The week at Ayr Bowling Club began with Ladies’ Social bowls on Monday 21 October, where Pam Power faced Irene Wilson in the consistency singles. It was a competitive game, with Power emerging victorious in a closely contested match.

Tuesday’s Ladies’ Social bowls drew a good turnout of 16 players, forming three games of triples and one game of pairs. The winners included Merle Nixon, Katharina Stuckler, and Deslie Olsen, who defeated Rayleen Harvey, Ron Soper, and Linda Guimelli. Ruth Moore, Sandra Stidston, and Mary Poli triumphed over Karen Sheperd, Donna Soper, and Dot Cutting, while Karen Page and Heather Jorgensen defeated Beryl Cornford and Irene Wilson in the pairs match.

On Wednesday 23 October, Mixed Social bowls saw three games of triples, with impressive performances across the board. The day’s winners were Graham Warrfit, Margret Chapman, and W. Coonan. Wednesday night also hosted three games of triples, with Evelyn Wiltshere, John Cesconetto, and David Burt winning the first game, and Gary Anderson, Tricia Achille, and Sam Caltabiano winning the second. Luke Anderson, Katharina Stuckler, and Heather Jorgensen claimed victory in the third game.

The Ladies’ Competition on Thursday continued with the three Bowl Pairs. Advancing to the next round, Deslie Olsen and Mary Poli defeated Ruth Moore and Dot Cutting, while Tricia Achille and Pam Power won against Beryl Cornford and Heather Jorgensen in the handicap pairs.

Saturday Social bowls featured two games of triples and one game of fours. The fours winners were G. Wakefield, Ray Wall, Joe Papale, and W. Coonan, who defeated Linda Guimelli, S. Darwen, J. Grabbi, and B. Shepherd. In the triples matches, R. Smythe, M. Chapman, and C. Olditch defeated J. Cisco, H. Hazel, and R. Garner, while J. Pirrone, G. Nixon, and D. Cutting defeated V. Edwards, T. Klopper, M. Nixon, and R. Soper.

Club championships continued on Sunday with Mixed Triples, where J. Hall, Sandra Darwen, and Michael Parravacini defeated D. Soper, B. Shepherd, and R. Soper. In the Mixed Pairs, Lyn Storrie and Gary Pearce claimed victory over Margret Chapman and Henry Hazel. The club board lists upcoming championship games scheduled for November 3.

Ayr Bowling Club invites the community to Fun Friday Night Bowls on Friday, 1 November, starting at 6pm. This social event welcomes all levels of bowlers, whether attending solo or with friends. Entry is $10 per game, which includes a sausage sizzle and a light supper. The sausage sizzle starts at 6pm, and bowling begins at 7pm. For more information or to register, contact Maurie Power at 0412 551 816 or Pam Power at 0458 330 019.

Contributed with thanks to Anthony Bull.

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Fourteen bowlers gathered for an enjoyable Friday evening of social bowls and friendly banter at the Brandon Bowls Club. The evening featured one game of triples, where Joy Woods, Lyn Storrie, and "Rampaging" Ray Paneccasio triumphed over Margaret McLaughlan, Lyn Storrie, and Joe Yipnazar. Storrie humorously struggled to remember who her skip was, as the team was short one player.

Two pairs matches followed. In the first, Norm Storrie teamed up with "Mr. Bowls" Gary Pearce to defeat David Bycroft and Jamie Woods in a dominant performance. The final pairs game saw new member Bruce McCallum and Ross McLaughlin claim a decisive victory over Jayson Farry and Lloyd Shepherd.

The evening’s jackpot didn’t go off, but overall winners of the night were Norm Storrie and Gary Pearce.

Sunday saw two Championship events unfold at the club. The early triples game featured Vince Beitia, Ray Paneccasio, and Leo Kenny, who played a strong game to defeat Mick McCloskey, Alan Gairoch, and Peter Jorgensen.

In the A Grade Pairs final, Peter Henderson and Jamie Woods took on the family duo Chris and Gary Pearce. Henderson and Woods initially led, but Chris and Gary rallied, ultimately securing the title with a powerful comeback, maintaining their reign for another year.

