Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
A field of 21 eager young golfers braved a chilly morning on Sunday, June 7, to contest the highly anticipated Ayr Juniors Closed Championships for 2026. Despite the cool start, the local talent turned up the heat on the pristine Ayr golf course, delivering exceptional performances across all divisions. Taking out the major honors for the year, Harvey Mauro was crowned the 2026 3-Hole Champion, while Nash Christie secured the 6-Hole Championship title. In the 9-hole division, Oscar Mahoney proved too strong for the competition, claiming the 2026 9-Hole Championship. In the sub-categories, the 3-hole division saw Royce Cohen take home the Nett winner title, with Micah Kemp sinking the longest putt and Zach Marchesini recording the least putts. The 6-hole division was dominated by Nash Fuller, who claimed both the Nett winner title and the least putts accolade. Tyler Smith also found form, winning the nearest the pin prize. In the 9-hole field, Dayne Weston was named the Nett winner. Weston shared the least putts honor with 9-hole champion Oscar Mahoney, who also picked up the nearest the pin award. Organizers deemed the day a massive success, extending their congratulations to all competitors for their sportsmanship and fun-first attitude. The event was proudly supported by local businesses, with the club extending its sincere thanks to Oar and Horan Dentists, alongside Sushi Rocks, for their generous sponsorship of the championship day.
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Kate Casswell’s Home Hill team, with a bit of help from Michelle Jones of Townsville and Joyce Morris from Bowen, played out some tough rounds to come up with the Tier One Intermediate win. Photo credit: Jacob Casha The 2026 Cane Country Cup pickleball team event did not disappoint. The event named after Heather Hewit’s edition of Home Hill’s Back Roads started the day with the courts covered in black snow. How appropriate! 28 teams participated in 4 different divisions with Home Hill connections in every section. Teams travelled from Cape Gloucester to Tully with some staying overnight and enjoying some social play and a meal afterwards. Contributed with thanks to Kate Casswell Black Snow and Big Smashes at 2026 Cane Country Cup In the Advanced Competitive section, Hannah Casswell’s team was pipped at the post by Darren Hutchenson’s team from Townsville picking up second place. In Tier one Intermediate Kate Casswell’s Home Hill team with a bit of help from Michelle Jones of Townsville and Joyce Morris from Bowen played some tough and close rounds to come up with the win. In the Social section, Merv Mohr and Tracey Groom’s teams picked up first and second place respectively. It was refreshing to see and hear the enthusiasm for the sport, with lots of laughs coming from the competitors. Home Hill members put on a fantastic spread of food which will no doubt be remembered long after all the bad shots are forgotten. Thanks go to all the sponsors, donors and especially the volunteers who helped make this event happen. Organiser Kate Casswell said that Pickleball was the real winner with everyone agreeing that it was a great day. Results Advanced Competitive 1st 297 points Pickle me dink Darren Hutchenson Townsville 2nd 253 points Pickle d’Lulu Hannah Casswell Townsville 3rd 231 points Leyton’s Larrikans Townsville Tier 1 Intermediate 1st 235 points In a pickle Kate Casswell Home Hill 2nd 208 points Let’s Get Pickled Rob Dunn Bowen 3rd Tie 207 points Michael Northwood Dink and Dive Home Hill and Faramade Fours dinks and a point Townsville Tier 2 Intermediate 1st 239 points Trish Harley Holey Dinkballs Townsville 2nd 228 points Fantastic Forehand Trish Harley Townsville 3rd 223 points Extra Pickles Susan Kalemba Townsville Social 1st 292 points Green and Pickled Merv Mohr Home Hill 2nd 283 points Sandy Slammers Tracey Groom Home Hill 3rd 275 points Social Dinkers Lori Morris Bowen Fair Play Trophy Social Dinkers Bowen Gloucester Gherkins Cape Gloucester Contributed with thanks to Kate Casswell
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Seniors Not a good weekend for the Burdekin Panthers. The Club had all five senior teams in action winning just two matches. The Premiers and Reserves were at home to League Leaders Brothers with the Premiers losing 0-2 and the Reserves losing 1-2. The Division 1 and Division 2 teams were at away to Wulguru with the Division 1 losing 0-6 however, the Division 2 won 5-0. The Colts away to Saints Eagles South also won 5-0. This week just four teams are in action. On Friday, the Division 1 and Division 2 teams are away to Estates at 8.30.and 6.30. On Saturday the Premiers and Reserves are at home to Riverway JCU at 7.00 and 5.00 with the Mooney Cup kicking off at 4.00. The Colts have the Bye this week. Premiers – Ayr Anzac Club After their previous meeting with Brothers, there was