On Friday 28 June, the Burdekin Netball Association’s 13’s and 14’s teams, with the support of numerous officials and spectators, travelled to Brisbane to compete in the Junior State Age Championships.

The team began the jampacked weekend with some close losses on Saturday, however a draw against Palmerston in Game 3 provided the motivation the girls needed to raise their spirits for the days ahead. Sunday hosted tough competitions for day two, and saw the girls celebrate victory, coming out on top against Nambour.

Cool and overcast weather produced a slow start on Monday, which saw the girls power through, overcoming a hard start to day three to bag three strong wins, and a draw. With victories under their belts, the girls were ready to face the cold and rainy weather as they went up against leaderboard toppers, Downey Park. A hard game ending in a draw, the Burdekin Netball Association was extremely proud of how well the girls played. The girls put it on the court for the last few games and concluded the championship weekend with a win.

With dedication and determination at the forefront of their performance, the girls played hard from start to finish, playing a total of 19 games over the 4-day championship. The 2024 team additionally included a couple of 12-year-olds which both coach, Cailin Gosling, and Manageress, Kristen Linton slotted in nicely with the rest of the girls.

“We’re extremely proud of how hard this team worked and their commitment to their team on and off the court,” shared Cailin.

“I wish all players nothing but the best for their future netball endeavours.”

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Last Saturday 13 July, proved to be a challenging outing for the Burdekin Roosters as they suffered defeats across all three matches held in Townsville during Brothers Old Boys reunion day.

The afternoon commenced with a tough 30-4 loss for the ladies against Brothers, followed by the home reserves team securing a 28-16 victory over the visiting Roosters. Later in the day, amidst a large crowd, the Brothers A-grade side dominated with a resounding 34-0 win over the young Roosters.

From the outset, the more experienced Brothers A-grade team set a relentless pace, immediately taking control of the game. Despite the Roosters' valiant efforts, including a commendable defensive stand in the first quarter, penalties and a disorganised defence allowed Brothers to capitalise early.

Throughout the afternoon, the Roosters struggled against the new "six again" rule, which added to their defensive woes. Coach Steve Lansley acknowledged the team's resilience but noted their inability to convert promising opportunities into points. Despite holding Brothers to a 12-0 lead at halftime, the Roosters faced an uphill battle as Brothers extended their lead shortly after the break.

Lansley praised Rhett Williams and Jeremiah Matuatu for their standout performances in tackling and attacking respectively. English front-rower Chris Gale was also recognised for his unwavering effort.

“The boys gave it their all but on the day we were a bit off, and the more experienced Brothers team took advantage,” said Coach Lansley.

In other A-grade matchups, Charters Towers defeated Western Lions 38-12, Souths overcame Norths 24-10, and Herbert River and Centrals battled to a 22-all draw at the Sports Reserve.

In the Reserve grade matches, Roosters' coach Chris Perry commended his makeshift team for their effort in holding a formidable Brothers outfit to a 28-16 loss despite 18 players being unavailable due to various reasons. Perry highlighted the contributions of under-18 players Luca Lago, Llama Ghee, Jaki Starr, and Kane Batcheler, who stepped up after a challenging draw the previous night.

“I would personally like to thank the four under 18 players, Luca Lago, Llama Ghee, Jaki Starr and Kane Batcheler who put their hands up to play after playing a hard 16 all draw on Friday night in their own grade,” said Coach Perry.

“Luca Lago showed great form being named players player and he along with Jaki Starr crossed for tries.”

Despite shortcomings such as handling errors and missed tackles, Perry emphasised the team's determination and positive aspects of their performance. He expressed confidence in bouncing back with the return of several key players in the upcoming fixtures.

“At times we were our own worst enemy dropping balls and falling off tackles, but we will bounce back with several players returning this week,’ added Coach Perry.

Meanwhile, in other Reserve grade fixtures, Charters Towers defeated Western Lions 32-24, Souths triumphed over Norths 38-10, and Bowen prevailed over Centrals 30-18, while Herbert River had a bye.

The Hens, facing a depleted squad due to injuries and commitments, fell short against Brothers, succumbing to a 30-8 defeat after trailing 16-8 at halftime. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Hens showed resilience throughout the match, with players like Theo Mosby Nona, Ama bin Awel, Akeilah Thiomasson, and Steph Monday putting in commendable efforts.

