Stingrays just overcome Koalas in women’s premier league soccer
Coach Brett Wallins reports on last weekend’s game:
After a fantastic performance last week we had some major changes to our playing roster for this week. Caitlin Cooper was away, Michelle Heyman was out courtesy of her red card last week and Hailey Kerrigan sprained her ankle during the week and to top this off, half the team still has the flu which ruled Christie Akid out of the game. All this and we had to go away to our bogey side NWS Koalas.
NWS came at us from the opening whistle and were unlucky to not be 2 or 3 goals to the good after the first 20mins, as it was they scored a well taken goal from a header after a cross. Whilst the goal was a good one, I would still put this down to poor defending. Our new look defence was struggling to play the ball forward which took our midfield (our strength) out of the game. After one of our few first half attacks Ash Conner pounced on a loose ball to give us an undeserved share of the points at half time.
I would say that my half time speech was the most colourful of the year, I was furious with our choices, not only did we have a lot of players out but at least half the squad played their worst games of the year. Ann Mayo and Trudy Camilleri both tried hard but couldn’t pass the ball effectively and this was most unlike that pair. This was going to be a dogfight.
The second half was an even battle with both sides taking turns dominating, we continued to play into their hands with poor passing from the back but towards the end we looked to want it more and on two occasions Ash Conner missed from point blank, the pressure was on. With ten minutes left a draw was no good so we pushed Sam Spackman, our number 1 defender on the day, forward from defence. Talitha Kramer who was one of our greatest on the day went down the flank and crossed to captain Carney who went around a defender and shot past the Keeper to score what I believe to be her most valuable goal ever with me as her coach, we’ve been together for 5 years so I don’t say it lightly. I don’t know how but we won. I thought we were second best today but we got the win, sometimes it’s like that and thankfully today it was.
IT WAS STILL A GREAT DAY TO BE AN ILLAWARRA STINGRAY!
The Stingrays are on top of the ladder. Next weekend they play Sutherland at J.J. Kelly Park Wollongong. First Grade starts at 3pm. Both Caitlyn Cooper and Michelle Heyman will be back but the team will lose Sam Spackman and Ann Mayo who are playing for the NSW Combined High Schools team in the National Championships in Perth.
The Club is organizing a night to remember on the 21st August 2009 at the Fraternity Club 7pm start and there will be plenty of surprises on the evening.
For more stories on the Illawarra Stingrays go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=3731.
For more on NSW Women’s football go to: http://www.soccernsw.com.au/index.php?id=83
Hurley beats Olympic swimming gold medalist but misses out
Wollongong’s Robert Hurley is currently competing for Australia in the World Swimming Championships in Rome. In his first event the 400m freestyle he swam a personal best to beat Olympic champion Korea’s Taehwan Park into third place. However they were both beaten by Peter Vanderkaay of the USA in the heat and as it was a slower heat Hurley missed out on a place in the final by 0.33 seconds.
Hurley has the 800m and 1500m freestyle events to follow as well as possibly the 4 x 200m men’s freestyle relay. To follow his progress and other Australian swimmers during the week go to: http://www.fina.org/pool/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=768
For more stories on Hurley’s rise to the Australian swimming team go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=1798
Eagles swoop on Cardinals
Berkeley Eagles recorded their first win in their last seven starts against premiers Wests Cardinals with a 7-0 result in the round 16 fixture played at Cringila Community Park. The emphatic loss was the first time Cardinals have failed to score a run in any game for over three seasons.
Cardinals had a golden opportunity to score a run in the opening inning but a fine play by Eagles catcher Mick Shipp saw that player come out on top in a big collision at home plate as Cardinals baserunner Chase Richardson attempted to score. Richardson was coming home on a two base hit by Trent D’Antonio.
Eagles made their mark on the game in the top of the third innings where five runs were scored on five safe hits, runs being batted in by Tim Atherton, Kaine Abbott, Chris Morgan and a two run single by John Allender. State representative Atherton backed up again in the next inning when he batted in Aaron Tritton who reached base with his leadoff single. The final run was scored in the seventh where a leadoff triple by Atherton was converted.
Chris Morgan was the game-winning pitcher sending down 4.2 innings for two hits and reliever Tim Beard continued the effort conceding a solitary hit in 2.1 innings. Atherton closed the game with two hitless innings striking out the side in the final inning. Blake Handley had the task of pitching all of the game for Cardinals with regular backup Jamie Simon absent.
Eagles outhit Cardinals 12-3 Atherton featuring with 3 / 5 and 2 RBI’s and Sam Thornton, Abbott and Tritton registering two hits each. D’Antonio registered two of Cardinals hits.
