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Sale Sonics Women’s team: Tara McInnes, Jemma Fraser, Ryan Fraser (coach), Ash Centra, Emma Callahan, Bree Alexander (front) Kristy Glover, Chloe Rees, Jemma Birss, Tayli DiMarco and Lola Wilson. Photos: Contributed Elih Carter shoots a free throw for Sale Sonics men.

Sonics t ake a hit in tough double header

SALE Sonics women’s and men’s teams hit the road over the weekend, travelling to Wonthaggi on Saturday night and then to Warragul on Sunday. The Sale women had a tough game first up, facing last season’s Gippsland Country Basketball League champions Wonthaggi Coasters. This didn’t intimidate the young squad though, who included debutant Tara McInnes, as the Sonics took the lead early and were up three points at the first break. The game was a tight back-and-forth contest for the second and third quarters, but unfortunately after the long drive, the young squad just ran out of legs as the experienced Coasters squad was able to take control in the fourth to eventually win by 20 points. Ash Centra and Tayli DiMarco top scored for the Sonics with 12 and 10 points respectively. The women then had to refocus and prepare to face a strong and rested Warragul Warriors team. The game started off neck-and-neck with scores tied at the first break. The Sonics started to slowly get a lead in the second quarter, but after star player Centra fouled out before the half was over, Warragul was looking set to take control of the game. However, behind the leadership of Bree Alexander and Kristy Glover and the fantastic play of Jemma Birss, the Sonics were able to increase their lead and eventually come away with a strong 15-point win, their first for the season. Birss led the scoring with 22 points, while Centra managed to still put up 15 points in her half of play. The Sale men’s team went into the weekend heavily depleted by injury, but were still confident they could come away with a win. Another slow start hurt their aspirations though, as they quickly dropped behind a well-oiled Wonthaggi team by 20 points. The Sonics were able to come out strong in the second half, displaying their offensive firepower with Jake Hutchins scoring at will at the rim, while the team showed their ability to play intense, hard-nosed defence. Despite a strong fightback they just did not have enough left in the tank and eventually went down by nine points. Hutchins top scored with 28 while Ben Dessent also added 20 points. The team was even more depleted as they faced Warragul on Sunday because some players from the night before being unavailable to play. This, however, allowed the opportunity for young Tom Matthews to make his debut with the senior squad. The Sonics came out trying hard from the tip, with Hutchins starting things off with a smooth two-handed dunk, but it was quickly apparent that fatigue from the night before was taking its toll on the young bodies of the Sale team. The more experienced Warriors team was able to execute cleanly on offence while making every possession tough for the Sale team and gradually grew the lead out to 30-plus points. Sale battled hard, with young guns Bailey Harrison, Eli Berry and debutant Matthews showing they have bright futures with some clean play, but it was just not enough as the Warriors ran away with a 43 point win. Hutchins went back-to-back with top scoring as he dropped 28 points again, with his running mate Harper Fraser also adding on 20 points. The Sonics will now shift their focus to Southern Peninsula as they prepare to face the Sharks this Sunday at the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex. The women tip-off at 1pm with the men following at 3pm.

Geoff Watt Memorial run this weekend

LOCALS are being invited to participate in Warragul’s Geoff Watt Memorial Fun Run & Festival, happening this Sunday (October 23). This year will be the 50th running of the event, and the first in-person run since 2019. Participants can enter one of the following competitions:  The Geoff Watt Memorial half-marathon  Men’s and Women’s 10km run  Men’s and Women’s 5km run  Open 2.5km run  Family 2.5km run,  Vin Rowe 300m sprint A schools competition will concurrently be taking place, with youngsters encouraged to enter the following categories: *5km run (with parent); *2.5km run (off-road, Geoff Watt Track and running trail); *300m sprint (Geoff Watt Track). A prize will go to the school with the most entrants. Additionally, a teams competition is also on-offer, with prizes for the four best times and another for the team with the most entrants. Other prizes include fancy dress prizes, spot prizes, and the Young Achiever Award for Gippsland Athletes aged 26 and under. If running isn’t your thing, the event will also offer a food and wine festival, live music, and a display of vintage cars. In recognition of the event’s 50th anniversary, all entrants will receive a $50 Active Feet Voucher and two-month subscription to Runner’s World magazine. Everybody who completes their run will earn a 50th Edition Geoff Watt Memorial Medal and gift pack. For more information and to enter, head to www.geoffwattrun.com.au Geoff Watt is the father of Olympic-medalwinning cyclist and Warragul girl Kathy Watt.

Campbell and Elliot take three tries each for Dropkicks

Laurie Smyth

ROUND 11 of the Sale & District Touch competition was played last Wednesday night in drizzling rain and cool conditions. The Mustangs lost to The Drop Kicks 8 tries to 10. At halftime The Drop Kicks led by two tries. The second half was an even contest, with both teams making four tries in a very fast game. The damp conditions did not deter the fleetfooted Drop Kicks, with Andrew Campbell, Nick Elliott, Tawn Ashby and Henry Ropeti showing their class. Mustangs are perhaps the unluckiest team in the competition, with three losses less than three tries. They missed Corey Siebel as he was on ‘maternity leave’. Top scorers for The Drop Kicks were Andrew Campbell and Nick Elliott with three each. Tawn Ashby and Henry Ropeti each made two. Antonio Keedle-Grandeza top scored for the Mustangs with four tries, the highest individual score for the round. Ryan Rosenberger made two with Karl Coleman and Tara Smeaton each making one. Best players were Elliott, Ashby, KeedleGrandeza, Smeaton and Te Patu. Third-placed Porky’s defeated Phoenix six tries to three in a very fast game. Andie Schofield made the first try in the opening minutes and this set the standard of play for the rest of the game. At half-time Porky’s led with three tries to two, but in the second half Porky’s kept Phoenix to just one try while adding three. Albert van de Vyver top scored with three tries for Porky’s, with Leigh Mawley, Schofield and Anthea Todd each making one. Marcus Sbahlia-Smith top scored for Phoenix with two tries. Kerry Shotter made one. Sbahlia-Smith has only played four games, scoring in each, taking his tally for the season to eight, to be the team’s top scorer. Marcus has made a welcome return to the sport following a long break. Best players were Albert van de Vyver, Sbahlia-Smith, Mawley, Soreti Anderson and Kate Laskowski, Longford led the competition with 31 points and 139.5 per cent followed by The Drop Kicks (29pts and 234.6 per cent), Porky’s (21 & 81.6 per cent), Mustangs (18 & 77.6 per cent) and Phoenix (13 & 48.1 per cent) Tomorrow night’s touch at 6.30pm Longford plays the Drop Kicks [referee Phoenix]. At 7.20pm Phoenix play Mustangs [referee The Drop Kicks]. Porky’s has the bye. The 21st Annual Sale Touch Tournament is scheduled for the weekend of April 15 and 16, 2023, when 70 teams are expected to converge on Sale for the state’s biggest touch tournament. Phone Laurie on 0419 132 824 for details.