In other ladies' matches, Western Lions defeated Charters Towers 38-4, and Centrals dominated Herbert River with a 68-0 victory, while Norths had a bye.

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Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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Rugby Park is set to host a spectacular Super Saturday of Rugby League with a lineup of 31 games across four fields, kicking off at 8:30am and culminating with the last game on field one at 6pm.

The event will feature Burdekin teams from under 6 to A grade, competing against teams from Charters Towers, Brothers, Western Lions, Souths, Centrals, and Bowen.

Burdekin's A grade team, currently in sixth place, will clash with fourth-placed Charters Towers in a highly anticipated match. The Roosters, under the guidance of coach Steve Lansley, are looking forward to welcoming back centre Jones Munro and potentially Tomasi. Lansley is counting on his strong forward pack, including Henry Teuteu, Chris Gale, Paul Merlo, Lachlan Shepherd, Jeremiah Matuatu, and Nelson Kennerdy.

With the under 18s also in action, Jye Olsen might feature off the bench alongside halves Hayde Munro and Rhett Williams. Nemia Nawave and Iowanio Cavalati are expected to shine on the wings, supported by Patrick Krause in the centres and captain Joel Mason at fullback, forming a youthful yet capable side.

In the curtain-raiser, the fourth-placed Roosters will take on the seventh-placed Miners, who have shown good form recently with a convincing win over Western Lions.

Chris Perry, coach of the Roosters, is optimistic about fielding a strong side after facing player shortages last week. Key players like Dylan Doak, Caleb Noah, Kyle Ferguson, Bryce Horan, Dominic Augostis, and Jerome Icco are set to bolster the team's lineup.

In the first senior women's game, the Hens will face off against the Lady Miners. The Hens, aiming to bounce back from recent losses, will be buoyed by the return of Kezziah Lammion, Abby King, Margie O'Rourke, and possibly Talisha Bulgarelli.

The Hens, currently in fourth place, have shown a competitive edge with four wins and five losses, contrasting with the Miners' two wins and eight losses. The Hens' strong scoring record (230 for, 182 against) highlights their attacking prowess, whereas the Miners (96 for, 324 against) will be looking to tighten their defense.

Overall, Rugby Park promises a day packed with thrilling matches and fierce competition, showcasing the talent and determination of local Rugby League teams.

Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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Round 3 week 3 – 11/07
Nat II v Bombers at the National  10-0
Falcons v Cougars at the Anzac 8-2
Crushers v Ants at the Ayr  10-0
Nat I had the bye 10 points
Points:
Nat II - 130, Crushers - 122, Falcons - 115, Nat I -106, Ants - 86, Cougars - 80 and Bombers 41
Games for Thursday 18/07/24:
Ants v Cougars at Anzac, Crushers v Falcons at Ayr, Bombers v Nat I Queens and Nat II have the bye

Contributed with thanks to Kerry Davison

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On Saturday 15 June, eight young Burdekin district representatives travelled to the Gold Coast to participate in the 2024 Bunburra Touch Football Tournament.

Organised by PCYC Queensland, the event invites teams comprising of young people aged 14 – 17 from First Nations communities across the state to come together to showcase their skills and participate in a spirited competition.

Bunburra is the Yugambeh word for beach, and the event fosters sporting skills and leadership qualities, with motivated, and high achieving young people selected to attend the tournament.

The conclusion of the tournament saw the Burdekin boys’ team closely miss out on a place in the finals, with the Burdekin girls team finishing in fourth place.

A highlight for both Burdekin teams was when they were given the opportunity to meet NRL Titans player Tina Fa'asuamaleaui. Overall, the event was enjoyed by all in attendance, and the Burdekin PCYC cannot wait for Bunburra 2025.

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Eight young Burdekin district representatives travelled to the Gold Coast to participate in the 2024 Bunburra Touch Football Tournament.

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Last weekend saw six ladies from the Ayr Golf Club travel to Mystic Sands to attend the Mystic Sands Open 2024.

Each of the ladies enjoyed all that the gorgeous little club had to offer and commended the course on its well organised ladies open, and for putting on an amazing bar and bistro.

