Local

Another mixed weekend for the Panthers, winning one and losing one of the two matches. On Sunday in Townsville, against Warriors, the Premiers won 3-2 and the Reserves lost 0-4.

This Sunday, the Premiers and Reserves are away to Saints Eagles Souths, the Premiers at 7.00 and the Reserves at 5.00. The Ladies, Division 1 Men, and Division 2 Funkies are all playing in Townsville on Friday. The Ladies play Warriors at 8.30, the Men’s Division 1 meet Ingham at 6.30, and the Men’s Division 2 are up against Brothers, also at 6.30.

Premiers

In a crucial clash against fellow top-four contenders Townsville Warriors, the Ayr Anzac Club Panthers rose to the occasion with a gutsy 3-2 win that sees them leap back into finals contention. The stakes were high, and the Panthers started like a side that knew it—dominating early possession and creating the better chances. The Burdekin side looked in control until a stunning strike from Warriors, completely against the run of play, found the back of the net to make it 1-0. Momentum shifted, and Burdekin struggled to regain their rhythm. But just before the break, Oscar Licciardello split the defence with a perfectly weighted ball to Matthew Kolb, who calmly finished to level the scores at 1-1.

The second half got off to a rocky start, with Warriors striking again just five minutes in to take a 2-1 lead. But rather than folding, the Panthers began to rally. After winning a free kick near the byline, Kai Goodman spotted the keeper off his line and cleverly curled it inside the post to level the match. The belief surged, and with fifteen minutes remaining, Ryan Scodellaro scored to put Burdekin into the lead. A brave defensive stand followed, sealing a vital 3-2 win and a return to the top four.

Reserves

Once again, Burdekin Tyre Services Reserves fielded a different team line-up, with the biggest number of injuries and absences of any game this season. A positive aspect was a Reserve Grade debut for Angus Innes and Zach Durrant. The Panthers made a slow start, and Warriors scored an opening goal after just ten minutes. From there, the Reserves settled into the game, and there were periods of good ball play and possession that ensured Warriors went into the break with only a one-goal lead. The Panthers started the second half poorly, again conceding an early goal. The team rallied again and stayed in the game, but two goals in the last five minutes ended the contest.

Juniors

The Juniors are presently on the school holiday break and will resume next week. The first event before fixtures start again is the Bowen carnival on Sunday, 13th July. Team nominations are to be in by 4th July. If you are unsure how to register, please contact the club.

Masters

A good turnout on a cool, damp Monday evening. And in a pre-play of the Club World Cup group match, Esperance de Tunisia lost 4-5 to Chelsea. Man of the Match was Chris Achille. Monday nights at 6.30. Be there.

National and International

The Matildas have played two friendlies against Slovenia, both in Perth. Last Thursday they won 3-0, but on Sunday could only draw 1-1.

The Socceroos, having qualified for the 2026 World Cup, now have to wait—possibly until the end of the year—to see who and where they play in the group rounds. In the meantime, they have lined up a couple of friendlies against New Zealand, home and away, on 5th and 9th of September.

The FIFA Club World Cup, being played in America, has reached the Round of 16 stage, the winners of which go through to the quarter-finals. So far, Bayern and PSG are both through and will play each other, and Chelsea and Palmeiras play off in the second quarter-final.

Quote of the Week

From then-Chelsea manager John Hollins when Doug Rougvie was sent off:
"It was a case of handbags at three paces, and he was unlucky."

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A Grade

The A Grade Roosters fell short on Saturday in a gritty fightback against Herbert River in Ingham.
The team suffered a heartbreaking 14–12 defeat to the Crushers in a hard-fought derby, with a slow start and missed opportunities ultimately costing them the game.

The Roosters found themselves in a 14–0 hole after a frustrating first half plagued by errors and missed chances.
Poor ball control and a lack of attention to detail in attack saw them squander early field position, allowing the Crushers to capitalise with two tries.
The defensive effort was good, but the inability to convert pressure into points proved costly.

To their credit, the Roosters refused to lie down, mounting a spirited second-half comeback.
Their defence tightened significantly, shutting the River out, while their attack finally found some rhythm.
Two late tries gave them a chance to snatch a draw, but the conversions weren’t enough to level the scores.

The fightback was a testament to the team’s resilience, and the coach will take positives from that.
Hayde Munro had a relentless work rate in attack and defence, constantly bending the line, while Colby Thompson’s strong carries and smart decision-making kept the Roosters in the contest.
Terrence Mosby was electric on the edges, causing problems every time he touched the ball, while Adam Camer was solid in his A Grade debut at fullback, showing composure beyond his experience level.

The early errors and lack of execution will be a focus at training, with better ball control and sharper attacking structures needed.
With centre Jesse Yallop out injured on Saturday and Logan Dickson with the Blackhawks, the coach may start either Luca Lago or Dylan Doak, with Terry Connors moving to the centres alongside James Munro.

