with Chris Karas
Arnold back to bolster Tigers
SRI LANKAN international Russel Arnold is padding up for another stint in Sydney grade cricket with the Sydney Tigers Cricket Club.
Arnold will line up for the Tigers this Saturday against Parramatta at Old Kings Oval in the opening round of the 2008-09 Sydney first grade competition.
The stylish batsman - who played 44 Tests and 180 one-day matches for Sri Lanka before announcing his retirement from international cricket after last year’s World Cup Final loss to world champions Australia in the Caribbean - is set to play the majority of the summer with the Sydney club.
Arnold is contracted to play in the upcoming ICL Twenty 20 series in India and will fly out after the limited overs clash with Parramatta.
He’ll miss a few early matches including the October 11 one-day fixture against Randwick-Petersham at Bradman Oval, Bowral before returning to Sydney in mid-November.
The Tigers hope Arnold can reproduce the batting touch that saw him register a majestic 148 against Parramatta on Australia Day this year.
Sydney have acquired the services of talented Bankstown all rounder Darren Ettridge, North Sydney opening bat Sam Perry and South African all rounder Aubrey Steyn, who was recruited from the Perth first grade competition.
Former Victorian all rounder Jon Moss will again skipper the Tigers and is gearing up for a big summer with both bat and ball.
He’ll be looking for solid contributions from top order bats Anthony Brooks, Tim Sparke and keeper James Crosthwaite, quick bowlers Adam Maher and Nathan Ball and spinner Luke Donovan.
Young talent time for Hillies juniors
HUNTERS HILL Junior Rugby experienced a successful 2008 season by featuring in seven Grand Finals in the Metropolitan North Zone age competitions.
Club president Andrew Skelly said the Hunters Hill Juniors were bubbling with young talent and on the verge of a golden era after snaring two premierships and finishing runners up in five other age divisions.
A highlight was the superb performance of the Under 10A Hunters Hill team that brought home the club’s first MNZ A Grade title after a thumping 21-0 victory over Chatswood.
Pictured l to r are James Asshurst, Alex Crotti, Darcy Searl, Josh Starr, Joe Skelly, Chris Gale, Vea Tapa, Kallan Millar, Cameron Fazzari, Issac Lewis, Louis Gray, Leyton Holley, Jachin Seumanutafa, Paul McCaffery, Jericho Endemann and Nic Rea.
Outstanding junior Darcy Searl turned in a Player of the Match display - scoring all his team’s points with three tries and three conversions to engineer an historic victory.
But the win was established on the back of a very strong defensive effort from the Hunters Hill youngsters who secured a ‘double’ after the club’s Under 10B side downed Manly 29-5 the previous week to capture the trophy.
Oliver Young (2), Harry Kemp, Andrew Camilleri and James Rennie scored tries for Hunters Hill with Kemp and Edward Gregory booting conversions.
In other Grand Finals, the Hunters Hill U/13A team were beaten 15-10 by a powerful Manly outfit - studded with rep players - in a hard fought tussle while the U/11B (17-0); U/13D (8-5); U/14D (10-7) and U/15C (22-10) pushed their rivals all the way with gutsy performances.
Back Row - Paul McCaffrey, James Guy, Jake Jamieson (c), Liam Houlihan, Dan McElroy-O’Connell, Tom Carrette, Harry Kemp, Max McKay, Oliver Young, Adam Goldie. Front Row - Hugo Hughes, Tom Conaghan, Andrew Camilleri, Patrick Stevens, Sam Van der Burgh, Edward Gregory (vc), James Rennie, Alex Crotti, Alex Robinson. Laying down - Joe Skelly.
Moore sails to victory
HEAT One of seven heat series 16 Foot skiffs in the Drummoyne Sailing Club championship was won in convincing style by Bruce Moore’s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Moore’s 16 skiffs victory was full of merit and experience as during the race his skiff had capsized. Bruce and his crew quickly recovered in gusty wind conditions and still won the event from arch rival Brett Pollitt’s Benton Real Estate.
Third place was Frank Malone’s Express Boat Covers. Talented youngster Dave Mitchell in Austex Marine Fabrics finished in fourth position.
Hartley TS class opening race was won in decisive style by reigning champion Eric Partland in Uncle Bob, who led all the way. Robert Speedy in DC finished second while Charlie Brown sailed by Justine Tornai took out third spot.