a strong desire within the team to make amends and produce a better performance. The Panthers started the game brightly, controlling possession and dictating much of the play. Despite their dominance, it was Brothers who struck first, scoring against the run of play to take a 1–0 lead. While the Panthers continued to move the ball well and spend long periods in possession, they were unable to convert their control into clear-cut opportunities. The second half followed a similar pattern. The Panthers continued to dominate possession and created a handful of promising chances but couldn’t find the finishing touch. Brothers then doubled their lead from a set piece, making it 2–0 and giving themselves a significant advantage. To the Panthers credit, they continued to press, work hard, and try to force their way back into the contest. However, despite their efforts and control of the ball for large portions of the game, they were unable to find a breakthrough, with the match finishing 2–0 in Brothers’ favour. Reserves – Burdekin Tyre Service Against Brothers it was a case of what should have been for this match. Burdekin was dominant in possession and position for most of the match but could not manage the win. Brothers had three shots on goal for the match and scored twice. Burdekin had sixteen shots and only found the net once. The fact that the Panthers outplayed the top of the table team is pleasing, but they let themselves down by not finishing off our chances and scoring goals. Division 1 – Austral Masonry Two goals down at half time to Wulguru, the Panthers were arguably still in with a chance. However, a third goal shortly after the restart put the Panthers out of the game and Wulguru scored three goals in fifteen minutes towards the end of the half and at the final whistle the Panthers had lost 0-6. Division 2 - RG Customs The Funkies won 5-0 against bottom placed Wulguru in a game Burdekin dominated from start to finish. Jared Giardina and Simon Scuderi scored early goals before Burdekin’s weekly struggles in front of goal continued. After the break Chris Achille netted a double, before Riley Granshaw finished off the rout with a goal of the year contender. Granshaw looks primed for a big season ahead. The Funkies move up into 4th position at the halfway mark of the season. Colts – Astute Against Saints Eagles Souths the Colts started slowly and ,went into half time just 1-0 up with a late goal from Cooper Kross. After half time the Colts woke up and took control of the game, with goals coming from Jhett Jones, Brayden Card and another two goals from Cooper Kross. The game finished with a 5-0 win, and they have a bye this weekend. Masters The Masters were down on numbers but in good conditions featured a re-play of the recent Australia v Mexico friendly. Mexico won again, 4-3 after being 0-3 down! Best players on the night were Gary Roser and Nataniel Ek. The Magic Moment was Riley Granshaw’s header straight at the Red goalkeeper from one meter, saved. The Masters play every Monday night. All players are welcome, male, and female, useful and hopeless, halt and lame. Be there, International Park for 6.30 Kick Off. Juniors Junior soccer was greeted by a chilly start on Saturday morning, but that didn’t stop the action on the field. Burdekin FC hosted home games across all age groups, with teams from Townsville travelling down to take part in a fantastic day of football for our U8–U12 players. Despite the cool conditions, players showed great enthusiasm, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the day. It was wonderful to see so many families supporting from the sidelines and helping create a great atmosphere. We look forward to another exciting week of training and games ahead. The Under15’s were at home to MA Olympic. It was a scoreless match during the first half but the second half saw the Panthers take the lead with a goal by one of their newest players, Levi Cremona with an assist from Cecil Badza Gwarada. Cecil also scored later in the half. MAO got one goal past Connor Griggs, but he had been fantastic throughout the match saving many. The Under 15s won the match 2-1 taking them now to outright leaders on the ladder. National The Matildas had two friendlies against Mexico lined up. In the first on 6th June in Newcastle, they lost 0-1 and they play the second 9th June in Sydney. International In the World Cup department, the Socceroos played another friendly match, against Switzerland, drawing 1-1 in a final warm up game before the World Cup begins. Australia’s first Group D match is against Turkey in Vancouver on the 14th of June. They then play the USA in Seattle on 20th June and Paraguay in San Francisco on 26th June. Quote the of the Week is from film star Raquel Welch after a visit to a Chelsea match. “What they say about footballers being ignorant is rubbish. I spoke to a couple yesterday and they were quite intelligent.”
