Wollongong’s Robert Hurley takes over Grant Hackett’s 400m mantle

Wollongong’s Robert Hurley (now at Australian Institute of Sport) has fulfilled expectations by winning the 400m freestyle title at this week’s Australian Swimming Championships. He follows in the footsteps of Kieran Perkins, Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett to take the title. He will now go to the World Swimming Championships in Rome later in the year.

Photo: Robert Hurley with 400m freestyle gold medal

In the final, second fastest qualifier Ryan Napoleon took the race out and led for the first 250 metres in lane 5 with Hurley placed second just behind on his shoulder in lane 4. Then Hurley increased his kick and moved away to win by almost 1.4 secs in a personal best time of 3 minutes 46.64 secs. This was equal fourth fastest Australian all time (with Craig Stevens). 

Hurley finishes the 400m final with second placed Napoleon (lane 5) not yet in sight

Ryan Napoleon in finishing second in 3:48.02 almost recorded an A Qualifying time so will also go to the World Championships. It looks like 18 year old Napoleon and 20 year old Hurley could emulate the Hackett versus Thorpe clashes over the coming years. Third place went to 22 year old Cameron Smith in 3:51.45.

Photo: From left Cameron Smith, Robert Hurley and Ryan Napoleon (Photos by www.SportsLive.com.au)

A story in the latest Australian Swimming news had identified Hurley as the man most likely to take over Grant Hackett’s 400 metre mantle at the Australian Swimming Championships which runs in Sydney from Tuesday 17 March to Sunday 22 March. For more on Hurley and other swimming young guns click on: https://www.clubsonline.com.au/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&NewsID=7381&orgid=2075

This year’s Australian Swimming Championships double as the selection trial for the World Swimming Championships in Rome later in 2009. A first or second placing in any event (with an "A" qualifying time) will see a swimmer selected for the World Championships.

Hurley has a heavy schedule at the Championships:
Day 1: Tuesday 17 March – 400m freestyle – which he won as reported above
Day 2: Wednesday 18 March – 200m freestyle – aiming for relay spot
Day 3: Thursday 19 March – 200m backstroke – seeded third
Days 4 & 5: Friday 20 & Saturday 21 March – 100m backstroke heats, semis and final – seeded third
Day 6: Sunday 22 March – 1500m freestyle – has only swum this event in the 50m pool once before when he won at the Queensland swimming championships late last year.

Hurley’s performances will continue to be updated on SportsLive during the championships this week. Click on www.wollongong.sportslive.com.au for updates and also past stories on Hurley’s rise to be Australian champion.

Wollongong splits round with strong United in Premier Youth League Soccer

Wollongong picked up two wins and a draw against the strong Sydney United club in the five games of the Premier Youth League last weekend. Wollongong’s under 18s now have 3 wins in the first three rounds and after their draw last weekend the under 16s also remain undefeated with two wins and a draw.

The best result of the round for Wollongong was from its under 13s who scored a convincing 4 – 1 victory. Results for the round were: 

Under 13: Wollongong won 4 -1
Under 14: Wollongong lost 4 - 3
Under 15: Wollongong lost 2 nil
Under 16: Wollongong drew 2 all   
Under 18: Wollongong won 2 - 1   

Next weekend Wollongong plays away to Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground with the 13s beginning at 8.30 am on Sunday March 22.

More results and the draw can be found at http://www.soccernsw.com.au/index.php?id=78

Captain White leads Lake Illawarra to combined junior cricket title

Lake Illawarra captain K White’s outstanding all round performance was the difference between his side and Thirroul in the final of the combined Illawarra and South Coast under 16A competition last weekend.

White was best of his side’s bowlers taking 3/12 off 12 overs in Thirroul’s score of all out 109 (K White 3/12, B Jones 2/16, M Arblaster 2/19). Lake Illawarra was then in huge trouble at 6 wickets for 36 before White took charge to hit out to score 103 not out and get Lake Illawarra to 8/131 to take the match and the title.

In the 16B grade of the combined competition Helensburgh was in trouble at 7/63 against Corrimal before L Vermeer (37 not out) rallied with the last three batsmen (S Rawling 7, M Wardle 13, R Beattie 7) to get his team to 120 (J Budge 4/20). Corrimal’s batsmen could not get on top of the Burgh’s bowlers who were led by E Piggott with 4/18. However the Corrimal top score was sundries with a staggering total of 35 in their score of 89!