Drummoyne Sailing club is looking for volunteers to assist in the racing on Saturdays. If you are interested contact Ed Williams on 9719-8199 on Saturday at the Club.
Come down to the club to experience the thrills and spills of the 16foot skiffs races each Saturday commencing at 1pm.
Wests in Grand Final qualifier
BALMAIN-Ryde Eastwood rugby league team bowed out of the VB NSW Cup title race after a 34-18 loss to Manly in an elimination final last Sunday at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Sea Eagles - spearheaded by NRL forward Adam Cuthbertson - ended Balmain’s Grand Final charge with a stunning second half display to reach the last four.
Manly trailed 18-6 at the break but scored five unanswered tries in the second stanza to set up a showdown with Wentworthville in a Grand Final qualifier this Sunday at Campbelltown.
The courageous young Tigers - most nursing injuries - looked certain to advance after a dominant first half effort led by power running prop Ryan Tandy and five eighth Jarred Farlow.
They drew first blood with a Farlow try that was converted by fullback Rhys Hanbury before Manly levelled soon after with a try by Clint Haldon and Sean Meaney conversion.
Balmain-Ryde gained the upper hand when Farlow stepped through tackles and set up a try for Tandy in the 25th minute for a 12-6 lead before utility Brendan Vengoa backed up to score his side’s third try after a Tandy break.
Hanbury added the extras to put the Tigers in the box seat. But Manly turned the match after the interval when fullback Michael Bani, Haldon, centre Shane Neumann, winger Meaney and prop Phil Morwood crossed for tries in an amazing comeback - piling on 28 points in a productive 20 minute period that snuffed out the Tigers’ challenge.
Referee Gavin Reynolds caned the Tigers for undisciplined play as Manly capitalised on good field position.
Balmain-Ryde were best served by Tandy, Farlow, lock Dean Webster, back rower David Gower and hooker Steve Moses and can hold their heads high after gutsy wins over Cup heavyweights in recent weeks.
Tigers’ coach Paul Fletcher deserves special praise for moulding a young inexperienced side into premiership contenders during a disruptive 2008 campaign.
Fletcher was forced to blood youngsters after losing the services of key personnel through injury and transfers throughout the season and guided the club to five straight wins in a late season surge.
The entire squad should be proud of their efforts.
WESTERN SUBURBS took a step closer to a Grand Final berth with a crushing 36-8 win over North Sydney.
Peni Tagive (2), Nick Taylor (2), Trent Cutler (2) and Shannon Gallant scored tries for the Magpies with Gallant booting four goals.
Wests have zoomed into title calculations after resounding wins in the finals series and now face Newtown in a Grand Final qualifier this Sunday at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Magpies boast big guns in forwards Ryan O’Hara, Daine Laurie, Rocky Trimarchi and hooker Stuart Flanagan and winger Shannon McDonnell - players with NRL experience - and will take some stopping.
Ryan Tandy - strong game in Tigers 34-18 semi-final loss to Manly.
Appreciation Dinner for Brett Hodgson
WESTS Tigers will host a Brett Hodgson Appreciation Dinner in honour of the great clubman on Tuesday November 18.
Part of the proceeds will go to Hodgson’s nominated charity, National Breast Cancer Foundation. Brett lost his mum to breast cancer in May 2000 at the age of 47.
The dinner will be held in the main auditorium of Wests Leagues Club Campbelltown from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
Cost is $70 per ticket and includes dinner, beer, wine and soft drinks.
Dress is smart casual. To book your tickets contact Luke Janovsky at Wests Tigers on 8741 3349 or ljanovsky@weststigers.com.au
Panthers roar to hockey titles
RYDE-Hunters Hill Hockey Club have capped an eventful 2008 season by snaring five premierships in the Sydney mens and womens competitions.
Leading the way were the Pantherettes first grade team that toppled Moorebank 3-1 in the Sydney Women’s Hockey Metro League 2 Grand Final.
The Ryde girls finally vanquished the demons of previous failings in grand finals last weekend under a blistering Sydney sky - with Kiera Batten nabbing a hat trick of goals.
Batten opened the scoring then grabbed a second with a cracking shot before the half time break. Moorebank struck back with a convincing penalty corner but determination by the Ryde attack in the circle resulted in Batten scoring the match-winning goal.
