Tipping comp
RYDE-Eastwood Leagues Club Board of Directors have staved off a strong challenge to win The Weekly Times 2008 Footy Tipping competition.
The Hawks contingent - led by former Balmain and Parramatta hooker Keith Aggett (pictured) - racked up 1211/2 points to pip the North Ryde RSL Community Club team (120 1/2) by a point.
Ryde Ex Services Club (1161/2) finished third with defending champion - TWT Sports Editor Chris Karas - grabbing fourth spot with 1151/2 points.
They were followed by Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts, Concord RSL Community Club and Gladesville Sporties all tied on 1131/2 points; retired Deputy Premier and Ryde MP John Watkins and Putney-Tennyson Bowling Club (1121/2 points); The One-Eyed Tiger (1111/2 points); Guest Tipsters on 1071/2 points with Bennelong MP Maxine McKew (1061/2) collecting the wooden spoon.
Congratulations to the Ryde-Eastwood boys on a deserved win and to Barry Herbert’s North Ryde RSL team for pushing them all the way.
SCG visit for cricket cubs
SEVEN promising junior cricketers enjoyed a treat when they were invited to participate at the Sydney Tigers Cricket Club Open Day recently at the SCG outdoor nets.
Pictured with Tigers’ cricketers Anthony Brooks, Darren Ettridge, Adam Maher, Cameron Lane and Director of Coaching David Kelly are talented 13 year old prospects Joshua Camroux and George Karas; Josh Jeffery,12 and nine year old cubs Luke Jeffery, Will Bradley, Bennett Wheelhouse and Lachlan Camroux. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Hunters Hill celebrate rugby Cup trophy win
HUNTERS Hill fourth grade rugby team are the toast of the Club after bringing home the 2008 Nicholson Cup premiership trophy.
The Hillies overcame a determined Petersham outfit 12 -0 last Saturday at Granville Rugby Park - displaying skill and courage in the atrocious conditions to cap a memorable Grand Final win.
It was the club’s second Nicholson Cup title and much praise goes to experienced coaches Phil Shaw and David Polly (coach in 2005) who prepared the team to perfection.
Skipper Richard Colley won the toss and ran with the wind in the first half, a decision that paid dividends as the Hillies used the wind and ball to camp inside the Petersham half.
It was a tough first stanza as both sides found it difficult to hold onto the ball. Props Will Wassell and Hayden Brown stood strong in the scrums and gave Hillies the platform to kick downfield. Midway through the half, winger Ben Williams put pressure on his opposite to number to get Hillies a line out close to the try line.
Petersham tried to clear their line with a misdirected kick enabling Hunters Hill centre Mark French to grab the ball just outside the 22 metre line and offloaded a pass to five eighth Ron White who combined with centre Simeli Latilevu and fullback Ryan O’Toole to send winger Ross Warwick sliding over to score out wide.
Clever flanker Renny Iles ripped the ball from Petersham hands to feed back to the Hilles forwards with halfback Colley sneaking down the blind side to score in the corner.
White calmly slotted the conversion from the sideline for a 12 -0 lead. The second half saw Hillies rugged defence stand out and repel each wave of attack.
Second rowers Rob Knight and Matthew Shelton had top games winning and spoiling lineout ball while replacements Kurt Gelling, Max Marraffa, Scott Liddicoat, Will Carew and Glen Morrissey were used as fresh legs and defended superbly. Tireless efforts were also turned in by Liam Cooper, Jono Gelling and standout hooker Andy Ball.
For most of the team and coach Shaw it was a maiden premiership.
•MEANWHILE Hunters Hill junior teams had mixed success in recent Grand Final action with the mighty Under 10B side trouncing Manly Roos 32-5 to capture the premiership.
The Hillies 11B side put up stern resistance before succumbing 17-0 to a well drilled Collaroy team. More later.
Hunters Hill fourth grade premiership-winning squad that lifted the Nicholson Cup was: Will Wassell, Andy Ball, Hayden Brown, Rob Knight, Matthew Shelton, Renny Iles, Liam Cooper, Jon Gelling, Richard Colley, Ron White, Ross Warwick, Mark French, Simeli Latilevu, Ben Williams, Ryan O’Toole, Stuart Brunsdon, Max Marraffa, Mark Thornton, Chris Groves, Scott Liddicoat, Glen Morrissey, Will Carew, Victor Yang, Jim Bone, Greg Forsyth, Nathan James, Kurt Gelling, Loni Katoa, Evan Tanswell, Tom Mazzaferro, Glenn Truelove, Jonathon Cuniowski, Jack Sandell, Lex Ratumaiyale, Paul Shields, Tim Dodds, Peter Quinn and coach Phil Shaw.
Major Pairs triumph
JIM Sadler and Charles Phillips have taken out the Hunters Hill Mens Bowling Club Major Pairs championship title. In a dominating display, Sadler and Phillips led 18-1 after 13 ends and despite a fight back by Joe Morris and Gerry Curtis cruised to a comfortable 22-14 victory.
Soccer Tigers win Grand Final thriller
EPPING-EASTWOOD Tigers’ Over 35 Division 1 soccer team produced a courageous performance to sink the mighty West Ryde Rovers 3-1 in the recent Gladesville-Hornsby Association Grand Final at Christie Park.
No doubt the Tigers went into the game as underdogs against the star-studded Rovers side - the undefeated 2008 premiers - but someone forgot to tell them.
The large crowd was treated to an exciting game with some high profile names taking their place in the starting line up.
Former Socceroos skipper Paul Okon, Francis Awaratife and Kimon Taliadoros were just some of the Rovers personnel looking to end their successful season with a Grand Final triumph.
Club President at Epping Eastwood Ian Kendal commented after the game that both sides had many chances and the result could have gone either way.
He was also positive about the large crowd that came to watch the season finale for the Over 35’s.
“Regardless of the result, tonight’s game was a win for football” he said.
Rovers’ secretary Andy Harrison was just as philosophical about the result: “Epping Eastwood went into the game with nothing to lose and showed true courage by throwing everything they had at us,” he said. “No excuses - the best team on the night took the silverware.”
The game was a fitting end to the Over 35 Division 1 competition this season that showcased some real talent from all teams involved.
Perhaps the biggest winner on the night was Gladesville Hornsby Football Association, who continue to promote and support excellent football at all levels of the game.
$10,000 boost for Motor Neurone Association
WESTS Tigers half-back John Morris recently presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association of NSW at Concord Oval.
The cheque for $10,000 was part of the proceeds raised at the Wests Tigers Players Dinner night at Balmain Leagues Club in May. John presented the cheque to MND Fundraising Manager Kym Neilsen.
Morris has been a great supporter of MND after losing his father to the disease in 2002. Team-mate Bryce Gibbs also lost an uncle to MND, so it is an organisation very close to the hearts of the Tigers’ players.
Morris also attended the launch of MND Week to learn first hand the research going into finding a cure for the terrible disease.
“Wests Tigers are making a great effort for Motor Neurone Disease,’’ Kym said.
“We are very pleased to have this association with John and the Wests Tigers. I know it is appreciated by all at MND.’’
Friends of Fagan Park
In conjunction with the 2008 Country & Garden Fair, The Friends of Fagan Park will open the Historical Area, Fagan Park on Arcadia Road Galston on Sunday September 21 from 10am to 4pm.
Relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of famous cake - it won’t break the budget. Come and enjoy the experience of going back in time. Inquiries Ian 9653 1692 or Kath 9484 3521.
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