Burdekin tries: Dylan Doak and Jye Olsen
Goals: Joel Mason 2/2

Reserves

Reserves coach Peter Horan said his team made too many mistakes in a 34–6 loss.

“Once again, we did well with 15 of our side under 20 against a very experienced River team who tried to take charge of the game all the time,” he said.

The Crushers were an older team, but Burdekin didn’t let youth take over—perhaps because they were missing some experienced players.
Horan said he thought they were right in it at halftime, down only 12–6, but smart play by some old heads and great kicking by Ingham’s 30-year reunion halfback Mitchell Seri kept the result in their favour.

Matthew Lee at centre was the players’ player, not far ahead of Taylor Pepa, with Archer Swindley also going well.
Luca Lago was one of the better players on the paddock, while winger Malik Ogameni was closely watched but came out on top.

Try: Price Gesah
Penalty goal: Dylan Doak

Ladies

The Burdekin River ladies team were well beaten by last year’s women’s premiers, Centrals, on Sunday in Townsville, going down 32–0.

The Tigers girls had too much experience for the younger combined team. Although they tried hard, they were generally outclassed. Dropped ball on early tackles didn’t help.

Martina Monday was named players’ player, and Paige Horvat was also among the best for the Burdekin River team, who tried till the end.

Ladder Update

The latest placings now see A Grade and the Combined Women sitting fourth on the ladder, with Reserve Grade in fifth.

Other Results

A Grade:

Brothers def. Charters Towers 40–14
Souths def. Centrals 30–16
Western Lions and Norths drew 24–24
Reserve Grade:

Charters Towers def. Brothers 22–14
Western Lions def. Bowen 30–10
Souths def. Centrals 44–12
Ladies:

Brothers def. Charters Towers 24–8
Western Lions won by forfeit from Bowen
Next Round

This week was originally scheduled as a bye for all teams, but the first round—washed out earlier in the season—will now be played.

Norths will visit the Burdekin on Saturday in all three grades: A Grade, Reserves, and Burdekin River Women.

Charters Towers will also play Western Lions in Townsville on Saturday, while Souths will host Herbert River in A Grade on Sunday.
Brothers and Centrals have byes.

In Reserves and Ladies, Western Lions will meet Charters Towers, and Souths will play Herbert River Reserves.
Centrals will play Bowen in both Reserves and Ladies on Saturday in Bowen.

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Three Burdekin Touch players recently returned from the State of Origin series held in Coffs Harbour. This competition between Queensland and New South Wales is held every two years and is contested just as fiercely as its Rugby League cousin. The states compete in a three-game series for Open Men, Women, and Mixed, as well as several age divisions from Under 20 to Over 65. Results from all series are aggregated to decide the overall winning state.

Michael Littlefield attended as an elite referee and officiated the first Under 20 Women’s game, followed by the next two Over 35 Men’s games. This was Michael’s third major tournament of the year and confirms his standing as one of the best referees in Australia.

Tramayne Horan represented Queensland in the Over 40 Women’s team, which began promisingly, taking the first game 5–4. Unfortunately, NSW struck back convincingly in the second game with a 5–2 win. With the series on the line in Game 3 and the scores locked at 2–2, NSW managed to score the winning try in the final seconds—taking the series 2 games to 1.

Ian Kerr represented Queensland in the Over 65 division, which was unfortunately dominated by NSW. The Cockroaches took Game 1, 3–2, putting pressure on Queensland to win Game 2 to keep the series alive. The game featured outstanding attack and desperate defence and required extra time to determine the winner. After an additional 10 minutes of play in a 3-on-3 drop-off, NSW scored the decider to win 4–3. They then completed the clean sweep with a 3–1 win in Game 3.

Unfortunately, New South Wales claimed the overall State of Origin trophy. Queensland will be back in 2027!

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Thursday, 26 June 2025

Twenty-eight players fronted on a perfect winter’s afternoon. The winning team today was Henry Hazel, Phil Marsden and Alex Bojack (pictured). Sorry—no Henry in the photo as he had already left.

Four games of triples and one game of pairs were played.

Rink 2: Paul Vass and Jeff Taylor had a narrow win over Bob Young and Hugh Montgomery, 20–19.
Rink 3: Judy Elton, Delys Fuller and Keith Roser defeated Margaret Linton, Dino Poli and Norm Bethel, 18–7.
Rink 4: Henry Hazel, Phil Marsden and Alex Bojack edged out Brian Kapizke, Lyn Storie and Terry Feakes in another close game, 14–13.
Rink 5: Kaye Garder, Sandra Darwin and Yogi Bunn accounted for Jo Roser, Michael Young and Joe Linton, 27–15.
Rink 6: Maureen Marsden, Ron Smith and Bones Berryman outlasted Margaret Chapman, Elaine Young and Steve Doig, 19–17.
Club Notes:
Monday Trimmers is going well.
The Wednesday morning Kraft group is well attended.
Thursday morning BINGO is the place to be.
Wednesday night barefoot bowls continues, along with regular Thursday afternoon social bowls.
Saturday afternoon bowls is also on.

