CONGRATULATIONS to the Walcha Rams on qualifying for the 2018 Central North grand final against reigning premiers Pirates at Chillingworth Oval in Tamworth this Saturday. Last year, the Rams went agonisingly close to beating the Pirates in the premiership decider and now have the chance to reverse the result.
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DESPITE having playmaker and goalkicker Simon Newton on the sidelines after he injured his foot just before half-time, Walcha scored 26 unanswered points in the second stanza. They managed to turn a 12-8 deficit into a commanding 34-12 lead with just 11 minutes remaining on the clock at Moree last Saturday.
SCANS on Simon’s foot on Monday revealed no break, but there are other issues there which leave him in doubt for the premiership decider. Simon was upbeat about the injury on Tuesday and reckons he was a 50-50 chance of playing at that time.
A SHOULDER injury to Thor Crombie has put him in serious doubt of playing also, but hopefully both players can pull through it and play on Saturday. Up the mighty Rams. Go the men in red and white.
LOCAL junior rugby league player Beau Abraham was a member of the North Tamworth U/16s team that defeated Farrer 12-10 in their recent grand final at Tamworth. Beau kicked the winning penalty goal just after he ran the full length of the field only to be pulled down just short of the line.
DURING the season, Norths only defeated Farrer twice, in the major semi-final and then in the one that really counted – the grand final. The Norths squad did have a couple of handy coaching staff members, Tom Leahroyd-Lars and Nathan Blacklock, both former NRL players.
THE U16s grand final marked the last time Beau’s parents Dave and Julie transport one of their boys to a junior footy match. For the past 14 years, Dave and Julie have carted their four boys Max, Jock, Sam and Beau to all parts of the state, whether for club games or representative fixtures. Good on ya, Dave and Julie.
A FEW weeks ago, former Walcha Ram Cameron Sweeney was a member of the Coffs Harbour rugby team that defeated arch-rivals Port Macquarie to win 21-14 at Oxley Oval in Port. Cameron scored a try to assist his “Snappers” to victory over the Vikings and was also named player of the match.
APSLEY Arms spearthrowers Chris Watts, Glenno Olrich and Bernardo Lynch are the 2018 Oxley Darts Club triples champions after they rounded up RSL Gunners Matt Allen, Charlie Brown and Michael Stackman in the final. “Wattsy” checked out on 95 after nailing triple 20 – three and then double 16 – to win the big one.
WALCHA rugby league will finalise their season this Saturday at the bowling club when they hold their annual presentations from 6pm. When the prize-giving finishes, further fun will commence when a number of players and supporters lose their locks for charity – the Mark Hughes Foundation “Beanie for Brain Cancer”.
ROOS club president Michael Aspinall, along with players Andrew Kelly, Alex Bruce, Jeremy Bullen, Jack McAlister and Josh Gollan, have indicated they will go under the clippers, as has Aspro’s young fella Timothy. Jillaroos player Ruth France is willing to participate if she can raise $2000, while her team mate Ellen Dunger is still negotiating.
EIGHT Walcha Golf Club players are off to the 2018 NSW Veteran 4BBB Championships at Narromine this weekend. Best of luck to Owen Presnell and Doug McDonald, Tony Asmus and Peter Norbury, Steph Sweeney and Wayne Brennan, along with my playing partner Jack O’Hara.