In the 14A grade Dapto took out the title convincingly in scoring 3/154 in reply to Balgownie’s 93 (C Brown 31). Best batsman for Dapto was R Noronha with 78. He was well supported by A Coughlan-Ryan (20) and B Redman (22). Showing his all rounder credentials Noronha had been Dapto’s top wicket taker with 3/15 of 7 overs. He had been well supported by A Coughlan-Ryan (2/11) and N Gerovasalis (2/16).

For South Coast junior cricket results and performances go to http://scjca.nsw.cricket.com.au/

Illawarra Junior Cricket Titles to be decided on weekend

Following last weekend’s semi-finals the finals of the Illawarra under 10 to under 14B grades will be played next weekend. The under 14B final will be an all Keira affair with the Reds taking on the Blacks. The under 12s title contenders will be Balgownie Black and Thirroul Blue.

Wests Blue has qualified for the final of the 11s after their defeat of fellow club team, Wests Red. Their opponents will be Balgownie Black who defeated Thirroul Blue in the semi-final. After S Bassingthwaighte’s strong all round performance (24 runs and 2/4) in the semi against Corrimal, Helensburgh has qualified for the under 10 final against West Red. Results of last weekend’s semi-finals were:

Under 14B Semi-final results:
Keira Red 177 defeated Port Kembla 85
Keira Black 212 (D Constable 35, L Mc Briarty 43, N Stacey 69, M Grey 3/11, A Clark 4 catches) defeated Wests White 7/121 (J Stylianou 45)

Under 12 Semi-final results:
Balgownie Black 8/164 (J Sweeney 37, D Saul 65) defeated Wests Red 115 (B Brown 3/13)
Thirroul Blue 6/122 (B Causero 26) defeated Wollongong 121 (T Flynn-Duncombe 43, J Fowles 4/27)

Under 11 Semi-final results:
Wests Blue 5/90 defeated Wests Red 89
Balgownie 6/122 (J Lackenby 21, C Buswell 29, C Whittington 30) defeated Corrimal 9/104 (G Wijekulasuriya 21, C Whittington 2/3, A Beattie 2/10)

Under 10 Semi-final results:
Wests Red 9/88 (Iain Carlisle 14, Angus Glover 13, Oscar Malouf 13) defeated Wollongong Maroon 5/87 (Angus Glover 1/0)
Helensburgh 3/97 (S Bassingthwaighte 24) defeated Corrimal Red 81 (J Buckman 24, R Sloan 2/2, J Hoffman 2/12, S Bassingthwaighte 2/4, B Fleming 2(catches), J Luciano 2(c))

For more Illawarra Junior Cricket results go to http://www.cricketnsw.com.au/ijca/
For South Coast junior cricket results and performances go to http://scjca.nsw.cricket.com.au/

A first for NSW - youth girls AFL starting in the Illawarra in 2009!!

Hey girls - like to try AFL footy? Well now you can because in 2009 the all new Illawarra Youth Girls AFL (IYGAFL) is starting. No AFL experience necessary - it doesn't matter if you haven't played AFL at all, you’ll be taught.

Games will be played under semi-modified rules with the focus being on enjoyment. So if you're between 14 and 17 and you like having fun playing sport then this is for you.

Registrations are now open via www.girlsafl.com or you can register at any of the junior clubs on their registration days. And by the way - by playing youth girls AFL in the Illawarra in 2009 you'll be creating history as one of the inaugural first year players in the only youth girls competition in NSW.

Illawarra Junior Cricket Presentation

The Illawarra Junior Cricket Presentation night is to be held on Sunday night 29 March at Master Builders Club from 6pm to 8pm. The event is free.

Illawarra Cricket hunts for Coaches, Managers and Scorers

Cricket Illawarra is seeking expressions of interest from people for the positions of Coach,  Manager & Scorer in its High Performance Unit for the following Representative teams for season 2009/10: Senior’s, U21 Colts, U19, U17, U16, U15, U14, U13 and U12

Minimum Requirements: Cricket Australia (CA) Level One Accreditation; Desirable - CA Level Two Accreditation. Expression of Interest applications close Sunday 4th April 2009 and are to be sent to Paul Brockley, High Performance Director, Cricket Illawarra.
Email: rep_coord@cricketillawarra.org.au

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