Until next week—good bowls!

Story and photo by Steve Doig.

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The Ayr ANZAC Memorial Club Men's 4BBB Golf Championships took place over the weekend at Ayr Golf Club, with a host of local golfers battling it out for ultimate glory across three skill-based divisions.

The two-day event was highly contested, with gross winners and nett winners being recognised for each division at the tournament's close.

Gross winner of Grade B, Terry Hancock, said he was happy to be part of this years tournament.

"It was great to be involved in this event. Thank you to everyone involved at the Ayr Golf Club for putting on this competition," he said.

He hopes that it can continue to grow as an event in the future, rallying for more locals to participate.

"Please keep this event in mind for next year and make it a huge event again."

Results:
A-Grade
Gross Winners: Jake Lacey & Matt Wright
Nett Winners: Rob Pitt & Shane Power

B-Grade
Gross Winners: Geoff Munro & Terry Hancock
Nett Winners: Rod Williams & Jackson Plate

C-Grade
Gross Winners: Steve Orchard & Barry White
Nett Winners: Darrel Schieff & Liam Smith

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Burdekin Basketball Pushes For More Girls In The Game

From competitive fixtures to community programs, the courts are always buzzing at Burdekin Basketball. But now, the association is making a play for change—and it starts with getting more girls on the court.

“We’re a community facility, and we want to make sure everyone feels included,” said club president Shane James. “This current push is about getting girls back into sport—giving them opportunities to be active, to build friendships, and to grow their confidence through basketball.”

Located on Little Drysdale Street, Burdekin Basketball operates out of a multipurpose space with three courts, including a full indoor stadium and two outdoor concrete courts. Weekly fixtures run on Mondays and Wednesdays, with skills training and representative team sessions scattered throughout the rest of the week. Beyond basketball, the space also hosts everything from badminton and Pilates to youth groups and exercise classes.

“We’re a bit of a community hub,” Shane said. “We try to be a space for the whole community.”

But with support from recent state government funding, the club is now putting extra energy into programs designed to attract more female players. Shane, who personally applied for the grants, said the idea was to strengthen grassroots participation and bring new faces into the sport—especially at a school level.

“We’ve been into a couple of local schools already,” he said. “We’re holding come-and-try sessions and inclusion clinics to give girls a chance to get involved in a fun, no-pressure environment. Last week we were at St Francis, and this week our female coaches are running a session at East Ayr.”

While the club already boasts girls' representative teams, their regular weekly fixtures are mixed-gender, due simply to current player numbers. The hope, Shane said, is that with increased visibility, encouragement, and school involvement, the female side of the game will continue to grow.

“Basketball’s a great way to build bonds between kids,” he said. “It teaches teamwork, it builds relationships, and it gives them a sense of community. It’s empowering—especially for young girls.”

Outside of schools, the club is also ramping up its presence in the wider community—leaning into social media, word of mouth, branded apparel, and partnerships with local youth programs to spread the word.

“Any opportunity we have to get involved with the community, we take it,” Shane said. “A lot of our coaches are school teachers, and we’re already a familiar face around town. We want to keep that going.”

For Shane and the rest of the Burdekin Basketball committee, the goal is simple: to provide a welcoming, active space for everyone—and to make sure young girls know there’s a place for them in the game.

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The Brandon/Home Hill Purple Pennants team travelled to Bowen and Wangaratta over the weekend to compete in the Pennants competition, facing off against five opposing teams.

The team came away with a solid performance, recording two rink wins, one draw, and one match win. Beyond the results, the weekend was highlighted by friendly competition, reunions with familiar faces, and the formation of new friendships across clubs.

Friday Night Bowls Draws Strong Turnout

There was a great atmosphere at the club on Friday night, with 18 players taking to the green. A number of visiting players from Bowen added an exciting edge to the evening’s matches.

Game 1 saw Brad McIntosh, Jason Farry, and Jamie Woods secure victory over Nik Pearson, Ben Mills, and Joe Ypinazar.

In Game 2, Paul Anderson, Margaret McLaughlan, and Lyn Storrie staged a thrilling comeback to snatch a surprise win on the final end against Deon McIntosh, Rob Jorgensen, and Ross McLaughlin.

Game 3 ended in a well-fought draw between the teams of Lloyd Shepherd, Chris Pearce, and Gary Pearce, and Crowey, M. Wright, and J. Wright.

The evening was not only competitive but also a testament to the strong community spirit and camaraderie that continues to define the club.

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Margaret Linton, Judy Elton, Lyn Storrie, Colleen, Helen Collins, Sandra Darwen, Ann Newton, Meryl Smith.

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Local

Another mixed weekend for the Panthers, winning one, drawing one, and losing three of five matches.