The Pantherettes are now premiership holders and can look forward to their first season back in Metro League 1 in 2009.
Ryde-Hunters Hill third grade defeated Manly 3-2 in extra time with goals from Peter Cox (2) and Matt Wright. The Panthers’ fourth grade side edged out University of NSW 2-1 with goals from John Cullen and Mark Eggers while Lloyd Parker (2) and Greg Merchant posted goals to help Ryde-Hunters Hill down University 3-2 in extra time in the 8th Grade decider.
Marnee McKay scored the winning goal as Ryde-Hunters Hill took out the women’s fifth grade title with a 1-0 victory over Manly.
RYDE-Hunters Hill third grade hockey team that beat Manly 3-2 in extra time to clinch the premiership back l to r Paul Cullen, Peter Cox, Andrew Ramsay, Richard Cooper, Daniel Woodward, Greg Findley, Mark Greaves, Ben Craig, Julian Davy; front Matthew McKay, Drew Parker (captain/coach), Matthew Wright, Nic McEwan, Kamal Pun, Tom deWaal.
Junior Hillies triumph
HUNTERS Hill U/10B junior rugby team that defeated Manly 29-5 to win a Metropolitan North Zone premiership. Pictured back row l to r Paul McCaffrey, James Guy, Jake Jamieson (captain), Liam Houlihan, Dan McElroy-O’Connell, Tom Carrette, Harry Kemp, Max McKay, Oliver Young, Adam Goldie; front Hugo Hughes, Tom Conaghan, Andrew Camilleri, Patrick Stevens, Sam Van der Burgh, Edward Gregory (vc), James Rennie, Alex Crotti, Alex Robinson and Joe Skelly.
Centenary Cricket Dinner
HOLY CROSS Cricket Club will celebrate its Centenary next summer with a Reunion Dinner on February 28, 2009 in the Holy Cross College Ryde Centenary Hall. The Reunion Dinner is the highlight of the Club’s Centenary celebrations with the Crusaders keen to make contact with past players and officials from the junior and senior teams. To register for information on the Centenary Dinner, contact Jen Bonnett on 0401 005 511 or email: crusaders_hcccc@optusnet.com.au
Holy Cross Crusaders offer Have-a-Go (for 5 -7 year olds) to junior competition teams from U/8 to U/16s) with both boys and girls welcome. For more information visit their website at www.hcccc.websyte.com.au or contact Registrar Barry Sheehan on 9804-8330.
Balmain Tigers Centenary Medals
BALMAIN Tigers recently presented Centenary Medals for outstanding service to life members, officials and their hard-working volunteers at a special ceremony at Leichhardt Oval.
Tigers’ Football Club chairman David Trodden, Balmain Leagues Club CEO Tim Camiller, Football Club director Dr Leslie Glen, Balmain Leagues Club president Kevin Rooney and club stalwart John Stapleton handed out medals to recipients during the half time break of the VB NSW Cup clash between Balmain-Ryde Eastwood and Wentworthville - a match the Tigers won 16-6.
The medals recognise the tireless efforts of the Tigers’ footballing family during the club’s Centenary Year celebrations. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Big wicket-taker and club man, Vale Jim Cornwell
GLADESVILLE RSL Community Club is mourning the passing of former president Jim Cornwell (pictured) who died on September 8 aged 85.
Mr Cornwell, a Gladesville identity, also served seven years as CEO of Royal Ryde Homes and later as CEO of Ryde Hospital until his retirement.
An outstanding cricketer, Mr Cornwell became a fast bowling legend of Gladesville District Cricket Association where he collected 300 wickets and captained the Martin Shield representative team in 1958-59.
He also left his mark on the Sydney grade cricket scene with Balmain Cricket Club.
Mr Cornwell joined the army in 1942 and went through the ranks of corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant until selected to attend officer cadet training where he graduated as lieutenant in 1943.
He was posted to New Guinea and after service in Port Moresby joined the Australian Army Service Corps 9th Australian Division at Lae in early 1944.
He served with 216 Supply Depot Coy AASC of the 9th Australian Division including the invasion of Borneo until the end of the war and was discharged in 1946 after further service in Borneo, Labuan and Moratoi after cessation of hostilities.