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The NQ Touch Association will host a North Queensland Touch Football Carnival in Townsville on September 12–13, marking the return of the event after a seven-year break. Divisions will include Men’s and Women’s Open, Mixed Open, Men’s Over 30 and Over 45, Women’s Over 27 and Over 40, and Mixed Over 30. Players wishing to nominate should place their names on the registration sheets located on the Touch canteen noticeboard. Teams will be formed and coaches appointed once sufficient numbers are confirmed. Coutts Commercial Tavern Round 13 results Seniors – Men[Text Wrapping Break] Alliance Pharmacy 11 (C Power 3, S Power 3, J Power 2, J Olsen 2) def Baywatch 5 (T Marshall 2, E Henaway 2).[Text Wrapping Break] Nrgize 2 def His Haas 0.[Text Wrapping Break] Way To Go 8 (B Palmer 5, L Williams 2) def Wires Down 2.[Text Wrapping Break] Burdekin PCYC 8 (G Dau 3) def Touch N Go 3.[Text Wrapping Break] Slush Puppies 8 (D LeBlowitz 4, A Shield 2) def Royal Touch 5 (A Miller 2).[Text Wrapping Break] Renegades 7 (R Petersen 4) def Petrol Heads 2.[Text Wrapping Break] Creampuffs 6 (O Cavanagh 2, L Lampton 2) def Ball Grabbers 3 (B DiBella 2).[Text Wrapping Break] Feelers 6 (D Butler 3) def Blue Murder 4 (R Smith 3). Women[Text Wrapping Break] Lasers 8 (B Lennox 3) def Silly Soft Serves 1.[Text Wrapping Break] First in Physio 10 (S Monday 5, L Trindle 3, M Nauqe 2) def Chick Flicks 4 (A Brown 2).[Text Wrapping Break] Eathorne’s Princesses 3 def Salty Sirens 0. Under 14s[Text Wrapping Break] Rockies 5 (L Leavitt 2) def Broncos 1.[Text Wrapping Break] Baywatch 9 (Julie 3) def Red Dogs 2 2.[Text Wrapping Break] Red Dogs 1 4 (A Sgroi 2) drew Silly Soft Serves 4 (T Chapman 2).[Text Wrapping Break] Chicken Burgers 10 def Cowboys 1. Contributed by Peter Knapton
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Junior golf at the Ayr Golf Club made an exciting return this term, kicking off with the September Monthly Medal event. It was fantastic to see a great number of new kids take the course with the Club sharing a warm welcome to all their new members!
In the 3-hole competition, Opie McKeough claimed the Monthly Medal, while newcomer Tyler Smith had an outstanding performance, securing the Gross Winner title, Least Putts, and Longest Putt with a remarkable gross score of 18.
For the 6-hole event, Sam Heatly emerged as the Monthly Medal winner with a -1 Nett score and also took out Least Putts. Evelyn Mahoney was named Gross Winner, while Celine Bain earned Nearest to Pin honors. Congratulations to Celine for her impressive move up to 6 holes this week!
Kyle Wilkie claimed victory in the 9-hole Monthly Medal, while Amaya Mahoney won Gross. Amaya also took Nearest to Pin and tied with Gabby Cahill for Least Putts.
A reminder that the Karrie Webb Junior Championships are set for the 26 and 27 October. If you’d like to nominate your child, please email juniorcaptain@ayrgc.com.au before nominations close on the 21 October.
Contributed with thanks to Kristina Patane Land.
The victorious winners of September Monthly Medal with presenters Rheanna Bain and Amaya Mahoney.
This Sunday, 20 October will host a showdown like never before with the Home Hill Harvest Festival’s Town of Origin event!
Compeitive and dedicated teams from Ayr and Home Hill have been busily gearing up for the much-loved event which will run from 1pm to 6pm at Home Hill High School.
An annual clash, the event celebrates the friendly rivalry between the two towns, with exciting matchups in cricket, netball, and rugby. But there’s more to this event than just the competition - it’s a true community celebration.
Alongside the action-packed sports, there’s a fantastic lineup of family-friendly activities to ensure everyone has a great afternoon, with the Home Hill Community Kindergarten set to run a tuckshop serving delicious food and refreshments throughout the day.
For the little ones, a petting zoo will be available, and there will be a special kids' event during the rugby half-time. Car enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Burdekin Cruisers Car Club, which will be showcasing a stunning array of vehicles.
Whether you’re cheering for your team or enjoying the many activities, the 2024 Town of Origin is set to be a memorable day of fun and local pride. Come along this Sunday for a fantastic celebration of sport, family, and community, proudly brought to you by the Home Hill Harvest Festival Committee!
Never a dull moment, this Sunday will host an action packed Town of Origin event as part of the Home Hill Harvest Festival. Photo supplied
The final Home Hill Golf Club Ladies’ Sip ‘n Putt event will be held this Saturday 12 October from 3:30pm. After several months of successful sessions, Megan Barbagallo warmly invites newcomers and players of all skill levels to come along for a swing this Saturday afternoon.
