with Chris Karas
We Are The Champions!
MEET the mighty Leichhardt Wanderers U/8 rugby league team that captured the Junior Foundation Cup for a second consecutive year last Saturday at Sydney Football Stadium.
Representing Balmain Junior League, the Wanderers cubs toppled Clovelly Crocodiles (Eastern Suburbs) by one try to nil in a thrilling final. Strong running forward Josh Fineisaloi scored the winning try for Wanderers, who earlier defeated Concord-Burwood Wolves 6-0 and Campbelltown City Kangaroos (7-1). Wanderers’ Cup-winning squad was: Max Barnett (captain), Mitchell Gigg, Oscar Groth, Ross Triulcio, Nick Iocco, Mason Ward, Michael Coleman, Jon Whitehead, Josh Fineisaloi, Bailey Caldwell; Craig Barnett (coach); Leonie Barnett (manager); Tony Iocco (trainer).
Major awards for Kirsten & Matt
SPORTS STARS No 6 & 7
NATIONAL indoor hockey representative Kirsten-Leigh Pearce and State lawn bowler Matthew Dedini of Ryde are the sixth and seventh monthly winners in the 2008-09 TWT Club Six/Ryde Sports Foundation Sports Star of the Year Awards.
Prolific-scoring Kirsten was named Player of the Tournament at the Australian U/21 and U/18 Championships while 20 year old Dedini became the first Ryde Phoenix lawn bowler to win a Zone 10 major singles title in nearly 50 years during 2008.
Both will receive their $300 monthly awards at a presentation this Friday night at Ryde Ex Services Club at 6pm.
18
year old KIRSTEN PEARCE is a product of the Ryde-Hunters Hill Hockey
Club and turned in outstanding performances for NSW at the National U/21
titles in Western Australia last December and the recent Australian U/18
championships in Melbourne.
Kirsten finished leading goalscorer at both tournaments and was rewarded
with selection in the Australian Open Women’s Indoor Hockey squad
for 2009.
She showed enormous potential as a junior and forced her way into the Ryde-Hunters Womens first grade field hockey team at the age of 15.
The skilful forward - who has represented both Sydney and NSW at field and indoor hockey since the age of 13 - finished leading goal-scorer for the Panthers in 2006-07 and ‘08.
In 2006 she starred for the NSW CHS Open Women’s hockey team and helped NSW win the National U/18 Indoor Hockey championship.
At
the National U/21 Indoor Hockey titles in Perth, she scored 20 goals to
finish leading scorer for the champion NSW side.
Kirsten nabbed three goals to help NSW defeat Victoria 4-1 in the final
and proved a sharp-shooter in the Blues’ earlier wins over Queensland
(7-1 & 8-0); Victoria (6-0 & 4-2); Western Australia (12-1 &
14-2); ACT (7-1 & 6-2) and WA (8-1) in a semi final.
She was just as impressive at the U/18 National titles - notching a bagful
of goals as NSW captured the trophy with a 4-1 win over WA in the final.
Along the way, Kirsten showed her goal-scoring prowess in victories over Victoria (5-3 & 5-2); Queensland (6-0 & 6-1); ACT (9-0 & 10-1) and WA (5-3 & 12-2).
There is no rest for the Panthers’ dynamo - she’ll now prepare with the NSW women’s field hockey side for the National U/21 titles in April.
Emerging lawn bowler MATTHEW DEDINI holds pride of place in the Ryde Phoenix Bowling Club Hall of Fame.
He created history in 2008 when he became the first Phoenix player to represent City against Country and earn selection in the NSW lawn bowls representative squad.
Matthew
also became the first club member in over 48 years to win the Zone 10
Major Singles title - a tremendous achievement.
Ryde Phoenix president Jeff Mobbs said the young bowler was a credit to
both his club and the sport of lawn bowls.
“Matt is a top prospect who deserves recognition for his fine achievements
over the past 12 months” he added.
Tigers at SCG for Twenty 20 Grade Cup Final
SYDNEY Cricket Club’s 2008-09 finals charge gathered momentum after an emphatic victory over Mosman in an abbreviated first grade match last Saturday at Drummoyne Oval.
The Tigers tuned up for Sunday’s Power Education Twenty 20 Cup final against Northern Districts at the SCG by crushing the Whalers - the newly crowned limited overs champions - and securing a bonus point with top performances from ‘keeper James Crosthwaite and pace duo Adam Maher and Nathan Ball.