Dapto Chiefs winning run at the top of the table continued with an effortless 14-0 win in seven innings over Pirates at Hector Harvey Reserve, Dapto. Chiefs outhit Pirates 18-5, five of the batting lineup – Craig Leighton, Jarrett Commane, Mitch Thompson, Troy Green and Beau Garrett all registering three hits. Chris Newbold batted 2 / 3 for Pirates.
Shoalhaven Mariners were unable to make up a six run start registered by Kiama Braves in the opening inning. Mariners did manage to get back within two runs in the seventh but Braves came home strongly with five runs in the last two innings to win 14-8.
Mariner Josh Matavesi was the standout hitter of the game batting 4 / 6 including a solo homer in the fourth. Adam Warner and Brett Shipp batted 2 / 4. Chris Bernich was Braves best with 3 / 5 being supported by Stuart Masters, Josh Lenard and David Jefford with two hits each.
In next weekend’s games, round 17 fixtures are scheduled for Saturday, August 1 and the first of the rescheduled round 11 games will be played on Sunday, August 2. Saturday’s games will be Berkeley Eagles v. Pirates at Eagles Field, Fred Finch Park, Berkeley, Dapto Chiefs v. Kiama Braves at Hector Harvey Reserve, Dapto and Wests Cardinals v. Shoalhaven Mariners at Cringila Community Park. On Sunday Cardinals play Eagles at Cringila Community Park. First grade games commence at 2.00pm.
First Grade:
Berkeley Eagles 7 Runs (12 hits, 1 error) Wests Cardinals 0 Runs (3 hits, 4 errors)
Dapto Chiefs 14 Runs (18 hits, 1 error) Northern Pirates 0 Runs (5 hits, 5 errors)
Kiama Braves 14 Runs (16 hits, 1 error) Shoalhaven Mariners 8 Runs (13 hits, 5 errors)
Second Grade: Eagles 9 Cardinals 4; Pirates 10 Chiefs 8; Braves 19 Mariners 4
Third Grade: Cardinals 17 Eagles 2; Pirates 19 Chiefs; 7 Braves 15 Mariners 6
Minor League: Warriors (5) 12 Braves 11; Panthers (5) 10 Chiefs 9; Cardinals 19 Panthers (4) 11; Pirates 8 Warriors (4) 0
First grade table: Chiefs 96% from 12 games, Cardinals 79% from 12 games, Eagles 73% from 13 games, Pirates 36% from 14 games, Braves18% from 14 games and Mariners 4% from 13 games. For more Illawarra Baseball stories go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=3394
Wollongong’s tough weekend with Berries in Youth League
Despite all of Wollongong’s Premier Youth League teams being above their West Sydney Berries opponents on the ladders the results of the round were disappointing for the local sides. The 13s began the day well with a 2-1 win, but then it went downhill from there. Apart from picking up a draw in the 15s, Wollongong lost the 14s, 16s and 18s.
Despite the poor results, Wollongong still leads the 18s, is second in the 16s, third in the 13s and fifth in 14s. The 15s are 8th.
Results for the round played last week against West Sydney Berries were:
Under 13: Wollongong won 2 - 1
Under 14: Wollongong lost 2 - 1
Under 15: Wollongong drew 1 all
Under 16: Wollongong lost 2 nil
Under 18: Wollongong lost 1 nil
Wollongong teams play their next round against Blacktown City beginning with the 13s at 9 am on Saturday August 1 at Elizabeth Park Bellambi.
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
Hawks qualify for Australian Basketball under 14 Club Championship
There was agony and ecstasy for the Illawarra Hawks at the recent qualifying games for the Australian Basketball Under 14 Club Championships. The Hawks women lost and will not be attending but the Hawks men won and will be attending.
14 Men Results:
Illawarra Hawks 62 (James Barraceros 11, Johan Hattingh 10, Alex Colli 8) def Hills Hornets 45 (Nicholas Bagaric 18, Tom Farrer 13, Luke McGuire 9, Dayne Campbell 8)
Albury Cougars 69 (Jacob Cincurak 40, Nick Dempsey 20, Daniel Mills 5) defeated Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 68(Tom Savage 31, Dan Pitcher 22, Keegan Richmond 6)
14 Women Results:
Sutherland Sharks 61 (Madeleine Cox 12, Gabrielle Turnbull 12, Ceara Leavai 5) defeated Newcastle Hunters 41 (Meiling Patfield 26, Sophie Gaurdon 7, Cassandra Janson 4)
Hills Hornets 38 (Taylor Johnston 11, Britnee Sewell 8, Zoey Burke 7) defeated Illawarra Hawks 31 (Paige Phillips 9, Kate Hewett7, Eleri Morris 5)
More Illawarra and Wollongong basketball stories can be found at: http://sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=1370
Wollongong duo in Australian Rollers team
Basketball Australia has announced the 14 athletes selected to represent Australia at the Rollers World Challenge from July 29 – August 1 at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.