Each session runs under the talented guidance of PGA Professional, Tara Jenkins, and covers different skills and golfing techniques to prepare the attendees for a hit on the green. All equipment for the FREE afternoon is supplied by the Home Hill Golf Club, and each session concludes with plenty of chats and a drink at the Club. Introduced by Megan in July earlier this year, the sessions were created to encourage women to give golf a try in an encouraging and judgement free environment.
Come along this Saturday for an enjoyable afternoon of socialisation and sport!
What: Ladies FREE Sip ‘n Putt.
When: Saturday 12 October from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.
Where: Home Hill Golf Club.
More Information: Contacting Megan Barbagallo.
September’s group of ladies were taught driving drills and enjoyed plenty of laughs throughout the session.
After a brief hiatus, the Ayr Bowling Club is back with a report full of exciting bowling action. The past week has seen some fantastic games, starting with Wednesday Mixed Social Bowls on 2 October, which featured three games of triples and one game of pairs. Laughter filled the air as players showcased their skills. The day's winners were G. Nixon and M. Power, who triumphed over S. Darwen and A. Bull.
Wednesday evening brought cool and windy conditions, but it didn’t stop two pairs games and one triples game from being played. The winners of the triples were Les Anderson, Rob Jorgensen, and Michael Parravacini. In the pairs, Tricia Achille and Sam Caltabiano secured a victory in one game, while Margaret McLaughlin and Gary Pearce won the other.
Thursday saw the Ladies Competition in full swing with the Parkside Triples event. In a thrilling final, Ruth Moore, Joy Comollatti, and Pam Power emerged victorious over Isabel Cislowski, Beryl Cornford, and Dot Cutting. In another match, Donna Soper, Merle Nixon, and Mary Poli defeated Katharina Stuckler, Robyn McAllister, and Irene Wilson. It was a fantastic display of competitive bowling.
Saturday Social Bowls saw three games of triples and one game of pairs. Joe Papale, Sandra Darwen, and Pam Power defeated Lorraine Wolffe, Barry Hewson, and John MacDonald to claim the win.
On Sunday 6 October, the Club Championships continued with some thrilling matches. In the Mixed Singles, Lew Stidston defeated Sam Caltabiano. In the Mixed Triples, Margaret Chapman, Henry Hazle, and Gary Pearce overcame Donna Soper, Barry Shepherd, and Ron Soper. The Mixed Fours saw Ruth Moore, John Hall, Sandra Darwen, and Michael Parravacini triumph over Lorraine Wolffe, John Pirrone, Betty Shultz, and Anthony Bull. Further championship games are scheduled for 13th October, with details posted on the club board.
For those interested in lawn bowls, the Ayr Bowling Club is the perfect place to enjoy the sport in a friendly, social environment. Located at 101 Young Street, Ayr, Queensland, the club welcomes players of all skill levels. Social bowls are played on Wednesdays (afternoon or evening) and Saturday afternoons. The club has plenty of sets of bowls available for newcomers to try.
To learn more, visit the club’s Facebook page or call (07) 4783 1336. Whether you're a seasoned bowler or a beginner, the Ayr Bowling Club is the place to be!
Contributed with thanks to Anthony Bull.
Come along and have a bowl at the Ayr Bowling Club’s Wednesday Social Bowls!
On Saturday 12 October from 1pm to 5pm will be Patrol Group F consisting of; Furnell, Jen Morgan, John Furnell, Jo Morgan, Lauren Chapman, Isla Chapman, Ryley Satori, Jake Satori, Kat Satori, Dave Satori.
On Sunday 13 October from 9am to 1pm, the Super Sab Group consisting of Joshua Furnell, Barry Cross, and Brooke Cross will be on patrol. Taking over from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday will be Patrol Group G consisting of Carl List, Jimmy Hayllor, James Kennedy, Shane Morgan, Ross Blakey, Ross Rickards, and Jed Giddy.
The Club wishes their members all the best for the upcoming Forrest Beach Carnival.
Contributed with thanks to Hockey Vernon.
On the evening of Friday 20 September history was made at the Burdekin Rugby League Presentation night held at Populins Hall where the Club inducted its first ever Lady Life Member, Jenna Parravicini.
The Burdekin Rugby League was first formed in that name in 1963 and although there have been several males honoured with Life Membership, Jenna will be the first female. Jenna has been associated as Secretary and Treasurer for a period of just over 12 years. During that period, she has become heavily involved in the running of the club which has become more difficult in the past few years with changes in general to Rugby League in the Townsville District. For just on eight of those years Jenna also found time to devote to the organisation and conducting of the highly popular Ladies Day which has become a great fund raiser for the Roosters.