Alongside the A Grade final, two social rinks games took place for Sunday social bowls. In the first game, Neville Dickinson, Mick McCloskey, Joe Yipnazar, and Doug Robins defeated Norm Storrie, "Birthday Boy" Glenn Woodford, Alan Gairoch, and Leo Kenny. In the final rink, Ken Ferguson, Rob Jorgensen, Doug Kiehne, and "Welcome Back" Danny O’Shea bested Ben Mills, Henry Hazel, Ray Paneccasio, and Len Feeney.

With the jackpot once again unclaimed, the club looks forward to next week’s events.

Contributed with thanks to Lloyd Shepherd.

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Peter Henderson, Jamie Woods, and Gary and Chris Pearce went head to head in Sunday’s Championship matches.

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The past week has been a busy one for the Home Hill Cricket Association. On Tuesday afternoon, the Rookies program took place at East Ayr State School, where coaches Guy and Thomas led children in a fun-filled session focused on the fundamental skills of cricket. During Friday afternoon’s Challengers games, Corey Pensini and Nicholas Marrinan stood out as top scorers, followed closely by strong performances from Noah Tanner and Henry Cohen. Levi Trail earned the "McDonald's Sports Award" this week, recognised for his impressive bowling and fielding efforts.

In the "Blue" group, Kip Nicholas claimed the award for his well-rounded performance with both bat and ball, remaining unbeaten with 12 runs and delivering an economical bowling spell, including a maiden over. Tait Parker also ended his innings not out, scoring 11 runs with a boundary. Jude Shannon and Tyler Smith each took a wicket, while Kye Quinlan achieved two runouts, showcasing the team’s strength in the field.

The "Gold" group saw some players missing due to the North Queensland Cricket Association (NQCA) Trials over the weekend, with several "Blue" players stepping up to fill in. Among them, Alex Cullen and Kaisen Petersen batted well, both retiring not out. Kaisen also bowled two economical overs, earning him the "McDonald's Sports Award" for his performance. Logan Pickup claimed two wickets, while Nate Quagliata and Nathaniel Backo took one each.

The weekend also brought NQCA trials for the Under 12s to Under 16s, with five Home Hill Cricket Association players participating. Oliver Calligaro, Xavier Cross, Marshall Parker, and Mark Wilkie travelled to Ingham for the Under 12 trials, while Thomas Cardillo headed to Townsville for the Under 16s. Meanwhile, the Home Hill club hosted the Under 13s for their two-day trial at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex.

Contributed with thanks to Joanne Heidke.

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Commended for his exceptional performance, Kip Nicholas was presented with a Sports Award!
Levi Trail was celebrated for his bowling and fielding efforts with a Sports Award.
Praised for his batting, Kaisen Petersen scored a Sports Award for his performance.
Mark Wilkie, Oliver Calligaro, Marshall Parker, and Xavier Cross performed amazingly at the U12 NQCA Trials in Ingham.
Thomas Cardillo impressed onlookers at the U16 NQCA Trials in Townsville.
Top scorers Corey Pensini and Nicholas Marrinan in action!
Alex Cullen’s batting skills impressed spectators!
Tait Parker scored 11 runs!
Friday afternoon saw plenty of action in the Challenger Games.

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The Ayr and Home Hill Rugby teams. Photo credit: Marni Hine