On Friday night in Townsville, the Division 2 Funkies drew 0–0 with Brothers, and also in Townsville the Division 1 Men lost 1–4 to Ingham, but the Ladies defeated Saints Eagles South 5–0.

On Saturday, in Townsville against Brothers, the Premiers lost 0–2 and the Reserves lost 2–3.

This Saturday, the Premiers and Reserves are away to Warriors, the Premiers at 3.30pm and the Reserves at 1.30pm. The Ladies, Division 1 Men, and Division 2 Funkies are not playing.

Premiers

Whenever Burdekin and Brothers clash, it is never short of intensity — and this weekend’s encounter was no exception, despite both sides battling injuries to key players.

The Ayr Anzac Club Panthers started the brighter of the two, settling into the game with strong spells of possession. Jay Leckenby came close early, firing narrowly wide from a tight angle, but genuine chances were few and far between despite controlling much of the play. Brothers broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. The Panthers continued to boss possession for the remainder of the half but could not break down Brothers’ organised defence.

The story didn’t change much after the break. Burdekin dominated the ball but lacked composure in the final third, too often resorting to hopeful long balls that gifted possession. With time running out, the Panthers threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser but were caught out at the back in the dying moments, as Brothers sealed the contest with a late goal to make it 2–0.

A frustrating result for the Panthers, who will need to regroup ahead of next week’s challenge.

Reserves

Burdekin Tyre Services Reserves travelled to Brothers with another changed lineup due to more injuries and absences.

In a replay of the last two games there were periods of good ball play and possession but also times of poor passing and silly mistakes that allowed Brothers time and space to create chances.

Burdekin started poorly, conceding an early goal and were often just slightly off the pace through the first half.

Down 0–2 at the break, the Panthers knew they could improve on effort and energy. Brothers got a scrappy goal early in the second half, but the Panthers rallied through the last twenty minutes of the game.

Burdekin lost a player to a sin-bin call, but that spurred the team to greater effort. Reward came with a very good strike from Brayden Card fifteen minutes from time, and a few minutes later another good move found Cooper Kross in space at the top of the penalty area to score and make it 2–3.

Unfortunately, time was against the Panthers, who were left to rue a patchy performance that could have been a win.

Division 1 Men

The Austral Masonry Panthers played Ingham in Townsville on Friday night. The Panthers lost 1–4 after being behind 1–2 at half time. Henry Fallon scored for the Panthers in the first half.

Burdekin played with a man down for the last 15 minutes due to injury and lack of players. The final score didn’t accurately reflect the game, with Burdekin dominating at times.

Seaton Ivory and Agustin Agote both played very well.

Division 2 Men

The C.A Contracting Funkies battled Brothers in what is always a tense and spiteful encounter at their home ground.

Both teams were up for the fight and a hard-fought match took place. Good chances were created by both teams, but great saves from keeper Dave Bryan kept Brothers scoreless, while at the other end Burdekin was unable to break the deadlock.

With just minutes left, a very unjust penalty for handball to Brothers, along with a red card to Burdekin, threatened to ruin the game. However, keeper Dave Bryan, Man of the Match, stepped up again to save the penalty and give the Funkies a well-earned point from a 0–0 draw.

A very rare score for a second division game.

Ladies

The Ayr Anzac Club Ladies were in Townsville on Friday night, facing off once again against Saints Eagles Souths.

Ellyana Mugica set the tone early, striking to open the scoring just minutes into the match. Not long afterwards, Sienna Lago followed up with another slick finish, doubling Burdekin’s lead.

A deflected shot from Sian Reardon created the perfect setup for Chayse Feeney, who capitalised to make it 3–0 at half time.

After the break, Charley Ruskin extended the lead with a goal from a well-placed corner kick, and in the final minutes of the game, Brielle Astorquia sealed a dominant Burdekin performance, slotting home the fifth and final goal.

A strong all-round effort from the Burdekin ladies.

Juniors

The last round of fixtures was played on Saturday before the school holiday break.

The Under 5 to 7s enjoyed themselves playing local games, and the Under 8s and up travelled to Townsville for two games.

The Juniors are on a break now until after the school holidays, so get the kids a ball and let them practice their first touch and passing in the backyard or down the park!

The first thing before fixtures start again is the Bowen Carnival on Sunday 13th July. Bowen are a big supporter of our carnival, so it will be good to get as many Burdekin teams as possible to their carnival which is always a great day.

Team nominations are to be in by 4th July. If you are unsure how to register, please contact the club.

Masters

A good turnout on a cool, damp Monday evening. Andorra and England, in a replay of the recent World Cup qualifier, played out a 4–4 draw.

In a see-sawing game, Andorra were two goals up and then 4–2 down before equalising right on full time.

Man of the Match was Jonty Davis.
Monday nights at 6.30 — be there.