Following the previous weekend’s washout of all grades, the round became a one day fixture and proved a real test for the home side in overcast conditions.
Maher (4-24 off ten) and Ball (3-39 off ten) spearheaded the Tigers’ attack - bagging seven wickets between them to help restrict Mosman to 8-192 from their alloted 50 overs.
Sydney (4-194) cruised to victory in the 39th over after stylish knocks from Crosthwaite (80 off 99 balls); Tim Sparke (42 off 56); Russel Arnold (29 not out off 20) and skipper Jon Moss (22 not out off 30).
It was the Tigers’ fifth successive victory and elevates them into third spot on the ladder on 71 points with two away matches against Sutherland and Hawkesbury to complete the preliminary rounds.
Mosman were reeling at 4-9 and 6-36 before Cameron Eve (81) and Jason Ryan (57) salvaged some respectability with a seventh wicket partnership of 95.
Crosthwaite, who’ll represent the NSW Second X1 against Queensland in the annual Gregory Cup U/23 challenge at Glenn McGrath Oval Caringbah this week, struck seven boundaries and three sixes during his two hour knock and added 94 runs for the third wicket with Sparke.
Sydney will chase their first piece of silverware this Sunday March 1 under the lights of the famous SCG when they square off with Northern Districts in the final of the inaugural Sydney Grade Cricket Twenty20 competition.
Entry is free. Match starts at 7.15pm and on offer for the winners is a dream trip for all cricketers to India.
From 12 noon this Sunday, a barefoot bowls competition and barbecue will be held at Drummoyne Sports Club to help supporters limber up their vocals.
• BALMAIN Tigers U/12 junior cricket team has qualified for Sunday’s NSWCA Michael Clarke Cup Twenty20 final against Fairfield RSL at the SCG from 8.30am.
The Tiger cubs advanced to the final with a 20-run victory over Baulkham Hills in a semi final at Eric Mobbs Reserve Castle Hill. Promising Gladesville Cawsey Shield representative skipper Ben Manenti starred for the Tigers with a top score of 47 that included two sixes and three fours and bowling figures of 1-10.
BALMAIN TIGERS 6-114 (Ben Manenti 47, Angus McCowage 16, Matt McCormack 12) d Baulkham Hills 7-94 (B Manenti 1-10, A McCowage 1-12).
SECONDS: Mosman 7-215 d Sydney 90; THIRDS: Sydney 7-171 (N Bull 43, Marcus Tripp 41, A Mosca 28, B Jones 5-23, J Harding 2-32) d Mosman 118 (H Sykes 27, Anthony Lown 3-25, James Manning-Bancroft 3-30, Phil Caruso 2-23, A Ware 2-24);
FOURTHS: Sydney 131 (N Breen 46, M Grice 21, A Stevens 5-43, J Mann 2-32) d Mosman 121 (Nathan Fiore 4-23, A Nichkawde 2-14); FIFTHS: Mosman 5-108 (R Alexander 52, P Kariavishwan 2-17) drew with Sydney.
Hockey Milestone
RYDE EASTWOOD Womens Hockey Association is celebrating its 45th birthday in 2009.
The Club has grown from a rocky unfinished “paddock” in 1964 to the two full-size grass fields and one Minkey field they play on today at Tory Wicks Fields in Andrew Street Meadowbank.
A well equipped canteen and club house is available for the comfort of players and supporters.
Club President Fiona Strachan, secretary Anne Babka and treasurer Isabella Smith were elected at the AGM for a fourth consecutive year.
The Club offers Saturday afternoon grass hockey to women and girls of all abilities (including beginners) from 12 years to Open age. Focus for 2009 and beyond however will be on youth and school teams. They encourage schools and individuals to contact secretary Anne Babka on 0412602570 or secretary@rewha.com Further details are also available on the club’s website: www.rewha.com.
Registration will take place at the fields, Andrew Street, Meadowbank on Saturday March 7 between 10am and 1pm. Grass and turf competitions commence on April 4.