Friendly Rivalry and Community Spirit
At Town Of Origin Event

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The Town of Origin event on Sunday delivered an action-packed day of sports, with Home Hill securing the overall victory in thrilling fashion. The competition between the two towns featured cricket, netball, and rugby, each fiercely contested and filled with moments of excitement.
The day kicked off with cricket, where Ayr claimed a narrow victory in a match that went down to the wire. Ayr posted a solid score of 3/136, but Home Hill came close, finishing with 5/135. Despite strong batting from Home Hill’s top order, they fell just short of victory, handing Ayr the lead.
Next came the netball match, where Home Hill dominated from the start, bouncing back from the cricket loss. Their superior teamwork and precision shooting saw them pull away, finishing with a commanding 27-16 win over Ayr. This result brought the two towns level in the overall standings, setting the stage for a dramatic rugby decider.
The rugby match was a highlight of the day, providing a nail-biting finish that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. The match was closely fought, with both teams exchanging points throughout. However, it was in the final six minutes that the drama truly unfolded. Ayr and Home Hill each scored a try in quick succession, but Home Hill held on to clinch a thrilling 24-22 victory. Their try sealed the win and secured the overall Town of Origin title for Home Hill.
Beyond the sports, the day featured plenty of fun for families and spectators. The tug-of-war during the rugby half time between the local children and the Harvest Festival Queens was a crowd favorite, with the kids coming out on top. Attendees were treated to delicious food from the Lions Club, while the Home Hill Community Kindergarten kept everyone refreshed with drinks and snacks. Kids enjoyed the jumping castle, and the Burdekin Cruisers Club displayed a selection of classic cars, adding to the community atmosphere.
It was a fantastic day of sport and entertainment, with Home Hill emerging as the Town of Origin champions for this year.
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Photo credit: Marni Hine

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The Burdekin Bocce Club warmly welcomed plenty of visitors and experienced players to enjoy a wonderful afternoon tea and a bowl on Sunday 20 October to celebrate Senior’s Month.

Many attendees picked up a bocce for the first time on the weekend, embracing the relaxed nature of the beloved sport, as well as playing a round of a classic Italian card game.

Mother and daughter duo, Dianne and Merle Glover took to the sport for the first time, and to the Club’s delight, the pair very much enjoyed the game, and played surprisingly well for first timers!

Burdekin Bocce Club President, Lino Fabbro, Secretary and Treasure, Regina Lequerica, and members Anselmo Felesina, Ugo Vener, and Robert Lazzarin would like to thank everybody to attended on Sunday and cannot wait to continue sharing the sport with more members of the community.

Contributed with thanks to Regina Lequerica.

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Dianne and Merle Glover, with Anselmo Felesina, Ugo Vener, Robert Lazzarin, and president, Lino Fabbro.

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On Wednesday, 16 October, the A Grade Women’s Singles final was played between Darell Pearce and Lyn Storrie. In a gripping contest, with President Joy Woods marking the match, the game remained close until Lyn Storrie powered through to secure the win. This marks back-to-back titles for Lyn - congratulations! Both ladies put on a fantastic performance, and thanks once again to Joy Woods for officiating the final.
In the social game played at the same time, Kay Garner, Bev Gairoch, and Helen Collins triumphed over Kay Garner, Ann Norton, and Vanda B.

Friday night saw 56 bowlers take to the green in perfect conditions for Nutrien AG Trophy Bowls, sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions. It was an enjoyable night, and thanks go to Len Feeney for running the BBQ, the kitchen team (Sharon Kenny, Joy Wood, and Lyn Storrie), and Leo Kenny behind the bar. With one more evening left in 2024, the Brandon Bowls Club looks forward to Bennetts Mechanical x 4X4 on Friday, 15 November - stay tuned for more details!

In Sunday’s Championship match, Chris Pearce, Joe Yipnazar, and Len Feeney faced off against Mick McCloskey, Allan Gairoch, and Peter Jorgensen in warm, windy conditions. Peter Jorgensen’s team dominated, securing their place in the next round - Peter might want to buy a lottery ticket after that performance!

The highly anticipated A & B Pairs match saw Jayson Farry and Jamie Woods take on Trevor Elton and Hugh Montgomery. A close contest for the first 10 ends, the Farry-Woods combination eventually proved too strong. In the next round, odds-on favourites Jayson Farry and Jamie Woods will face last year’s champions, Lloyd Shepherd and Gary Pearce.

Three games of triples were played on Sunday for social bowls with the results as follows:
   • Norm Storrie, Vince Beitia, and "Rampaging" Ray Paneccasio defeated Dave Sheehan, Doug Kiehne, and Doug Robins.
   • Ben Mills, Glenn Woodford, and Kev Collins drew against Gary Nosworthy, Jeff Taylor, and Leo Kenny.
   • Ken Ferguson, Lyn Storrie, and Peter Henderson triumphed over Henry Hazel, Rob Jorgensen, and Richi Mau.
Congratulations to all the participants, and we look forward to the upcoming games!