Mr Cornwell began clerical work in December 1937 at the age of 14 and was the accountant at John Taylor & Son Pty Ltd at the time of joining the army. After the war in 1947, he became a clerk at Balmain Hospital; recommenced his accountancy course and became a member of the Australian Society of Accountants in 1953. After seven years at Balmain Hospital be became CEO of Royal Ryde Homes.
He began his cricket career in Gladesville with the Methodist club in 1938 and the following summer (1939-40) won the B Grade bowling award - capturing 57 wickets at an average of 7.84.
After serving in the army, he returned to the GDCA for the 1946-47 season and took out the district B Grade bowling award with 61 wickets at 7.77. He won the B Grade honours again in 1947-48 with 59 wickets at 8.59 before claiming A Grade bowling honours in 1950-51 with 35 wickets at 10.05.
He formed the Wyvern Cricket Club in 1956 and went on to skipper the club’s A Grade winning side.
Gladesville cricket historian and long serving GDCA player-president Allan Jeffress paid tribute yesterday to his former Methodist team mate: “Jim was a prolific wicket taker and a great stalwart of our association.
“He was a Methodist delegate on the the GDCA executive and served on the grading committee and as a shield selector and was elected as honorary auditor with Ian Wilson in 1986.”
Mr Cornwell was predeceased by son Neale and is survived by wife Nola, daughter Julie, sons Geoffrey and Lindsay and his six grandchildren Emma, Johanna, Jacqueline, Mitchell, Ryan and Kate.
Still serving it up after 85 years
AS they prepared to serve up their best shots at the tennis mixed doubles grand finals last Saturday (September 20) at Mills Park, Asquith, few players were aware that the first Hornsby comp got off to a flying start 85 years ago — almost to the day.
It was in 1923, a time when French legends Jean Borotra and Suzanne Lenglen were the toast and champions of Wimbledon, that 13 local clubs got together to form the Hornsby District Tennis Association.
Its new committee set its guidlines at a meeting in August of that year and a month later got into action with a mixed competition. Within a few years ladies’ and men’s competitions were launched and continue to this day in their varying forms.
Initially, members of the fledgling association hit out on courts owned by local residents or by the churches in the district. But following much off-court fundraising and negotiating, in 1950 Hornsby Shire Council granted the association use of courts at Waitara Park.
Council again came to the party in 1979, with courts at Mills Park. Clubhouses at both venues were built by Council and the association on a dollar-for-dollar basis. There’s a total of 16 courts in operation today with Mills Park the association’s HQ.
Driving these early developments for the association was the late V. K. ‘Vic’ Taylor, who served on the committee from 1948 and was president of the renamed Hornsby-Killara and District Association for more than 20 years from 1967. His son Rex, now a life member, continued the family tradition of helping guide and promote tennis in the area through the association.
“Vic was the pioneer,” says Harry Beck, himself a former long-serving committee member, “he was the main force in making Mills Park a reality. Apart from Homebush (home of Tennis NSW) the complex is the best Council leased tennis complex around.”
Over the years the association, renamed the Hornsby Kuring-gai District Tennis Association in 1994, has produced many fine players who have featured in inter-district and state teams. The most successful to emerge from the local scene was Hornsby boy Fred Stolle. In his mid-20s he won the French (1965) and US (1966) titles. He won many other titles and today is recognised for his television tennis commentary.
Another player with a Hornsby connection to hit the big time was Lesley Bowery (nee Turner). She played A grade and inter-district on her way to international status. She won the French title twice, in 1963 and 1965; in total she won 13 grand slams, including seven women’s doubles and four mixed titles.
The latest local product to show promise is Cherrybrook 14-year-old Jordan Thompson. Ranked in the top four or five for his age in Australia, he has not long returned from representing his country in World Cup tennis in Czechoslovakia; Australia came fifth. The diminutive Jordan trains four times a week, twice at Homebush and twice at Mills Park, under the watchful eye of father Steve, himself a top Aussie player of the 1980s.
While association officials are always on the lookout for young talent, they also welcome new players to the fold. There are always new comps starting and organised social tennis to join. Inquiries phone HKDTA office on 9482 5583.
It’s 85 years since mixed doubles tennis comp began in Hornsby, and last weekend the Cherrywood team, left to right, Barb Williams, Lyn Grace, Greg Lucca, and Vince Panetta, won the Hornsby Kuring-gai District Tennis Association Division Two mixed doubles title on Saturday (September 20) by defeating Eastwood-Thornleigh team Banksia 1.
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