Adam Maher
Junior Cricket
U/10: (Mike Hussey Competition) North Ryde RSL Gold 4-110 (Lachlan Camroux 26no, Bennett Wheelhouse 14) d Gladesville RSL Green 41 (Luke Jeffery 2-4, Jack Nurrissh 2-4); U/11: Holy Cross 1-154 (James Loneragan 28 retired, Max Thomas 27 retired, Scott Timbrell 27 retired, Ben Campey 26 retired, Pat Rice 22 retired) d Concord RSL Red 98 (B Campey 2-1, Ben Reader 2-11, P Rice 1-2, Matt Calleja 1-8, Edward Maxwell 1-19); Ryde-Hunters Hill Mariners 82 (L Storam 19, D Searle 19) d Gladesville RSL Gold 19 (H Kemp 2-2, L Storam 2-4).
RYDE-PARRAMATTA Golf Course will host tomorrow’s (Thursday) Charity Golf Day to raise funds for the Salvation Army Bush Fire Victims Appeal. For bookings and inquiries contact the Club on 9874-1204. See details page 12.
Cubs bounce back with Junior Cup wins
PROMISING cub Luke Brooks grabbed his opportunity as Balmain junior representative rugby league teams bounced back with morale-boosting wins over traditional rivals South Sydney in NSWRL Junior Cup action last Saturday at Erskinville Oval.
Thrust into the half back role, the 14 year old Brooks made every post a winner in the Tigers’ 22-14 triumph over Souths in the U/16 Harold Matthews Cup.
His darting runs and organisational skills in the wet conditions were a feature of Balmain’s hard-fought victory.
Brooks was ably supported by exciting winger Zac Eadie, who bagged a try double, and forward Atu Politoni.
Strong running Tigers’ forward Andrew Kirwan broke a 14-all deadlock when he burst through tackles to score under the posts before Joseph Touma booted a penalty goal to give his side an eight point buffer.
BALMAIN S.G Ball team mastered the slippery conditions to record a 30-16 victory over Souths in the U/16 Cup series.
Inspirational hooker Patrick Politoni, hampered by injury, produced a powerful game - helping the cubs establish a 16-4 lead at the break with a brilliant solo try.
Winger Faleula Finau used his pace and step to score two tries while centre Tim Simona, forward Sebastian Vourlos and Joe Uluibau turned in solid games.
Coaches Ken Stapleton (Matthews Cup) and David Brooks (S.G Ball) described the wins as “pleasing” and a marked improvement on their first round efforts.
The Tiger cubs travel to Brookvale Oval this Saturday for third round clashes with Manly in Matthews Cup (9am) and Ball Cup (10.30am).
HOLY Cross Crusaders Cricket Club celebrated its Centenary last Sunday with a reunion on the Holy Cross College Ryde sporting fields.
Pictured with former Australian womens rep Martha Winch - the club's first international - are former and current players and officials that participated in the Past X1 v Present X1 Twenty20 match that was won by the 'Old Boys' - courtesy of a massive six from Peter 'Boo Boo' Camroux in the final over off the bowling of Cross legend Chris Mace. It was a mixed day for Mace, the Crusaders' hard-working president, who looked out of touch with bat and ball. His wayward deliveries were dispatched to all parts of the ground as the likes of Adam Gilchrist clone Brett Wheelhouse (42), Camroux (36 not out), Richard 'Slugger' Jones (22) and Paul Clifford (20) steered the Old Boys (9-137) to a thrilling two run victory.
While 'Monk' Clifford claimed the 'catch of the day', his running between wickets left a lot to be desired. The ex-league speedster looked 'pedestrian' as he attempted a sharp single - only to be run out by a mere 15 metres! Clauvis Zaarour was superb behind the stumps for the Present X1 with support from the swashbuckling Barry Sheehan (32) and Tom
Loneragan (26). Six Holy Cross presidents who have served since 1976 - Eric Ellem, Doug Gannon, Steve McAppion, Greg Austin, John Farinelli and Chris Mace - attended the reunion. NSW speedster Mitchell Starc conducted a successful clinic for Crusaders' juniors. Hats off to Mace and his tireless band of workers for organising a memorable event. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
WALLY the Australian Rugby Union mascot made guest appearances recently at junior rugby clubs in TWT territory as the code moved into registration mode. The mascot ventured to the inner west, attending the Wests Juniors rego day at Concord Oval and the Hunters Hill rego day at Boronia Park Oval (pictured). Participation figures for juniors were up across Australia last year and anyone wanting to register their children for 2009 can contact their local club. The Super 14 season is now in full swing and the Wallabies will open their 2009 program with a match against the Barbarians at SFS on June 6.
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