Contributed with thanks to Lloyd Shepherd.

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Brandon Bowls Club President, Joy Woods with Lyn Storrie and Darell Pearce.
Friday’s victors Phil Carrillo, Glen Pirone, Peter Matthews, and Alf Gangemi.
John Pirone, Joe Grabbi, Nutrients Sponsor John Grabbi, and Norm Storrie.
Peter Jorgensen, Nutrients sponsor Heather Jorgensen, and David Bycroft.

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Local

The Escriva Cup is due to be played on Friday evening, 1st November and is a fundraiser held by The SLoBs (Soccer Legends of the Burdekin) to help out ex-players with health problems. Last year fourteen Men’s teams and two Ladies teams took part. Hopefully, we will have more teams involved this year.

Night Soccer

Delta Cleaners Night Soccer’s Week 7 had to be postponed until Thursday because of the rain. The 21games produced 67 goals and surprisingly there were only three forfeits and even more surprisingly, no Sin Bins! Top scorers for the Men were Plumb Dingers who thumped Karls Mowing Service 11-1 and UDS who defeated iComply 7-0.

Mottin Earthmoving are still top of Group AI, UDS still lead in Group A2 and Wires Down head Group B.

In the Women’s competition DILLIGAF and Let’s Get Messi both scored three goals and UDS Ladies still top the A Grade table and Shin Kickers are the leaders in B Grade.

Juniors

Junior Social Soccer was called off on Tuesday afternoon but will, hopefully recommence next week. With 40 teams taking part this year, it is a very big afternoon.

National and International

The Socceroos managed a 1-1 draw away to Japan. In the context this was a good performance as Japan, the group leaders had previously won all three of their games, scoring fourteen goals and not conceding any. This result moves Australia up to second place in their Group and they need to finish in the top two.

The Socceroos next match is against Saudi Arabia on 14 November in Melbourne. Five days later the reverse fixtures start, and the Socceroos are away to Bahrain.

The Matildas will soon be in action again as they have two friendly matches in October. The first is away to Switzerland on 25 October and they then play Germany on Monday 28th October in Duisburg. Their next games are not until late November - December when they play Brazil, home and away.

The A League kicked off its 2024-25 season last weekend. Surprisingly, Macarthur head the League after marmelising Perth Glory 6-1. Sydney FC beat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1, Melbourne City won away at Newcastle and newcomers Auckland beat Brisbane Roar 2-0. Next week Macarthur is away to Newcastle and Brisbane has the bye.

The A League Women will kick off on 1st November with Western Utd at home to Wellington and on the Saturday Brisbane Roar is away to Canberra. There are twelve clubs in the competition this season.

In the EPL, Liverpool and Manchester City both won and with Arsenal losing, Liverpool is top of the table a point clear of City with Arsenal and Aston Villa a further three points behind. Brighton has moved up to fifth place! Wolves and Southampton continue to hold up the League with one point each from eight games.

In the Bundesliga, the top five teams all won and after seven rounds Bayern and Leipzig are level on seventeen points. Freiburg stays in third place two points behind and Leverkusen, last year’s champions, are another point adrift. At the foot of the table Holstein and Bochum are yet to win a game.

In Italy, the top six teams all won so there is no change at the top of Serie A. Napoli still lead Inter by two points with Juventus a further point away and AC Milan fourth. At the bottom of the league Venezia, Monza and Lecce are in deep trouble.

In Spain’s La Liga, Villareal who drew, were the only team out of the top seven who didn’t win. Barca still leads Real Madrid by three points with Atletico a further four points adrift as Villareal drop to fourth place. Las Palmas and Valencia are having problems at the foot of the table, but Valladolid managed a win.

In France, only three of the top six teams won. With Monaco only managing a draw PSG is back on top of the table with twenty points and a superior goal difference to Monaco. Marseille is third and Lille a distant fourth. Angers and Montpelier are in trouble after eight rounds.