“Thanks to all the volunteers and staff that impress every year,” shared the Ayr Golf Club.

Ayr Golf Club’s Rhonda Martin did the club proud on the spectator weekend, leaving Mystic Sands with a victory by winning the C Grade approach shot. A lovely weekend was had by all.

Contributed with thanks to the Ayr Golf Club.

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Local

Last weekend the Burdekin Panthers had three games. On Friday night the Division One Funkies lost 0-1 at home to Riverway JCU but on Saturday, the Premiers, away to league leaders MA Olympic won 2-1, and the Under 23s also away to MA Olympic won 3-1.

This week the Panthers are at home in all four grades. On Friday night, the Division One Funkies are at home to Estates Blue and on Saturday the Premiers, Under 23s and Ladies are all at home to Brothers.

The Ayr Anzac Club Premiers were raring to go to start the last round of fixtures for the season and were keen to hand Olympic their first loss of the season. The game started evenly with both teams struggling to create many clear chances. In the 35th minute, the Panthers forced Olympic to play the ball back to their keeper, and Jay Leckenby chased it down and got there first to score. The next ten minutes of the half were dominated by the Panthers who lead 1-0 at half time. The second half started similarly to the first but then a great through ball to Jay Leckenby put the striker in a one on one with the Olympic keeper and he calmly scored to make it 2-0. A few minutes later Elliot Dal Santo struck a thunderous shot, which was looking like being a goal of the season contender until the Olympic goalkeeper pulled off one a very good save.  From there Olympic started to push forward in the search of a goal and with ten minutes to go they found that goal with a well taken shot. This created a tense final ten minutes, but the Panthers finished the game out without letting Olympic create any real chances  to equalise, with the game finishing 2-1. 

The Burdekin Tyre Service Under 23s came to this game on the back of a good training week and the strongest squad yet assembled this season. Confidence was high and the Panthers wanted to put in a good showing against the old enemy. This confidence was matched with a gritty, energetic performance and at the quarter hour mark one of the Panthers new overseas contingent, Antoine, finished off a good move and the Burdekin were in the box seat. The game was being played in very windy and slightly wet conditions which made the contest a more even struggle. It wasn’t until the 76th minute that Damien Casella scored a well-earned goal and three minutes later Antoine scored his second to give the Panthers 3-0 lead. Olympic scored a late consolation goal four minutes from time but the Burdekin Reserves enjoyed the reward that was a rare treat, singing the team song at Olympics home ground. This is the third win in a row for the Reserves and fourth place on the ladder is in sight.

The Austral Masonry Funkies played at home on Friday night against Riverway JCU. The opening stages of the match were played mostly in the Burdekin defensive half as JCU controlled a lot of the ball. After twelve minutes JCU took the lead. The Funkies improved from this point on and managed to control the ball better in the midfield, however the final link up play to the forward line was still proving elusive. The half time score remained 1-0 to JCU. Burdekin started the second half well and were on top at times however the play continued to break down in the final third. The Funkies had a number of good chances and went close, but couldn’t be converted into an equalising goal. JCU also had a couple of chances that were shut down by some desperate Funkies defending. The final was 1-0 to JCU after a much improved effort from the Burdekin team.  

The Ayr Anzac Club Ladies forfeited their match against Olympic.

Masters

On a perfect night for a game, Spain played France in a pre-play of the Euro semi-final. France won 4-3 in a very close encounter with Baz Cross scoring the goal of the night and Deja View putting himself about a lot.

There are just eight weeks of Monday Night Masters left before Night Soccer kicks off on Tuesday 3rd September.

Juniors

There were no local games last weekend because of the school holidays, Final preparations are in process for our Annual Junior carnival on Sunday 14th July.  If you can help with the Carnival set up, your assistance would be greatly appreciated, from 1pm onwards this Saturday. There are no local fixtures this Saturday morning. Can’t wait for a great day Sunday!

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The whole community are invited to come along to the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club’s Mini Come & Try Day & Sign-On event which will be taking place later this month.

With the 2024-2025 lifesaving season on the horizon, the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club is gearing up for an eventful come and try day.