Jenna became involved with the club as she like Rugby League and the other people with the organisation. She says it takes up a lot of time as the administration emails just keep coming but she has enjoyed what she has done.
Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.
On Wednesday 25 September, the Ayr Golf Club hosted a partner event, generously sponsored by Burdekin Tyre Service, featuring 12 pairs competing in a split six format. The windy conditions added a layer of challenge, but they also kept the heat at bay, ensuring an enjoyable day for all. The final two pairings played neck and neck throughout the entire 18 holes, adding excitement to the day.
The top five teams were awarded prizes, with Kerry and Heather finishing 5th, Elesa and Kim in 4th, Rhonda O and Ann in 3rd, Betty and Mavis taking 2nd place, and the winners of the day being Sandra and Donna R.
The Club shared a warm thank you to Jason, Pam, and the entire crew at Burdekin Tyre Service for their fantastic support of the Ayr Ladies Golfing group.
On Wednesday 2 October, the Ayr Golf Club ladies played in Selections Day, sponsored by Marissa and her team at Selections, in a Stableford competition. A very windy afternoon made scoring difficult, but two golfers stood out. Vicki, back in form after a short break, and newcomer Heather, who is quickly lowering her handicap, battled it out. Heather edged out Vicki on a countback to take the win. Congratulations to both, and the Club shared a big thank you to Selections for their continued support.
The Ayr Ladies Golf Club recently welcomed clubs from across North Queensland for their annual Open Event, proudly sponsored by Don West Toyota and Groves and Clark Solicitors, with the Open Champion prize sponsored by Brenton and Janet Trezise. This year’s event saw 70 enthusiastic ladies compete in their respective grades, making it a weekend to remember.
The day was filled with camaraderie, great food donated by the Ayr lady members, and plenty of impressive golf. Presentations were slightly delayed due to a thrilling playoff in the C Grade division, which ended after three extra holes, crowning a well-deserved winner.
A special thank you goes to the generous sponsors who continue to support this event, making it a highlight of the year. The Ayr Ladies Club members also deserve recognition for their tireless work in cooking and catering for the day, ensuring there was plenty of delicious food for all.
The weather was kind, the course was in excellent condition, and despite a few hiccups, the event ran smoothly. Congratulations to all the winners and participants, and the Club looks forward to seeing everyone again in 2025.
Contributed with thanks to the Ayr Golf Club.
12 pairs put it on the green at the Ayr Golf Club for Burdekin Tyre Service Day.
Vicki Adcock and Heather Desbois were victorious with a score of 37 at Selections Day.
The Ayr Golf Club held another highly successful Open Event over the weekend, welcoming 70 golfers to the green.
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The Burdekin Bocce Club, a small but dedicated group of 26 members, is embracing Seniors Month this October by hosting an open afternoon on Sunday, 20 October. The event will include afternoon tea, and guests are encouraged to either watch or join in a friendly game of bocce. With many of the club's members aging and finding the physical demands of the sport challenging, some have transitioned to playing Italian card games while others continue to enjoy bocce.
Last Sunday 6 October, the club held a special lunch for members, featuring the traditional Italian dessert, Tiramisu, served by Bertilla Piazzetta and Rita Vener. The lunch was made even more memorable with the presence of three special guests: Fr Manoj, Fr Troung, and Sr Carmel Pattinson from the Catholic Church.
The club is also celebrating the long-awaited repair of its roof, which was damaged during the February cyclone. The repairs were made possible thanks to a $5,000 government grant from the Disaster Recovery fund.
The Burdekin Bocce Club invites the public to come along to the open afternoon, enjoy some delicious afternoon tea, and experience the joy of bocce firsthand. It's a wonderful opportunity for the community to connect and share in this beloved Italian tradition.
Contributed with thanks to Regina Lequerica.
Regina and Tony putting their bocce skills to the test!
Bertilla Piazzetta and Rita Vener treated members to a delicious lunch last weekend.
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On Friday, 4 October, the A & B Pairs competition saw an exciting match at the Brandon Bowls Club. Ross McLaughlin and Rob Jorgensen faced off against Lloyd Shepherd and Gary "Mr. Bowls" Pearce on a beautiful evening. Rob and Ross took an early lead with some strategic kitty movement from Rob, which kept the opposition on their toes. However, once the Shepherd-Pearce duo found their rhythm, they began to position their bowls perfectly, ultimately taking control of the game and securing the win. They now advance to the Grand Final.