Finally, In the Albanian Super League, Partizani Tirana leads Egnatia and KS Dinamo Tirana by one point after nine rounds. I thought you should know.

In Europe, next week the Champions League resumes. Arsenal is at home to Shaktar. Juventus plays Stuttgart, Barcelona is at home to Bayern and Liverpool travels to Leipzig.

The Quote of the Week is from new England Manager Thomas Tuchel, “Sometimes, it is good to lose - you learn.”

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Saturday Pairs Bowls was sponsored by Home Hill Prawn Stop and was a successful event.
The pairs have attracted a mixture of male and female bowlers who all agree it is a fantastic and fun afternoon.
Come and enjoy 3 bowl pairs, fully sponsored with a 12pm start.
Burdekin Bowls club are great in supporting other clubs in the area in tournaments, congratulations to all these clubs.
Apologies for missing the last few weeks, but we are back to regular programming.
Contributed with thanks to Stormin’ Norman.

Winners are Grinners. Photo Supplied

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On Saturday 12 October, the 2024 Sip 'n Putt sessions at Home Hill Golf Club concluded with a fantastic finish! Fourteen ladies, including five newcomers, participated in the final session led by PGA coach Tara Jenkins where some of the ladies were introduced to golf for the first time, while others practiced skills from previous lessons.

Several participants felt confident enough to play a hole in an Ambrose format, discovering just how much technique is required to get that little white ball into the hole!

After the session, the ladies, along with several club members, enjoyed socialising over drinks and nibbles. During this time, there was discussion about ways to stay engaged with the game, and most ladies expressed interest in a 4-hole competition, to be held on either a Saturday or Sunday. The first competition is planned for later in November, with club members on hand to offer guidance and tips. Ladies who were unable to attend the Sip 'n Putt sessions are also welcome to join in. Keep an eye on the Home Hill Golf Club Facebook page for updates.

A special thank you goes to Tara Jenkins for traveling from Townsville to lead the sessions. The club also acknowledges the support from the State Government’s Active Women & Girls Program, which funded Tara’s professional coaching services.

Sip 'n Putt will return in 2025!

Contributed with thanks to Megan Barbagallo.

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Tara guiding the 14 ladies through the final Sip ‘n Putt session for the year!
After an awesome afternoon on the green, the attendees enjoyed some nibbles and drinks.

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The rainy weather early in the week that forced the cancellation of Monday's training thankfully cleared for the Home Hill Cricket Association’s junior cricket games on held on Friday, 18 October. 

Three groups of eager cricketers lined up for their games under sunny skies at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex in Home Hill.  The youngest of these, the Challengers, were playing in front of the clubhouse on the "Barry Richards Field".  The children put on a good show of skills for the adults who were watching with Nicholas Marrinan winning the "Player of the Match Award" for his efforts.

Over on the astro pitches the "Hardball" games were being played by the older children.  It was a one-sided affair in the "Blue" group as one team took all the wickets in the game to come away with the win.  Tait Parker, Kayleah McCarthy and Corey Pensini took 2 wickets each and Chaz Moschella bowled economically to help their team achieve this. The great batting from Alex Cullen, Billy Muilwyk and Mazlyn and Tyler Smith was the highlight of the game. 

The "Gold" group found scoring runs more difficult than last week as the bowling was tighter.  Marshall Parker was again the top scorer with 18 runs not out, just pipping Tyler Schultz on 17.  Three other batters retired, they were Ben Watkins, Jacques Gardner and Nathaniel Backo.  The best bowler and winner of this week's "Player of the Match Award" was Aanav Desai who's second over was a two-wicket maiden, he finished with three wickets for the game.  Mark Wilkie, Marshall Parker and Jacques Gardner all took one wicket each.

Contributed with thanks to Home Hill Cricket Association Secretary, Tiffany.