Nine Paralympic Gold medallists, including Wollongong duo Tristan Knowles and Brett Stibners, will suit up for Australia’s Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team at the event to represent their country on home soil for the first time since their 2008 Beijing triumph, including captain Brad Ness and five-time Paralympian Troy Sachs (ex-Wollongong junior).
The international tournament will feature the three medal winning teams from the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games (Australia – gold, Canada – silver, Great Britain – bronze) as well as Asian powerhouse Japan. Rollers Head Coach Ben Ettridge said all three opposing teams will be prepared and would provide tough competition for the Australians.
“With Great Britain you always expect a very well drilled team and Japan is always good competition; it usually takes us three-quarters to work them out. They play a very different style of basketball than us and it can cause some matchup problems,” Ettridge said.
“Canada are similar to us, they have three or four new players coming into the team from Beijing so we’re expecting that they still come out and play hard and have some quality players. All three teams should be quite a challenge for us.”
Alongside Australia’s nine Paralympians will be Bill Latham, John McPhail, Jeremy Doyle, Colin Smith and Nick Taylor. Coffs Harbour native Latham was the final man cut from the Beijing team but has already won Gold with the Rollers this year at the Paralympic World Cup in May. McPhail and Doyle also cut their teeth at the Manchester event.
A late withdrawal from the team is Beijing medallist Dylan Alcott. The 18-year-old suffered a rotator cuff injury and will undergo minor shoulder surgery, allowing Australian Under-23 representative Colin Smith to make his Rollers’ debut. Another new face in the side is South African-born Taylor who has lived in Australia since 2005 and will be making his Australian representative debut at the tournament.
Ettridge said the Rollers have a deep squad to draw from despite the withdrawal of Alcott.
“Our goal is always to win the next game and we do everything we can to make sure that happens. Given that we have almost a full complement of players to choose from we would be expecting that we would get it right,” Ettridge said. “Part of the strength of the team is that we play a full 12 (players) and everybody is expected to be ready to play and ready to contribute.”
The Rollers World Challenge tips off at 6.00pm AEST on Wednesday July 29 with a replay of the Beijing Gold medal final between the Australian Rollers and Canada. ABC TV will broadcast Australia’s three preliminary games and the tournament final live on ABC2.
Name / Club / Classification
Brad NESS / Perth Wheelcats / 4.5 (Captain)
Justin EVESON / Perth Wheelcats / 4.5
Troy SACHS / West Sydney Razorbacks / 4.5
Brett STIBNERS / Wollongong Rollerhawks / 4.0
Shaun NORRIS / Brisbane Spinning Bullets / 3.0
Michael HARTNETT / Perth Wheelcats / 1.5
Tristan KNOWLES / Wollongong Rollerhawks / 2.0
Adrian KING / Brisbane Spinning Bullets / 2.0
Tige SIMMONS / Brisbane Spinning Bullets / 1.0
Nick TAYLOR / West Sydney Razorbacks / 2.0
Colin SMITH / West Sydney Razorbacks / 1.5
Bill LATHAM / Wentworthville WheelKings / 4.0
John MCPHAIL / West Sydney Razorbacks/ 3.0
Jeremy DOYLE / Wentworthville WheelKings / 1.0
Roller Hawks knock over leading Wheelcats
In last weekend’s top two clash the Roller Hawks were too strong for the Perth Wheelcats at Shellharbour Stadium. Trailing 24-20 after the first quarter the Roller Hawks then had a strong second term scoring 33 to 22 to lead by 53-46 going into the main break. While the Wheelcats clawed back 3 points in the third quarter, the Roller Hawks were again too strong in the final term by 23-16 to run out winners by 89-78.
The win avenged the Hawks loss in Perth earlier in the competition. After the win the Hawks are still in second place with 6 wins from 7 games while the Wheelcats with 7 from 8 just lead on percentages. Top scorers for the Hawks were Brett Stibners (39), Yvon Rouillard (24) and Tristan Knowles (20) while Justin Eveson (31) and Brad Ness (27) dominated the points for the visitors.
For more Roller Hawks stories go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=1168
For more on National Wheelchair Basketball go to: www.nwblaus.com
Last chance to register for Sydney’s games for social to elite
As reported previously Sydney is hosting the 2009 World Masters Games involving over 28 sports between October 10 and 18.
Registrations for all sports close on July 31. There is the last week to nominate. For more on the 2009 World Masters Games and all the sports go to: http://www.2009worldmasters.com/
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