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Pink Panthers big winners in touch football

Laurie Smyth

THE Pink Panthers ran out winners over an undermanned Phoenix/C.A.T.’s in last Wednesday night’s Touch competition. At half-time the Panthers led by just one try, however, in the second-half they added six to three. The final score was 11-7. Daniel Barclay, Riley Forde and Darren Just made their debut game which added to the Pink Panthers strengths. It was unfortunate that several key Phoenix players were unavailable for the contest. Riley Forde and Albert Van de Vyver each made three tries for the Panthers. Daniel Barclay, Brock Dyke, Ryan Hyland, Mia Van de Vyver and Laura Sinclair each scored one try. This was Mia’s first try for the season. Phoenix/C.A.T.’s player Theo Green made a welcome return to record four tries, the highest individual scorer for the night. Other scorers were Carl Muir, Kerry

The Drop Kicks team. (Back Row): Andrew Campbell, Terihi Sturmey, Jacinda Mani, Leigh Taiapa. (Front Row): Jayden Taiapa, Aysia Te Patu, Lish Kingi, Tawh Ashby.

Photo: Contributed

Shotter and Kyung Stewart. Best players were Albert Van de Vyver, Theo Green, Darren Just, Laura Sinclair and Ursula Barnsley with Mia Van de Vyver winning the encouragement award. The Drop Kicks recorded their third straight win of the season when they defeated Longford Trailer Hire in a closely fought contest running out 7-5 winners. At the half-time break the scores were tied at two all; then in the second-half The Drop Kicks Tawh Ashby scored three tries taking his tally for the season to 11. Lish Kingi, Leigh Taiapa and captain Aysia Tepatu each scored one. Kyle Grummisch and Jack Neal were the top scorers for Longford with two tries each. Both players have scored five tries for the season. Jackson Annear scored a try in his first game for the season. Best players were Lee Taiapa, Ren Crunden-Smith, Tawh Ashby, Aysia Tepatu and Rhiannon Massey. I s l a M c C a r t h y w o n t h e encouragement award. Porkies defeated a talented Mustangs by three tries; the final score was 9-6. Antonio Keedle-Grandeza top scored for the Mustangs, he also scored three tries in last week’s game. Haley Carstairs scored one. Since joining the competition she has scored one try in each game that she has played. Other scorers were Jordan Frend and Karl Colman with one try each. Leigh Mawley showed his talent with three tries, one was the result of a 50-metre run down the sideline. Anouk Meereboer and Alana Ogilvy scored doubles, with Craig Roberts and David Ropeti crossing once. Best Players were Mawley, Coleman, Rushdi Dai, Alana Ogilvy and Hayley Carstairs with Zoe Cooper winning the encouragement award. The ladder following last week’s games has The Drop Kicks on top with 9 points, 242.9 per cent, Longford Trailer Hire 7pts, 115.4 per cent, Mustangs 5pts & 76.0 per cent, Phoenix/C.A.T.’s 5pts & 68.0 per cent, Pink Panthers 4pts & 93.3 per cent and Porky’s 4pts & 68.2 per cent. T o m o r r o w n i g h t a t 6 . 3 0 p m , Phoenix/C.A.T.’s play Porky’s [referee Mustangs] and The Drop Kicks play Pink Panthers [referee Longford]. At 7.20pm, Mustangs play Longford [referee Phoenix]

Super Sonics state success

SALE Sonics girls have stocked up the trophy cabinet - with the 18 girls returning from the Basketball Victoria Country Championships in Bendigo with the state title and the 16 girls winning the Division 2 grand final. Sale Sonics 18 girls had a convincing win in their grand final over Warrnambool 62-26 to be crowned number one in Country Victoria. It was the fourth time this team has won the state title. Sale Sonics 16 girls won the Division 2 grand final against Mildura 48-36. This was the first time for several years Sale Sonics had all four 16-18 boys and girls teams qualify for the top level, with all teams playing off for the Division 1-2 titles in Bendigo. Teams needed to win two matches on day one to stay in Division 1. The 18 girls defeated Echuca 67-19 and Traralgon 49-37 to secure a place in the Division 1 quarter final. The 16 girls defeated Swan Hill 62-15 but lost to Portland 39-31 and Warrnambool 46-28. The 16 boys defeated Southern

Sale Sonics Under-18s celebrate after winning the Basketball Victoria Country Championship. Pictured are coach Andrew Hack, Katelyn Field, Ashley Centra, Lola Wilson, Ally Beale, Kyra Webb, (front) Jemma Birss, Sienna Wynd and Chantelle James. Missing due to COVID isolation: Livinia Anderson and assistant coach Jo Crawford-Wynd. Photos: Contributed

Peninsula 75-45 but lost to Bendigo 53-30 and Warragul 68-47. The 18 boys defeated Hamilton 64-60 and lost to Wodonga 49-37 and Ballarat 50-43. Finals were played Sunday.