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Kaisen Petersen at the bat!
Batting for the win was Player of the Match, Aanav Desai.
Tait Parker took 2 wickets in Friday’s “Hardball” game!
Xavier Cross gave it his all on the pitch!
Tyler Schultz scored 17 runs in Friday’s game.
Alex Cullen, Billy Muilwyk and Mazlyn and Tyler Smith were commended for their batting.
The “Blue” group were Friday’s victors!
Working hard, the “Blue” group took all the wickets, scoring them the win!

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The big news for the Ayr Bowling Club this week is Irene Wilson being named North Queensland District Ladies Bowling Association’s Bowler of the Year! Irene has been a standout performer at the club and secured this prestigious title by winning the North Queensland singles. The club also sends best wishes to Pam Power, another exceptional female bowler, as she heads to Bargara Bowls Club to compete in the State Champion of Champions after claiming the North Queensland Champion of Champions title. The Ayr Bowling Club is immensely proud of these two women, who are leading the way in ladies’ bowls in North Queensland.

Ladies’ Social Bowls kicked off a busy week at the club, with 16 bowlers taking to the green as the weather warms up. Winners on the day were Linda Guimelli, Deslie Olsen, Heather Jorgensen, and Sandra Stidston, who defeated Karen Shepherd, Karen Page, Ron Soper, and Irene Wilson. In another match, Ruth Moore, Isabel Cislowski, Rayleen Harvey, and Pam Power triumphed over Katharina Stuckler, Donna Soper, Beryl Cornford, and Dot Cutting.

Wednesday Mixed Social Bowls saw three games of triples and one game of pairs, with some fantastic bowls played throughout. G Tiomo, Barry Hewson, and John MacDonald emerged as the day’s winners.

On Wednesday night, two games of triples were played in the social competition. Katharina Stuckler, Tegan Cesconetto, and Michael Parravacini claimed victory in the first game, while Tricia Achille, Rob Jorgensen, and Gary Pearce won the second.

In Thursday’s Three-Bowl Pairs competition, winners advanced to the next round. Beryl Cornford and Pam Power defeated Donna Soper and Joy Comollatti, while Deslie Olsen and Mary Poli overcame Katharina Stuckler and Heather Jorgensen.

Saturday Social Bowls featured four games of triples. Ray Wall, Joe Grabbi, and Chris Olditch secured a win over Linda Giumelli, Merle Nixon, and Anthony Bull.

Club championships continued on Sunday. In the Mixed Triples, Lorraine Wolffe, Sandra Stidston, and Anthony Bull defeated Sandra Darwen, Sam Caltabiano, and Michael Parravacini. In the Mixed Singles, Pam Power triumphed over Lew Stidson, and Gary Pearce defeated Barry Shepherd. For information on upcoming championship games scheduled for October 27th, please see the club board.

The Ayr Bowling Club invites everyone to Fun Friday Night Bowls on Friday, 1 November, starting at 6pm. This is a great night out for bowlers of all levels—bring friends or sign up solo and meet new people! The cost is $10 per game, which includes a sausage sizzle and a light supper. The sizzle begins at 6pm, and bowling starts at 7pm. To enter or for more information, contact Maurie Power at 0412 551 816 or Pam Power at 0458 330 019.

Contributed with thanks to Anthony Bull.

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Irene Wilson, North Queensland District Ladies Bowler of the Year.

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The October Monthly Medal was the highly sought-after prize among the junior golfers at the Ayr Golf Club this weekend, with competitive scores across the 3, 6, and 9-hole competitions.

In the 3-hole competition, Opie McKeough once again claimed the Monthly Medal with a net score of 5, while Tyler Smith secured the Gross win with a score of 22. Opie dominated the event, also taking home the prizes for Longest Putt and Least Putts.

Heath Smart, playing his best round yet, won the Monthly Medal in the 6-hole competition, and Jett James was the Gross winner with a score of 43. Both Heath and Jett tied for the Least Putts award.

The 9-hole group saw some close competition, but Lyla Land emerged victorious with a net score of 25 to win the Monthly Medal, while Rheanna Bain claimed the Gross title with an impressive score of 60. Parker Oar was awarded Nearest to Pin, and Riley Dobe took home the prize for Least Putts.