In the social games, two matches were played. In the pairs, Ben Mills and "Rampaging" Ray Paneccasio took on Margaret McLaughlan and Allan Gairoch, with Ben and Ray emerging victorious. In the triples, Norm Storrie, Jayson Farry, and Jamie Woods played against newcomers Luke Storrie, Peter Lejarraga, and Joe Yipnazar, who proved too strong in the end and claimed the win.
On Sunday, 6 October, 24 bowlers took to the green in near-perfect conditions. The highlight of the day was the Rinks Championship, played on the showcase rink. It was a thrilling battle between Mick McCloskey, Joe Yipnazar, Peter Henderson, and Richie Mau, who took on Damion Morello, Rob Jorgensen, Danny O’Shea, and the great Tony Bayliss.
Other social games of pairs and triples were also played. Ben Mills and Kev Collins defeated Helen Collins and Len Feeney, while Ross McLaughlin, Henry Hazel, and Leo Kenny triumphed over Gary Nosworthy, Glenn Woodford, and Allan Gairoch. In another match, Ken Ferguson, Neville Dickinson, and Peter Jorgensen claimed victory over Con Sexton, Doug Kiehne, and Jamie Woods.
A reminder to all members that the Trophy Bowls Night, sponsored by Nutrients AG Solutions, will take place on Friday, 18 October. This is a highly anticipated event, so please ensure you get your names in as soon as possible.
Contributed with thanks to Lloyd Shepherd.
Tony Bayliss, Danny O’Shea, Damion Morello, and Rob Jorgensen enjoyed plenty of thrilling games at the Brandon Bowls Club last week.
Local
The Burdekin Panthers Presentation Night will be held this Saturday 12 October at Populin’s Hall. Tickets are now available and can be bought online or from the Mad House at Night Soccer.
The next Big Thing locally is the Escriva Cup. This is due to be played on Friday evening, 1 November. The Escriva Cup 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 5 produced just 64 goals from the twenty two games. Top scorers for the Men were Mottin Earthmoving with six goals and BA with five. In the Women’s competition UDS Ladies and Lets Get Messi both scored five goals. Individual top scorers were Jay Leckenby and Sian Reardon with three goals each. Teams are reminded that their Nomination Fees are now due!
Juniors
The Junior season has finished but the Junior social soccer season started on Tuesday.
The Under 7s kick off at 4.00 pm followed by the Under 8-9s, Under 10-12s and Under 13-16s.
National and International
The Socceroos have two very important matches coming up. They play China, this Thursday in the Asian World Cup Qualifying Group C, in Adelaide and are then away to Japan, next Tuesday. China is bottom of the six team group and the match is a ‘must win’ for new coach Tony Popovic. In Japan a draw would be a good result. China has lost both of its games and Japan has won both, scoring twelve goals in the process.
The Matildas have two friendly matches in October. The first is away to Switzerland on 25 October and they are then booked for a friendly against Germany on Monday 28th October in Duisburg. Their next games are not until late November - December when they play Brazil, home and away.
Only two weeks now before the A League kicks off its 2024-25 season. The first round will be played over the weekend of 18 - 20 October. The A League Women will kick off on 1st November.
In the EPL, with all three top teams winning, Liverpool stays in first place, one point ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal. Chelsea and Aston Villa who drew, are a further three points away and Brighton who beat Ange’s Spurs move into sixth place. At the foot of the table all four bottom teams lost and Wolves and Southampton still have one point after seven games.
In Germany’s Bundesliga, Bayern could only draw again and is now level on points with Leipzig. Eintracht is a point away in third place with Freiburg fourth and Leverkusen has dropped to fifth spot. Holding up the league, Kiel and Bochum have both yet to win a game although Kiel did manage a draw this week.
In Italy’s Serie A, four of the top five teams won, and after seven rounds Napoli leads Inter by two points with Juventus who could only draw and is a further point behind together with Lazio and Udinese. At the bottom of the table, three of the last four teams lost with Monza grabbing a point. Venezia is last with four points from seven games.
In Spain, only two of the leading seven teams won. Barcelona and Real Madrid both won and Barca still tops La Liga three points clear of Real with Atletico and Villareal four points adrift. At the bottom of the league Las Palmas is still yet to win a game and has three points from nine matches
And in France, with PSG only managing a draw, Monaco now leads the table two points clear of PSG. Marseille stays in third place level on points with Reims. At the foot of the table, Angers managed a draw but is still the only team without a win, and that’s after seven games.
This weekend is another “International Weekend”. England is at home to Greece, France away to Israel, Italy at home to Belgium and Spain at home to Denmark.
The Quote of the Week is from England Star Striker Gary Lineker “In my day, I wasn't the best footballer, but I was the best goalscorer for two or three years”.