The club invites aspiring lifesaver members from Green Caps (5 – 6 years of age) to Masters (over 30 years of age) to come along to give the much-loved activity a try, with attendees welcome to join the club for a sausage sizzle afterwards.

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WHAT: Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club Mini Come and Try and Sign-On Day
WHEN: Sunday 28 July from 10:30am
WHERE: Ayr Surf Club at Alva Beach

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On the afternoon of Wednesday 3 July, the Brandon Bowls Club saw, Kay Garner, Lyn Farr Lyn Storrie and Joy Woods defeat Ann Newton, Vanda Ballao, Colleen Olsen and Helen Collins in a very close game. The day also saw a Grandad bring his family along for a game of bowls, which was great to see.

On 5 July, Friday Night Social Bowls saw lower numbers than usual, but plenty of laughs, producing an enjoyable evening at the Brandon Bowls Club. Jamie Woods, Rob Jorgenson, and David Bycroft were the celebrated winners of the evening, and the anticipated Jackpot was won by Joy Woods and Peter Lejarraga. 

The Saturday Competition on 6 July hosted A Grade Singles, with Chris Pearce defeating Lloyd Shepherd, and Gary Pearce defeating Rob Jorgenson.

Sunday 7 July saw the club entertained by the attendance of the QRI Bowls Club, with players giving it their best in 2 games of bowls. A total of 64 bowlers were challenged in very windy and blustery conditions at the Brandon Bowls Club, and a warm thank you was expressed towards the ladies in the kitchen for providing a beautiful lunch for the players, followed by the club’s traditional smoko. Thanks were also in order for the Queensland Rail Bowlers for their attendance for the spectacular day. The Brandon Bowls Club always looks forward to this event on the calendar. 

On Friday 12 July, the club will hold their Trophy Bowls night as sponsored by Fahey and Walsh. Teams are encouraged to register ASAP if they haven’t already for the event.

Contributed with thanks to Lloyd Shepherd.

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On Thursday 4 July, the Home Hill Bowls Club saw another spectacular day of bowls.

Karl, Jimmy and Henry were announced as the winners of the day on Thursday, however Henry unfortunately has to head off early from the club, and wasn’t present for the official presentations. Amy, a representative from the club’s sponsor EB HIVES was acknowledged in the presentations.

Another perfect winters afternoon saw 30 people arrive to the club, ready to play, and have a wonderful time on Rummeny Green. Ron Wedd left the club victorious after luckily winning the raffle, and Mick Murison drew the lucky ball, however there was no major winner, leaving a jackpot up for grabs this week.

The results of the afternoon are as follows:

RINK 3: Skills of accuracy prevailed leaving Karl, Jimmy and Henry victorious over Des and Stephen 18 – 9.

RINK 4: A nailbiter saw Paul, Lloyd and Gary take out the win against Helena, Ray and Keith 16 – 12.

RINK 5: Ron, Terry and Michael celebrated a comfortable win over Judy, Joe and Wayne 20 – 12.

RINK 6: Tony, Dino and Trevor were too strong for Allan, Mick Olsen and John, and dominated the rink 19 - 13.

The Home Hill Bowls Club would like to remined everyone of their upcoming schedule, Monday morning fitness, Tuesday Trimmers, Wednesday Kraft group, Wednesday night barefoot bowls, Thursday morning BINGO, and Thursday afternoon bowls.

Saturday 6 July will held the commencement of Saturday bowls, with a wonderful time had by all.

Until next week good bowling.

Contributed by Steve Doig.

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This Saturday, the Burdekin Roosters will face off against Brothers in an exciting lineup across three grades at Jack Manski Oval in Townsville. The day holds special significance for Brothers, commemorating their club's premiership victories in 2004 and 2014, marking 20 and 10 years since these triumphs over none other than the Burdekin Roosters. Despite their defeat in 2014, the Roosters bounced back impressively in 2015 to claim the grand final against Herbert River.

The day will feature four gripping matches, with the curtain-raiser being a Host Plus game featuring the Blackhawks. In the A grade fixture, the Roosters currently sit sixth with nine points, while Brothers share second place with 18 points, just behind the Western Lions. Last week, the Roosters drew 18-all with the Lions, a match where luck could have swung their way.