Players are now looking forward to the Karrie Webb Championships next weekend.

Contributed with thanks to Kristina Patane Land.

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The weekend’s victors with presenters Kyle Wilkie and Riley Dobe. 

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The Burdekin Roosters have named three of their four coaches for the 2025 season in the RLTD.

The club will be fielding an under 20 team next year after not doing so in 2024, with Peter Horan set to coach. Peter took the under 18 to the grand final this season and although they were beaten by Brothers, Horan had them playing an attractive style of football. Peter said he expected to field a strong side with most of that team stepping up plus the addition of a few new players he has recruited.

Taking charge of the Hens next season will again be this year’s coach Anita Hagarty. Anita, despite a lot of personnel interruptions this season, took her team to the Preliminary Final only to be beaten by Western Lions. Anita said she expected to field practically the same squad next season plus the addition of a couple of new players.

2024 A grade coach Steve Lansley will again be in charge of the A grade team next season. This year Steve had a number of youngsters in his team and with a season in A grade under their belt, he expects to field a very competitive team next year. Plans are under way to have a couple of class Fijians join the squad while player recruiter Paul Horan is looking at a couple of experienced imported players. Steve said he would like to rely on his young local stars as he believes the talent in well and truly in the Burdekin.

The AGM of the club will be held at the Ayr Anzac Memorial Club on Sunday 17 November at 10:30am with all positions on the executive committee declared vacant.

Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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A good crowd of Rugby League supporters last Sunday witnessed a good standard of Rugby League played at the annual Home Hill Harvest Festival Town of Origin!

The first Town of Origin in this format was played in 2013 and since then Ayr has won five times to Home Hills four with no games played in 2018 and 2020.

As is customary in these games the type of play was tough and hard with the town heritage at stake. Two former A grade coaches of the roosters, Chris Perry and Kieran Dawes took control of the two teams, and both had simple instructions - do your best and think of the town you are playing for.

Play seesawed for the entire match with one team scoring and then the other. In the end it came down to an attempted conversion from the sideline with the ball heading towards the uprights only to be blown away. That gave the win this year to Home Hill by 24 – 22 now levelling up the annual scoreline.

Coach Kieran Dawes said he thought Jayden Sgarbossa was his best player and judges agreed with Sgarbossa receiving the man of the match. Dawes did say he thought Liam Cannavan, Joel Pennisi and Robert Canteralla also had good games. Dawes said he thought all had a crack and they used a lot of effort and energy. He said he told them to make their tackles and mean it.

Ayr coach Chris Perry said he thought Lachlan Shepherd was his best player by a long shit although John Zaro and Llama Ghee never stopped especially Llama with his defence.

“It was not our best effort but regardless it was a good game and congratulations to Home Hill,” said Perry.

For Home Hill Dom Arrate, Lachlan Kerr, Jayden Sgarbossa and Liam Cannavan scored tries with Don Arrate kicking 4 from 4. For Ayr Jones Munro, Kane Batchelor, Luca Lago and Llama Ghee scored tries with Joel Mason kicking 3 goals.

Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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The only senior match of the round in Home Hill Cricket took place on Saturday afternoon, with Peto's Marine winning the toss and sending the Crowned Mongrels in to bat.

The Mongrels made the most of their time at the crease, with Andrew Wallwork top-scoring with 46 runs from 41 balls. Handy contributions from Luke Mottin (29 runs) and Jaidyn Lambie-Fabbro (23 runs) helped set a competitive total of 6/153 from 25 overs.

In response, Peto's Marine started strong with quick runs from Cal Boland (34 runs) and Jack Gimson (25 runs). They needed just 11 runs from the last two overs, but strong bowling performances from Dan Olditch and Jaidyn Lambie-Fabbro saw the Mongrels claim the last three wickets, leaving Peto's all out for 146, just short of the target.

In other news, Alliance Pharmacy forfeited their game against the Rookies.

Next weekend, Peto’s Marine will face off against the Rookies, while the Crowned Mongrels take on Alliance Pharmacy.

Contributed with thanks to Home Hill Cricket Association Secretary, Tiffany.

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