National and International

The Matildas have two friendlies lined up against Slovenia. Both games are at HBF Park in Perth on 26 and 29 June. New coach Joe Montemurro will be in charge.

The Socceroos, having qualified for the 2026 World Cup, now have to wait — possibly until the end of the year — to see who and where they play in the group rounds.

The group stage runs from 11–27 June, kicking off in Mexico City, and the final will be played in New York on 19 July.

Quote of the Week

From Spurs manager Terry Venables after a 4–1 home defeat to Chelsea, when ordering a drink:

“An arsenic… A large one.”

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Thrills on the Green: Canefire Fours Brings Regional Rivals Together

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The Ayr Bowling Club came alive over the weekend as it played host to the highly anticipated Canefire Fours—a two-day carnival that drew 56 passionate lawn bowlers from across the North Queensland region. Teams journeyed from as far afield as Collinsville, Bowen, Wangaratta, and Townsville, and were proudly joined by local contenders from Ayr, Brandon, and Home Hill, creating a vibrant blend of regional talent.

The format saw each team contest five games—three on Saturday followed by two fiercely competitive showdowns on Sunday. With every end hotly contested and no easy victories in sight, the tension mounted as the scoreboard tightened.

By the final round on Sunday, it was still anyone’s carnival to win. Spectators watched on as the top contenders took to the green, knowing the outcome hinged on those last few bowls. In the end, it was a nail-biting finish, with the championship decided in the final game of the final day—a testament to just how evenly matched the teams were throughout the weekend.

Congratulations to the top performers:

· 1st Place – Shaun Anderson's team, drawing on players from Cutheringa and Wangaratta
· 2nd Place – Jason Wright's team, featuring bowlers from Bowen and Brandon
· 3rd Place – Maurie Power's team, proudly representing Ayr

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to our generous sponsors—Queensland Country Bank, the Kalamia Hotel, NQIB, and Wilmar—whose support made this fantastic weekend possible. Their contributions help events like these thrive and bring small communities together on and off the green.

The presentation of prizes was graciously conducted by Kim Harding from Queensland Country Bank, adding a personal touch of appreciation on behalf of the event’s major sponsors.

Earlier in the week, unfortunately, Tuesday Ladies Social Bowls was washed out.

Wednesday’s Men’s Social Bowls brought together a lively group of players for four well-fought games of triples. Taking top honours on the day were Richard, John, John, and Trevor, who bowled brilliantly to claim victory. Adding to the excitement, the Jackpot was also struck—congratulations to Karen, Gordon, and Mick on their winning touch!

Wednesday night social bowls was put on hold for the State of Origin game.

In Championship action this week, the Men’s A Grade Pairs was played, with Cisco and Sam defeating Wayne and Barry. Highlight of the week was the Mixed Pairs Final, with Maurie and Pam defeating John and Beryl.

As we go to print today, the Ayr Bowling Club is proudly represented at the prestigious Men’s Dunn Cup—one of the standout events on the North Queensland bowling calendar. Flying the flag for the club are Ron Smythe, Sam Caltabiano, Anthony Bull, and Maurie Power. We extend our best wishes to the team as they take to the green against the region’s top talent—go Ayr!

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Winners
Second Place
Third Place

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Some of the brightest bowling talent in the Burdekin will congregate at Home Hill Bowling Club this weekend for the fast-approaching Club Championships.

The Championships will see 27 players across two draws battle it out for ultimate local bragging rights at the esteemed event, which will take place over the next few months to determine the outright champion.

Among contestants is long-time Home Hill Bowls member Norm Bethell, who says the event this time around is set to feature one of the most competitive fields yet.

"It's extremely competitive--it's the best players going toe-to-toe all the way up until the final," said Bethell. "I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out this year."

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The Burdekin Clay Target Club ran very successful shoots on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June. The weather was beautiful all weekend. Thank you to our sponsors JBS Foods Australia, Burdekin Tyres, Burdekin Engineering & Andrew Bergin. Thank you to Lui Populin for donating the meat tray for the raffle. Our next shoot will on Sunday 13 July.

Saturday Shoot saw 43 Shooter Attend

100 Target Double Barrel Handicap-Sponsored by JBS Foods Australia
Event 1-
OPEN 1st Joe Caruso 25/25
2nd Colin Ferguson, Jy Yarrow, Glenn McHenry & Glenn Clarke 24/25

Event 2-
OPEN 1dt Bill Gall 25/25,
2nd Joe (Jnr) Sebastiani 24/25

Event 3-
OPEN 1st Cameron Cislowski 24/25
2nd Bill Gall, Peter Scott, Isaac Sebastiani & Joe Caruso 23/25

Event4-
OPEN 1st David Stitt, Leisa Hopkins & Gregory Calder 24/25

Overall Winners
OPEN 1st Bill Gall 94/100
2nd Jy Yarrow 91/100
3rd Brian Bonanno, John Cerqui, Glenn McHenry & Rob Ness 89/100

