Roller Hawks usurp Wheelkings

The Wollongong Roller Hawks have started the 2009 National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL) competition with a strong 96-91 win, in overtime, over the Wenty Leagues Wheelkings, on Saturday afternoon at the Auburn Basketball Centre (ABC). The Roller Hawks were missing star import Yvon Rouillard and veteran Andrew Tarrant but showed great composure behind the leadership of Australian Paralympians Tristan Knowles and Brett Stibners to hold off a determined second half fight-back from the Wheelkings.

Opening night of the season was impressive for a number of reasons, including the outstanding shooting performance from both teams and the presence of so many Paralympians, both from Australia and Great Britain. A newcomer to the game would have been convinced both teams had been playing non-stop for the past six months, such was the quality of shooting and general skills around the court and the presence of a great crowd made the opening night of the season a resounding success for the sport.

PHOTOS: Action from Saturday's game - courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)

The Roller Hawks led 28-25, 52-42 and 70-67 at the end of the first three quarters respectively but the Wheelkings showed great spirit to rally and tie the game at 84-84 at full time. Extra time became a shoot-out between Knowles and Great Britain Paralympian Jon Pollock, with the Australian superstar simply too polished on the night and leading his team to a 5-point win.

Wollongong Roller Hawks 96 (Tristan Knowles 46 points, 13 boards, 7 assists; Brett Stibners 30 points, 12 boards, 9 assists; Shawn Russell 10 points, 10 boards; Reo Lewis 9 boards) defeated Wenty Leagues Wheelkings 91 (Koen Jansens 27 points, 10 boards; Bill Latham 27 points, 8 boards; Jon Pollock 25 points, 9 assists; Jonathon Simon 10 points, 12 boards, 4 steals)

Junior Wollongong soccer teams soar over Eagles

While senior Wollongong FC team is languishing at the bottom of their table, the under 16s and 18s are both topping their respective competitions in Premier Youth League. Both teams continued their winning form with the 16s defeating Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 – 1 and the 18s coming out on top by 4 – 2 last weekend.

In a generally pleasing day for local fans who had travelled to Bonnyrigg Sports Ground for the day, Wollongong picked up 3 wins and a draw, only losing in the 13s to the higher placed Eagles team. Just over midway through the competitions, besides the top placed 16s and 18s, Wollongong has the 15s in fifth spot and the 13s just outside the play-off 6 in sixth position. The 14s are running 8th but are only 4 points from both the 4th and 5th sides. 

Results for round 13 played last weekend against Bonnyrigg White Eagles were: 

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

Wollongong teams play their next round against Sydney United, at Sydney United Sports Ground with the 13s beginning at 9 am on Saturday June 6.

Previous SportsLive reports on the Wollongong Premier Youth League teams can be found at: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=3462
More results and the draw can be found at http://www.soccernsw.com.au/index.php?id=78

Pirates almost overcome Cardinals in Illawarra Baseball

The Northern Pirates came very close to registering an upset win over premiers Wests Cardinals in their round 9 match of the 2009 Illawarra Baseball League premiership at Dalton Park, Fairy Meadow last Saturday. Leading 8-0 after two innings Pirates progressively allowed Cardinals back into the game and errors in the fifth and seventh innings created five unearned runs and a tied 9-9 score. The visitors then scored two unanswered runs in the final inning to come away 11-9 victors.

In other results unbeaten competition leaders Dapto Chiefs were tested by winless Shoalhaven Mariners in nine innings at Hector Harvey Reserve, Dapto. Chiefs won the game 5-0 but were kept to six hits in a game dominated by pitching. The remaining game saw Berkeley Eagles defeat Kiama braves 11-0 in seven innings at Gainsborough Reserve, Kiama Downs. A scoreless game was busted open in the third inning where Eagles converted seven runs three of which came in on Kaine Abbott’s homer.

First grade games were lucky to get on the paddock after wet conditions caused second grade games to be washed out before a game was constituted at two venues.

Pirates good start came by way of hot batting from the outset. Andrew Phelan batted in two of the five runs scored in the first and added another run in three scored in the second. Cardinals edged their way back with four runs in the third creating a 9-4 score at the completion of that inning.

While relief pitcher Jamie Simon was quietening the Pirates bats from the third the Pirates defence self destructed in the fifth and seventh innings where errors allowed Cardinals to be on level terms. In failing light Cardinals added two runs in the eighth and then shut Pirates out in the bottom of the inning.