Local
The Final games of the 2024 North Queensland season were played last weekend in the Crad Evans Shield. At the end of every season the Champion teams from North Queensland play their counterparts in Far North Queensland. This year the eight senior games were played in Townsville. No Burdekin teams were minor Premiers and so were not involved.
In the Main Men’s games, in the Premier Division MA Olympic lost 3-5 to Marlin Coast Rangers and in the Under 23s (Reserves) Estates were beaten 2-3 by Innisfail Utd. In Division 1, Ingham were beaten 2- 3 by Marlin Coast Rangers but, in Division 2, Townsville Warriors defeated Stratford Dolphins 2-1.
In the Women’s matches, MA Olympic lost 0-4 to Edge Hill Tigers in the premier Division and in the Under 23s MA Olympic were defeated 1-3 by Redlynch Strikers Utd.
The Burdekin Panthers Presentation Night will be held on Saturday 12 October at Populin’s Hall. Tickets are now available and can be bought online or from the Mad House at Night Soccer.
Night Soccer
Delta Cleaners Night Soccer’s Week 4 had mostly close games and the twenty matches, there were two forfeits, produced seventy goals. Top scorers for the Men were Mottin Earthmoving with six goals and Hallerwealth Old Grumpies and FJV with four each. In the Women’s competition Shin Kickers scored five. Individual top scorer was Josh Searle with four goals. Teams are reminded that their Nomination Fees are now due!
Juniors
The Junior season has finished but the Junior social soccer season will start next Tuesday 8th October
National and International
With new coach, Tony Popovic in charge the Socceroos have two very important matches coming up. They play China, in the Asian World Cup Qualifying Group C, in Adelaide on 10 October and are then away to Japan, five days later. The China match is a ‘must win’ and a draw in Japan would be a good result.
The Matildas will open their October FIFA International window with a match against Switzerland on 25 October. They are then booked for a friendly against Germany on Monday 28th October in Duisburg. Their next games are not until December when they play Chinese Taipei twice, in Melbourne and then Geelong.
Only three weeks now before the A League kicks off its 2024-25 season. The first round will be played over the weekend of 18 - 20 October. The A League Women will kick off on 1st November.
In the Australia Cup Final Macarthur beat Melbourne Victory 1-0. Burdekin Panthers were one of the seven hundred and fifty eight teams who entered the competition, starting way back in February.
In the EPL, with Manchester City only drawing again, Liverpool have moved to the top of the League, one point ahead of City and Arsenal. Chelsea and Aston Villa are a further point away and Fulham has leapt into sixth place! At the foot of the table Wolves and Southampton each has one point after six games.
In Germany’s Bundesliga, Bayern and Leverkusen drew but Bayern still leads with thirteen points from five games. Eintracht is a point away in second place with Leipzig third. Leverkusen has dropped to fourth spot together with Dortmund. Holding up the league, Kiel and Bochum both have a solitary point form five rounds.
In Italy, the top four teams all won, and after six rounds Napoli leads Juventus by one point and AC Milan. Inter and Torino by two points. At the bottom of the table all five teams lost and Cagliari is last with two points.
In Spain, Barcelona somehow managed to lose 4-2 at Osasuna but still top the table three points ahead of Real Madrid. Third placed Atletico is another two points away with Bilbao in fourth place on goal difference. At the bottom of the league only Las Palmas is yet to win a game.
And in France, after six rounds PSG and Monaco are equal on sixteen points three points clear of third placed Marseille with Reims two points further adrift in fourth place. Only one of the seven bottom teams won and Angers continues to prop up the table.
The Quote of the Week is from Australia’s very own Ange Postecoglou “I was alright as a player. I played for the Socceroos three or four times, but I was a battler - hard at it as we say in Aussie terms.”
Award recipients, Ryan Scodellaro, Josh Valle, Jay Leckenby, Jarrod Camer, with their proud Coach, Leighton Gallagher.
The Panthers came away second best in the Grand Final on 14 September.
The Burdekin Football Club was awarded the Football Queensland Protect our Game Service Award.
After a nail-biting Grand Final game, the boys celebrated the conclusion of an awesome season.
The Burdekin Hockey Association is gearing up for their Hacker’s Cup 5-A-Side Mixed Hockey Carnival set for Saturday 19 October, and is calling for the community to register their teams for what will be an action-packed competition.
The Association hopes to see players of all skill levels take to the Ayr Junior Rugby League Fields, and has extended an invitation for all old, new, and retired players to register.
Each team must hold a maximum of eight players and must field two female / junior players to qualify with all players aged 12 years and over.