Saturday Night Shoot saw 34 Shooters Attend

Event 1- 25 Target Burdekin Night Double Barrel Championship- Sponsored by Burdekin Tyres
OPEN 1st Benji Micallef 41/41
AA Grade 1st Benji Micallef 41/41
A Grade 1st Joe Scalia 45/46
B Grade 1st Brett Paton 27/28
C Grade 1st Isaac Sebastiani 26/29

Event 2-25 Target Burdekin Night Single Barrel Championship- Sponsored by Burdekin Engineering
OPEN 1st Michael Zabala 25/25
AA Grade 1st Michael Zabala 25/25
A Grade 1st Wayne Cislowski 27/31
B Grade 1st Sarah Sebastiani 22/25
C Grade 1st Keiren Scott 20/25

Sunday Shoot saw 32 Shooters Attend

Event 1-30 Target Medley 15m
AA Grade 1st Bruce Murphy, Ron Gough 50/50, 3rd Jason Phillis 49/50
A Grade 1st Jy Yarrow 49/50, 2nd Cornelius Venter & Ian Kriesel 48/50
B Grade 1st Glenn Clarke 49/50, 2nd Brett Paton 39/50,3rd Sylvia Rossato 38/50
C Grade 1st Keiren Scott 44/50, 2nd Toni Scott 43/50, 3rd Rob Ness 41/50

Event 2-25 Target Double Barrel 15m
AA Grade 1st Joe Caruso & Michael Zabala 150/150
A Grade 1st Ron Clive 26/26
B Grade 1st Peter Scott 25/25
C Grade 1st Keiren Scott 24/25

Event 3-20 Target Pointscore 15m
AA Grade 1st Tony Caruso 60/60, 2nd Michael Zabala & Benji Micallef 59/60
A Grade 1st Colin Ferguson 60/60, 2nd David Stitt & John Cerqui 57/60
B Grade 1st Peter Scott 59/60, 2nd Rob Ness & Sylvia Rossato 58/60
C Grade 1st Keiren Scott 55/60, 2nd Rob Ness 52/60, Brian Bonanno 50/60

Event4-25 Pair Burdekin Double Rise Championship 15m- Sponsored by Andrew Bergin
OPEN 1st John Cerqui 63/70
AA Grade 1st Aaron Lemphers & Benji Micallef 69/80
A Grade 1st John Cerqui 63/70
B Grade 1st David Stitt 48/60
C Grade 1st Keiren Scott 42/50

Contributed with thanks to Sylvia Rossato

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The Burdekin Under 14 Touch Football season wrapped up in style last Wednesday with the staging of its Grand Finals, showcasing the skill of local junior players.

“The competitive nature of these Juniors was on display as they battled for championship honours,” said Burdekin Touch Technical Director, Bruce Johnson.

“Games throughout the season were played in good spirit with plenty of skill displayed. It was great to see how much each player improved throughout the season.”

In a one-sided A Grade final, Baywatch proved too good for the Mustangs, running away with a commanding 14–2 victory. Hank Williams led the charge with an impressive five touchdowns.

The B Grade contest was much tighter, with Babes overcoming Red Robins 5–3 in a hard-fought clash.

Competition co-ordinator Bob Clerke also announced the individual award winners for the season.

For Baywatch, Lorna Rattle was named Best Player, with Dakkie Daniels taking out Most Improved. Babes’ top honours went to Joan Anthony (Best Player) and Tahnay Cooktown (Most Improved).

Mustangs’ Best Player was Bri Robertson, while Abbey Becke and Lyla Land shared the Most Improved award.

Red Robins recognised both Digby Brown and Stella Borellini as joint Best Players, with Mebena Russo named Most Improved.

Bruce Johnson extended his thanks to all referees, coaches, and parents for their efforts across the season.

A Grade Final
Baywatch 14 (H. Williams 5, K. Neliman 2, M. Doolah 2, D. Daniels, Z. Williams, G. Malayta, W. Malayta)
def. Mustangs 2 (B. Robertson, J. Dabelstein)

B Grade Final
Babes 5 (Fantasia 2, Shai-tay 2, Sheree)
def. Red Robins 3 (S. Borellini, D. Brown)

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It’s been another big week at the Ayr Bowling Club, with plenty of action on the greens and the highly anticipated Cane Fire Fours competition set to take centre stage on June 21–22. A total of 14 teams will compete for the title across the two-day event. Please note there will be no Saturday social bowls due to the tournament.

Tuesday – Ladies Social Bowls
One game of triples and one game of pairs were played.
Triples winners: Meryl Smith, Beryl Cornford and Heather Jorgensen defeated Isabel Cislowski, Rayleen Hervery and Dot Cutting.
Pairs winners: Katharina Stuckler and Pam Power defeated Donna Soper and Mary Poli.