However, the Roosters are facing potential setbacks, with Blackhawk forward Chris Gale possibly facing suspension this week, and centre Tomasi uncertain due to a knee issue. On a positive note, Hayde Munro and Colby Thompson are set to return from injury and work commitments.

Coach Steve Lansley anticipates strong performances from Cowboys recruits Jeremiah Matuatu and Henry Teuteu, especially highlighting Teuteu's impressive full 80-minute stint in the front row last week. The A grade clash kicks off at 7 PM.

Reserves Match: Burdekin Roosters vs Brothers
In the Reserves match, the third-placed Roosters will take on sixth-placed Brothers. This matchup is unusual for Brothers, known for their usual strength. Their previous encounter in Ayr ended in a 16-all draw.

Roosters coach Chris Perry will rely on his forwards, led by Alex Lennox, Zac Heron, Caleb Noah, Jerome Lacco, and Jermaine McIvor, to set the tone. Strong halves Dylan Doak and John Zaro will look to distribute the ball to try-scoring threats like Terry Connors, Dom Arrate, Braithan Heron, Brady Horan, and Taylah Peppa. Kick off for the Reserves match is scheduled for 3:15 PM.

Ladies' Match: Burdekin Hens vs Brothers
The day commences with the third-placed Burdekin Hens taking on fourth-placed Brothers in the ladies' competition. The Hens secured a solid victory when they last met in Ayr, but Brothers have shown improvement, coming off a commanding 26-0 win against Herbert River last week.

Coach Anita Hagarty plans to utilize her team's speed, emphasizing an expansive playing style. Margie O'Rourke, Thea Mosby Nona, Lily Chappell, and Anna Marie Bin Zawel will anchor the midfield, with Abby King poised to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Speedy backs Stephanie and Martina Monday, Kezzia Lammon, and Toni Daisy are primed to exploit any defensive gaps.

Other Matches This Weekend
Elsewhere this weekend, Centrals will face Herbert River in both ladies' and A grade fixtures, while Bowen will meet Western Lions in the Under 20s and Reserve Grade competitions. Charters Towers will challenge the Western Lions, and Norths will clash with Souths at Bushland Beach.

Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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Last Saturday, the Burdekin Roosters' A grade team delivered an exhilarating performance, holding the second-placed Western Lions to an 18-all draw at the RLTD grounds in Townsville. This marked a significant turnaround from their previous encounter two weeks ago, where the Lions had triumphed over the Roosters with a 26-0 victory on home turf.

Coach Steve Lansley praised his youthful squad, highlighting their strong showing for the majority of the match.

"We were leading well but in that last wo minutes we let in two converted tries whilst bombing a couple of our own to draw the match," Lansley commented.

He acknowledged the team's relative inexperience, noting the absence of seasoned players as a contributing factor.

Lansley specifically lauded the performance of young half Jye Olsen, advocating for his potential inclusion in the Blackhawks under 19 squad next year.

"That young fella (Jye) has played two games A grade and has impressed his team mates that much he has received two players player awards," Lansley added, highlighting Olsen's impressive kicking game with two successful forty-twenty kicks.

The coach awarded two points to French hooker Paul Meryl, underscoring the 18-year-old's maturity and significant contribution, including two tries scored. Additionally, front-rower Henry Teuteu's return from the Pride was commended for his endurance in playing the entire 80 minutes, showcasing his resilience as a formidable presence on the field.

In other A grade fixtures, Charters Towers defeated Norths 34-24, Brothers narrowly edged out Herbert River 12-10, and Souths dominated Centrals with a commanding 54-20 victory.

The ladies' match demonstrated a fierce battle of strengths, where the Burdekin Hens displayed commendable speed in open play but faced formidable challenges in the forward exchanges against the physically imposing Western Lions.

Despite their efforts, the Hens struggled to match the Lions' size and power, particularly in defence.

Coach Anita Hagarty expressed disappointment over the absence of key players who missed the game, resulting in a thin bench for the team. Despite these setbacks, Hagarty praised individual efforts, highlighting Abby King for her standout performance and Margie O'Rourke for her determined runs through the centre. Anna Marie Bin Awel's resolute try was a testament to the Hens' tenacity in the face of a robust opponent.