Both single and team nominations can be made by emailing burdekinhockeyinc@gmail.com or by contacting Deanne on 0431 125 856.
Hacker’s Cup stands as a great social competition, perfect for welcoming new players to the sport!
Saturday 5th of October 1.00pm to 5.00pm (Patrol Group D) Ben Lawry, Kellie Lawry, Zac Dale, Parker Bonato, Richard Dale, Bella Lawry, William Holt, Sharli Archibald, Danica Archibald, Lisa Vivian, Kristy Wassmuth, Briella Wassmuth.
Sunday 6th of October 9.00am to 1.00pm (Patrol Group B) Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan Hatherell, Gabriel Hatherell, Toby Wilson, Danny Wilson.
Sunday 6th Of October 1.00pm to 5,00pm (Patrol Group G) Carl List, Jimmy Hayilor, James kennedy, Shane Morgan, Ross Blakey, Ross Rickards, Jedd Giddy.
Monday 7th Of October (Kings Birthday Holiday) (All day Patrol Group D) 9am to 5pm Ben Lawry, Kellie Lawry, Zac Dale, Parker Bonato, Richard Dale, Bella Lawry, William Holt, Sharli Archibald, Danica Archibald, Lisa Vivian, Kristy Wassmuth, Briella Wassmuth.
Contributed with thanks to Hockey Vernon.
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On Wednesday 25 September, the Brandon Bowls Club hosted an impressive turn out on the green for a great afternoon of bowling. In the A-grade women's category, two exciting games took place. Lyn Storrie claimed victory over Sandra Darwen, while Darelle Pearce defeated Joy Woods. In the mixed game, the team of Kevin Collins, Vanda Ballao, Colleen Olsen, and Alan Garioch triumphed over Kaye Garner, Ann Newton, Lyn Farr, and Helen Collins.
The Club extends a friendly invitation to the community to have a bowl each Wednesday afternoon with games scheduled for 1pm each week.
Friday 27 September saw warm and humid conditions for an evening of Social Bowls which featured two games of triples. In the first match, Ben Mills, Ross McLaughlin, and Ray Paneccasio defeated Margaret McLaughlin, Peter Lejarraga, and Joe Yipnazar. The second game was highly competitive, with Norm Storrie, Lloyd Shepherd, and Gary Pearce proving too strong for Lyn Storrie, Rob Jorgensen, and Jamie Woods. The overall winners for the evening were Norm Storrie, Lloyd Shepherd, and Gary Pearce.
On Sunday 29 September, one A-grade pairs game was played, with Danny O’Shea and Tony Bayliss facing off against Peter Henderson and Jamie Woods. In a thrilling match that came down to the last end with scores tied, Peter Henderson delivered two of the best bowls of his career, securing a win for himself and Jamie Woods, moving them into the next round.
In the A & B Championship Pairs, Peter Lejarraga and the in-form Kevin Collins took on Lloyd Shepherd and Gary Pearce. Both teams fought hard, but Shepherd and Pearce remained strong under pressure and clinched a tight victory.
Three games were played during the Sunday Social session. In the triples, Ben Mills, Gary Nosworthy, and Leo Kenny drew with Norm Storrie, Henry Hazel, and Vince Beitia. In pairs, Mick McCloskey and Allan Garioch defeated Neville Dickinson and Doug Kiehne, while Ken Ferguson and Doug Robins overcame Glenn Woodford and Joe Yipnazar.
Preparations are well underway for the Brandon Bowls Club Trophy Bowls Night set for 18 October, and those interested in competing are advised to get their teams together.
Contributed with thanks to Lloyd Shepherd.
Sunday hosted spectacular competitions for the A & B Championship Pairs.
The community is invited to come along for a fun afternoon of bowling each Wednesday.
The Home Hill Golf Club hosted a wonderful day on the green on Sunday 29 September for Round 7 of their Pennants competition.
With a few gaps, the Club thanked those players who stepped up to have a swing and celebrated many awesome achievements as a result. Craig O'Keeffe had an impressive round shooting 2 under and finishing with 38 points, and John Power was runner up with 36 points in a countback from Amy Smail. Pin shots went to (4/13) Simon Power, Peter Dale & John-Ross Dale. (9/18) Owen Bauer, Peter Dale & Peter Mackaway.
The Home Hill Golf Club congratulates all winners and have begun gearing up for next Sunday’s Laser Electrical Monthly Medal competition as well as the final Sip ‘n Putt event scheduled for Saturday 12 October.
Contributed with thanks to Megan Barbagallo.
Amy Smail, Craig O'Keeffe, and John Power were victorious on the green last Sunday at the Home Hill Golf Club.
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