Wednesday – Men’s Social Bowls
Two games of triples and two pairs games were contested in a tight afternoon of play.
Triples winners: Rob, Dino and Lindee defeated Arthur Gauvin, Peter Sauer and Ron Soper.
It was a great afternoon of camaraderie and quality bowls, enjoyed by all.

Wednesday Night – Social Bowls
Two rinks were in action:
Game 1 winners: Ali Vasefi, Lyn Cecil, David Burt and Sam Caltabiano.
Game 2 winners: Mosayeb Noori, Shane Stanford, Tricia Achille and Heather Jorgensen.

Saturday – Social Bowls
Three triples games and one pairs game were played.
Winners: Karen Shepherd, Donna Soper and Pam Power defeated B. Haynes, John McDonald and Ron Soper.
Second place: Margaret Chapman, George Nixon and Dot Cutting defeated Barry Hewson, Peter Sauer and Barry Shepherd.

Championship Action
In the Ladies Competition Open Pairs Final, played Thursday June 5 at 3:30pm, Beryl Cornford and Pam Power defeated Lorraine Wolffe and Irene Wilson.

Mixed Pairs action saw two games played:

• John Pirrone and Beryl Cornford defeated Deslie Olsen and Ron Soper.
• Pam Power and Maurie Power defeated Lorraine Wolffe and Anthony Bull.
  Both winning pairs now progress to the final.

Friday Roll-Ups – New Bowlers Welcome
If you’re interested in giving bowls a try, Friday Roll-Ups are a great place to start. Held every Friday afternoon from 3:00–5:30pm, these casual sessions offer a relaxed environment for training, socialising, and enjoying a drink with fellow members. Come down, have a go, and join the fun!

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It was a weekend of mixed results for the Burdekin Roosters across all grades.

The action kicked off on Friday night, with the Burdekin River girls fighting back to earn a hard-fought 22-all draw against Brothers in Ingham. Missing several key players due to the early kick-off, including star attacker Martina Monday, the team showed great resilience to come from 16–4 down. Paige Horvat starred with three tries, earning best-on-ground honours. Abby King, Toni Daisy, Tanley Rowe and Lily Chappel were also among the standouts. King and Chappel added a try each, while Rebecca Pace slotted a conversion. The Burdekin River side now sits fourth, with the combined Burdekin–Herbert River experiment showing promising signs.

On Saturday, the Reserve Grade Roosters made it three wins in a row, storming back from an eight-point deficit to defeat Centrals 24–20. Coach Peter Horan praised his side’s determination after they trailed 20–12 early in the second half. “Centrals were on a roll, but the boys said no and fought back,” Horan said. “Some of these boys are still eligible for under 20s, so to see them respond like that was impressive.”

Dylan Doak led the way with a try and four goals. Adam Camer, Caleb Noah, and Riley Easton also crossed the line. Archer Swindey was named players’ player for his standout effort, while Camer was solid at fullback and Llama Ghee looked dangerous in attack. Horan also welcomed back Riley Easton after a week off due to illness. The reserve grade side is now sitting fifth and will look to continue their winning streak against Bowen this weekend before facing the strong Crushers outfit in Ingham the following week.

Later on Saturday, A Grade faced Centrals in Townsville and went down 24–14 in a controversial match. Despite a spirited comeback attempt, the Roosters were undone by both contentious calls and their own fundamental errors.

After previously defeating the Tigers 36–24, Burdekin began the match confidently but dropped ball and a fired-up Centrals outfit kept them scoreless in the first half, which ended 16–0. Defensive lapses and attacking mistakes continued to plague the visitors, who then conceded another try early in the second stanza to trail 20–0.

Burdekin rallied, scoring three tries to bring the margin back to 20–14. A fourth try was disallowed by the touch judge—a decision that, if reversed, could have levelled the scores with the conversion. Centrals sealed the match with a late try to secure the 24–14 win.

Coach Steve Lansley was blunt in his assessment. “We were our own worst enemies. Dropped ball, falling off tackles, poor decision-making in attack and defence—it cost us dearly.”

Logan Dickson was named players’ player for his efforts at fullback, while forward Terrence Mosby and big man Braedyn Cotter also impressed. “A few weeks ago, we hadn’t won a game after three rounds. Now we’re fifth, nearly in the top four—but we need to cut out the errors and stay focused,” Lansley added.
Try scorers were Terry Connors (2), Saleki Walifeo and Jye Olsen, with one goal kicked.