Cardinals outhit Pirates 11-6 with errors being 3-5 respectively. Simon was the Red Bird’s saviour pitching six innings for no hits and no earned runs and batting 3 / 5 with 2 RBI’s. Nathan Grogan batted 3 / 3 with 1 RBI.

Chiefs pitchers Aaron Wirth and Jarrett Commane had the better of the Mariners hitting. Wirth pitched seven innings for three hits and no earned runs and Commane’s effort saw him throw two hitless shutout innings in relief. Mariners combination of Josh Rowe and Adam Warner was also effective containing Chiefs to six hits, their lowest tally in a game this season. Pitching 3.1 innings in relief Warner managed to strikeout 7 of the batters he faced.

Eagles continued their avalanche of hitting in their last three games and while this has been against the lower teams it has seen them head the batting statistics. In this round’s 11-0 win over Braves the Eagles amassed 17 hits to Braves 3. Aaron Tritton headed the field with 4 / 4 while Abbott batted 3 / 5 with 4 RBI’s. Chad Blanch helped out with his 3 / 5.

First Grade:
WESTS CARDINALS 11 Runs (11hits, 3 errors) def. NORTHERN PIRATES  9 Runs (6 hits, 5 errors)
DAPTO CHIEFS 5 Runs    (6 hits, 3 errors) def. SHOALHAVEN MARINERS 0 Runs (3 hits, 3 errors)
BERKELEY EAGLES 11Runs (17hits, 0 errors) def. KIAMA BRAVES 0 Runs (3 hits, 3 errors)

Second Grade: Chiefs 9 Mariners 2; Pirates v Cardinals – washed out; Braves v Eagles - washed out
Third Grade: Pirates 7 Cardinals 6; Chiefs 10 Mariners 0; Eagles 17 Braves 3
Minor League: Warriors (4) 9 Pirates 4; Warriors (5)14 Braves 10; Chiefs v Panthers (5) - washed out; Panthers (4) v Cardinals - washed out

Round 10 is scheduled for June 13 & 14 following next weekend’s break in which the N S W Country Youth Championships will be played at Fred Finch Park, Berkeley. (Frank Booth)

Jets too strong for Illawarra Hawks in State League Basketball

The Illawarra Hawks took on the undefeated Hawkesbury Jets in State League Basketball last weekend at Beaton Park. Despite good scoring from the Hawks’ Bonham (16) and contributions from Goode (13) and Delaney (10) the Hawks could not overcome the Pool D leaders.

The Jets led 36 to 30 at half time and stretched that margin to a 11 points at the end winning 76 – 65. After the loss, the Illawarra Hawks are now third in Pool D on 76.9% (10 wins from 13 games) behind the Hawkesbury Jets 100% (14 from 14) and Macarthur Heat 78.6% (11 from 14)   

Hawkesbury Jets 76 (G Godwin 15, B Wells 13, P Skinner 13) defeated Illawarra Hawks 65 (B Bonham 16, J Goode 13, Z Delaney 10)
The Hawks next game is a crucial one when they play away against second placed Macarthur Heat on Saturday June 13. This could well decide the vital second place as only the top two in each of the four pools go through to the play-offs

For more on Men’s State League Basketball go to http://www.nswbasketball.net.au/events/2009/SBL/Men/09D1MResults.htm

For more Illawarra basketball stories go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=1370

NSW Sport & Recreation’s July Camps

To see what’s on offer in the July School holidays go to: http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/kidscamps/

Many sports including basketball at Sydney’s games for social to elite

Sydney is hosting the 2009 World Masters Games involving over 28 sports between October 10 – 18.  Basketball is one of the sports taking part, utilising six venues across Sydney.

Divisions:
Men and Women 30+ and 35+ and possibly a wheelchair division
Men and Women 40+, 45+ and 50+
Men and Women 55+, 60+, 65+ and 70+

A Grade – Premier: This elite grade is for teams consisting of players with international or national experience. At least two players should have international experience (played for their country). The other team members are expected to be at a state/ province/ elite Club player level.

B Grade – Competitive: This grade is for those players who compete in a high standard of domestic level basketball, such as A Grade in their local competition, and athletes who have represented their club or town in state/ province competition.

C Grade – Recreational: This grade is for those players who participate in non-competitive and/or lower grade leagues and for social and casual players.

There will be only one grade for the 70+ age category.

Registrations for all sports including basketball close on July 31. There are still plenty of opportunities to nominate your team. For more on the 2009 World Masters Games and the 31 sports go to: http://www.2009worldmasters.com/

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