Sale Under-16s also won the Division 2 title. Pictured are assistant coach Luc Wilson, team manager Casey Dimarco, Emma Callahan, Chloe Felsbourg, Mia Ballinger, coach Bree Alexander, (front) Marli Stothers, Katelyn Robinson, Tayli Dimarco and Chloe Smith. Absent due to COVID isolation: Tara McInnes.

Sale boys were knocked out by the narrowest of margins. The 16 boys lost 36-39 against Mildura. The 18 boys lost by two points 39-37 against Echuca. Both girls teams made it through Sunday undefeated. The 18 girls defeated Portland 41-32 and Wodonga 44-29 to earn a place in the Division 1 grand final against Warrnambool. Warrnambool had beaten Sale in the pool games 61-49, but the grand final was a different story. Sale jumped to an early lead and was 26-11 up at half time - the margin blowing out to 36 points by the final siren. Jemma Birss top scored with 28 points in the grand final. The Sale 16 girls won their way through the finals against Southern Peninsula 61-31, Warragul 35-37 and in their grand final were defeated by 12 points to Mildura. Chloe Felsbourg scored 25 points in the grand final. There’s no rest for the Sonics, who host their home tournament this weekend, with hundreds of players and families to converge on Sale and surrounding towns Saturday and Sunday.

Youth Girls Coaching Position

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Sale City Junior Football Netball Club

THE SALE CITY JUNIOR FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB

ARE SEEKING AN ENTHUSIASTIC COACH FOR THE YOUTH GIRLS TEAM (13-18 YEARS OF AGE) FOR SEASON 2022. This is an exciting opportunity to develop and promote female participation in Australian Rules Football.

To express your interest, please contact our Club President, Tony Armstrong on 0439 620 298 or tony.armstrong35.ta@gmail.com by Friday 25th February. Debbie Husodo. Cassie Farley.

Emily Kanavan. Our athletic stars

WELLINGTON Athletic Club was represented at the Victorian Country Track and Field Championships held in Bendigo recently. A total of 16 athletes from all over Gippsland took part, in what saw 21 medals brought back to the region: eight gold, seven silver and four bronze, along with several personal best times. Many athletes were competing at the championships for the first time. Local athletes included Debbie Husodo, Finn Staple, and first time competitors at the Country Championships, Cassie Farley, Laura Coleman, Christopher Dwyer, Luke Dwyer and Emily Kanavan. Under-18 athlete Husodo placed first in both the 3000 metre (10:12.21) and 1500m (4:47.62) events. Showing exceptionally consistent form, Husodo competed in the Womens Omdeiki Under 20 3000m held at Zatopek 10 in Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park only two days prior to the Country Championships. She placed 10th at this prestigious event. Staple, 16, competed in the Under 18 400m and 200m events with outstanding success. He recorded personal best times in both events and ran a sub-50 second 400m time for the first time in his athletic career. Staple now proudly holds the 100m, 200m and 400m records as the fastest man in Gippsland. He placed first in the under-18 400m (49.84) and second in the under 18 200m (22.83). Under-16 athlete Laura Coleman received her first medal at a state championship, placing third in the 3000m event (13:19.80). Coleman has worked extremely hard at training throughout the season and thoroughly deserved this result. Under-14 local athletes Emily Kanavan and Cassie Farley competed for the first time at the Country Championships, also with outstanding

Luke and Chris Dwyer.

Finn Staple (left).

Photos: Contributed

results. The girls competed in the 1500m and 800m events with Farley placing first and Kanavan placing third in both races. Chris and Luke Dwyer made their debut appearance at Country Championships, competing in the 3000m and 800m events. The 3000m races were held in torrential rain with under 16 Luke placing eighth and under 18 Chris placing 14th. In calmer conditions the boys ran the 800m two days later, with Luke placing 12th and Chris placing 14th. The experience of running against the best athletes across regional Victoria will place the pair in a good position for future racing. Many other medals were won by athletes representing Wellington Athletic Club who reside from as far away as Orbost, Leongatha, San Remo, the Latrobe Valley and Warragul. In other news, well known local athlete Rachel O’Brien competed in the 800m at the ACT Championships over the same weekend, placing ninth in a time of 2:12.82. Wellington athletes are all training hard for the next big event - the Victorian State Championships to be held later this week.