Weekend Results Summary

A Grade

• Centrals def Burdekin 24–14
• Brothers def Herbert River 24–12
• Charters Towers def Western Lions 38–24
• Souths def Norths 44–8

Reserve Grade

• Burdekin def Centrals 24–20
• Herbert River def Brothers 18–14
• Charters Towers def Bowen 14–6
• Souths def Norths 58–0
• Western Lions – Bye

Women’s Grade

• Burdekin River drew with Brothers 22–22
• Charters Towers def Bowen 54–0
• Byes: Western Lions, Centrals, Norths

This Week’s Fixtures

• Burdekin A Grade – Bye
• Burdekin Reserves & Women – vs Bowen in Bowen
• Souths host Charters Towers (A Grade & Reserve)
• Brothers host Norths (A Grade & Reserve)
• Western Lions host Centrals (A Grade, Reserve & Women)
• Herbert River – Bye (A Grade & Reserve)

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Local

It was a mixed weekend for the Panthers, with one win, one draw, and three losses across five matches. On Friday night in Townsville, the Division 2 Funkies drew 1–1 with JCU, while back home, the Division 1 Men lost 0–7 to Rebels. The Ladies, however, stormed to an 8–0 win over Saints Eagles South. On Saturday, in Townsville against Estates, both the Premiers and the Reserves went down, 0–3 and 0–10 respectively.

This Friday, the Division 1 Men, Division 2 Men, and the Ladies all travel to Townsville. The Division 1 side faces Ingham at 8.30pm, the Division 2 team meets Brothers at 6.30pm, and the Ladies take on Saints Eagles Souths at 6.30pm. On Saturday, the Premiers and Reserves are away to Brothers, kicking off at 7.30pm and 5.30pm respectively.

Premiers

The Ayr Anzac Club Panthers faced a tough assignment away to top-of-the-table Estates, always one of the most challenging fixtures on the calendar. The match started disastrously, with Estates scoring directly from a corner to put Burdekin on the back foot from the outset.

To their credit, the Panthers responded well. For the rest of the first half, they dominated possession and forced Estates to sit deep and absorb pressure. Despite the control, clear-cut chances were rare, and the half ended 1–0 to Estates.

The second half resumed in similar fashion, with the Panthers pressing for an equaliser. But football can be cruel—against the run of play, Estates doubled their lead around the 60-minute mark. The goal rattled Burdekin’s composure, and just five minutes later, Estates made it 3–0. Despite a late push, the Panthers couldn’t claw their way back. The score didn’t reflect the effort, but it’s back to the drawing board as Burdekin look to regroup.

Reserves

Burdekin Tyre Services Reserves travelled to Estates with a reshuffled lineup due to more injuries and absences. It was another match full of effort and moments of strong possession, but the Panthers were undone by unlucky bounces and costly errors, gifting the ball back to a quick and skilful opposition. The game was effectively over by halftime at 0–4, and the final score of 0–10 is one best left in the past as the team enters the second half of the season.

Division 1 Men

The Austral Masonry Panthers struggled against an experienced Rebels side, going two goals down early. By halftime, it was 0–4. The Panthers showed improvement for the first 25 minutes of the second half, keeping Rebels scoreless during that stretch. However, they were unfortunate to concede a penalty, followed by two late goals. Seaton Ivory and Charlie Shears stood out in a tough 0–7 loss.

Division 2 Men

The C.A. Contracting Funkies were frustrated with a 1–1 draw against a lower-ranked JCU Riverway side in their Friday night clash. It felt more like a loss. Chris Achille opened the scoring off a well-placed pass from Heath Swindley midway through the first half.

Burdekin dominated play throughout but were wasteful in front of goal. That proved costly when JCU snatched a late equaliser from a free kick. The Funkies will aim to bounce back into the top four with a win over Brothers this Friday night.

Ladies

The Ayr Anzac Club Ladies had no issues dispatching Saints Eagles Souths on Friday night. They led 4–0 at halftime, with two goals from Sienna Lago and one apiece from Zandi Bonanno and Tearra Tinson.

It took a while to get going in the second half, but once they did, the Burdekin side added three goals in five minutes through Dayna Linton, Brielle Astorquia, and Karina Guglielmi. Charley Ruskin capped off the night with the eighth, just before full time.

Juniors

Perfect weather set the stage for a great Saturday of junior football, with competitive matches played across all grades against Mundingburra Olympic. A big thank you to MAO for making the trip down.

This Saturday, Under 5 to Under 7 teams play at home in Ayr, while Under 8 and up travel to Townsville. A reminder to all travelling teams: arrive at least 30 minutes before kickoff. Have fun!

Masters

A solid turnout on a cool Monday night saw Portugal and Spain replay the Nations League Final. Spain came from 0–2 down to win 3–2 in a cracking match. Man of the Match was Drac Bryen. Monday nights, 6.30pm. Be there.

National and International

The Matildas have two friendlies lined up against Slovenia, both at HBF Park in Perth on 26 and 29 June. New coach Joe Montemurro will take the reins for the first time.

The Socceroos have secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup and now wait—possibly until year’s end—to learn their group stage opponents and venues. The tournament kicks off 11 June in Mexico City, with the final scheduled for 19 July in New York.

Quote of the Week

From former Shrewsbury manager Ian McNeill after losing an FA Cup game to the bottom team in the league:

“I can’t decide whether to go out and get drunk or throw myself in the nearest canal.”

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