In other women's matches, Charters Towers secured a 22-4 victory over Norths, while Brothers delivered a commanding 26-0 win against Herbert River.
Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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The Burdekin Rooster's up and coming success story Jye Olsen

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Round 3 week 1 – 2 – 27/06
Nat I v Nat II at the National 8-2
Falcons v Ants at the Ayr 8-2
Crushers v Cougars at the Anzac 6-4
Bombers had the bye 10 points

Round 3 week 2 – 04/07:
Nat II v Cougars at the Ayr – 8-2
Ants v Bombers at the Anzac – 10-0
Nat I v Falcons at the National - 8-2
Crushers had the bye 10 points

Points:
Nat II - 120, Crushers - 112, Falcons - 107, Nat I - 96, Ants - 86, Cougars - 78 and Bombers 41

Games for Thursday 11/07/24:
Cougars v Falcons at Anzac, Crushers v Ants at Ayr, Nat II v Bombers at National and Nat I have the bye

Photo:  Queens Bombers

Contributed with thanks to Kerry Davison.

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Caitlin Kross has been celebrated for her refereeing excellence after returning from Basketball Queensland’s State Referee Program’s (SRP) Camp on Monday 17 June.

Caitlin was prestigiously selected for the six-week program after refereeing at the U16 States Competition in April and has since been selected as 1 of 4 referees to represent Queensland at the School Sport Australia Nationals in July later this year.

Caitlin made the decision to progress into the referring sphere four years ago following a lack of opportunities to compete in rep basketball championships within her age group.

“Referring is a lot faster; the games are a lot more interesting, and it’s a different aspect not many people consider taking up,” explained Caitlin.

Continuing to play for the Burdekin Wildcats whilst pursuing refereeing, Caitlin has persevered to reach new heights.

“It’s taken a long time to get to this stage, and you receive feedback and education when you go away for carnivals, but overall, it’s taken a lot of work to get to this point,” said Caitlin.

Over the six weeks, Caitlin underwent numerous online meetings covering a range of educational topics, including breaking down real game footage to explore and analyse various aspects. In conclusion of the program, Caitlin attended the SRP’s in-person camp in Brisbane from 14 – 16 June. The weekend hosted classroom sessions as hosted by NBL referees, along with the opportunities to sit in on NBL1 games, along with NBL1 pregame preparations and postgame wrap-ups.

Caitlin’s parents are beyond proud of their daughter’s achievements and are overjoyed with how far Caitlin has come in achieving her goals.

“Over the past year, she set herself a goal, that has required travelling many thousands of kilometres around the state, juggling senior study, work, as well as study and development as a Referee, and her determination and persistence are now paying off,” explained Caitlin’s mother, Helen Kross.

“Refereeing in any sport these days whether recreational or professional is extremely challenging due to continual scrutiny, so watching her development and growth in confidence over the past few years has been a pleasure.”

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The Burdekin’s own Adam Walton made his Wimbledon debut in London one to remember, marking several impressive milestones.

Making his Wimbledon debut in the top 100 paired with a maiden ATP main-draw win, as well as earning direct acceptance into a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, has earned Walton waves of celebrations across the Burdekin region and beyond.

“We are extremely elated for Adam and his family on this monumental first round win at Wimbledon,” expressed the Home Hill Tennis Club’s Secretary, Kate Casswell.

“Like Adam, we are over the moon.”

At 25, Walton’s list of achievements is beyond impressive. He made a major breakthrough in his first-round men’s singles action on 2 July, with a 6-3-6-3 7-5 victory against Argentina’s Federico Coria. The biggest win of his career, Walton kept momentum to close out the win in an efficient two hours and five minutes.

“It feels very good – I’ve had a very good year,” said Walton.

“I thought I’ve done very well at the Challender level, and been able to consistently win matches there, which has been nice.

“Obviously the Grand Slams are the events you want to perform at, it’s where the big money is, the big points – to get the win today, I’m really, really happy.”

Walton has won 40 of his 60 singles matches so far in 2024 and will turn his attention to a second-round meeting with Francisco Comesana later this week.

“It was everything I could have hoped for and I can’t wait to go again this Thursday.”

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