The Eye of the Storm Magazine - vol 13 (April 2016)

the

In the of the

EYE Eye of the

Vol 13: April , 2016

Storming back into

Open Grade wit h

Full Photo Coverage of the Sweatiest Month of Trials in the History of Preseason Footy!

Gosford’ Gosford’s Forgotten Hero:

Arthur Allsopp

The e-mag for Gosford Kariong Storm Footy Fans

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Contents Vol 13: April, 2016

GOSFORD KARIONG RLFC

Page 4

- Editorial

5

- Pre Season Trials

11 – Open Grade Round 1 16 – In the Press

42

17 – GKS Rep’s 19 – In the Press 20 – Arthur Allsopp 29 – In the Press

11

30 – Pre Season Trials

20

42 – Open Grade Trial 47 – Buy a Photo (please) 48 – In the Press 49 – Gosford Scribes 51 – In the Press 52 – The Back Page

30

17

The warmest and stickiest preseason in the

A special thank you to Norma Woods for her

history of Central Coast rugby league is thankfully behind us. Sweat filled crevices and third degree sunburn were major pitfalls for struggling sideline photographers during a feverish opening fortnight of practice games.

Heaven only knows what the footballers were experiencing!

tremendous input during the off season as The Eye began cobbling together the fascinating story of her amazing father, Arthur Allsopp.

The tale of this former Gosford footballer and brilliant cricketer became such an obsession over the summer months that it will need to be continued into our next edition.

Hearty congratulations go out to our longest

Gosford’ osford’s rere-entry to senior footy totally blew

serving player, Logan Campbell, who along with former Stormers; Lachlan Bell, Tom Bateup, Josh Pine, Ryan Bender, Jack Weir, Ryan Jones and Adam Bing … have all made recent rep’ rep’ teams

up the internet! Such was the excitement generated by our return to the hairy legged stakes, that in the week leading up to round one, the CCRL website scored more hits than Elvis; skyrocketing beyond the allocated bandwidth limit, before duly imploding in a pungent puff of purple vapor. Good job Storm!

Thumbs up are also due to; Hayden Crampton on his selection in the Aussie U21 archery team that is competing across the ditch at the Trans Tasman bow & arrow brouhaha, to Suli Hakalo on representing the Junior NSW Waratahs against the Qld Reds during early April, and also sending a melodic cheer out to former Storm premiership winning threethreequarter, Senjay Turner who’ who’s raucous three piece band, Earth Van recently wowed music fans at the GOATS Festival, performing an energetic set on the big Senjay Turner stage at San Remo.

Look out … the purple mob are back!

Embarrassing moment #417.

A cry of, “Three cheers for Ourimbah” Ourimbah” was heard at the conclusion of our Under 12s win over Asquith. Yeah well; a magpie is a magpie!

Best of luck to all GKS teams heading into the new season - Andrew Stark

All opinions expressed throughout this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.

th e

TRIALS

An el NiĂąo sponsored, slip slap slop pre season, provided sweaty visits from the Berowra Wallabies and the Asquith Magpies. A drizzly encounter on a foreign ground followed against our very familiar northern rivals, before the trial season concluded with a post Easter road trip up to Lake Munmorah; all of which combined to finalize our 2016 preparations.

THE 2016 TRIALS

THE 2016 TRIALS

THE 2016 TRIALS

THE 2016 TRIALS

THE 2016 TRIALS

Round

1

Open Grade Gosford vs.

The Entrance

OPEN GRADE

OPEN GRADE

The Entrance 72 Gosford 0

OPEN GRADE

“Wasn’t the result we hoped for. It’s only the beginning.

Head up boys.”

Josh King (Club President & bustling Open Grade winger)

OPEN GRADE

The Entrance 72 Gosford 0

“The result probably came as a bigger surprise to me than anyone. There is a lot of work to do, fitness first, defence second, and continue to support each other and keep growing the positive atmosphere that we have created so far.”

– Ed Johnson (Coach)

In The Press …

One Small Step for Gosford Rugby League

by Andrew Stark Coast Community News, 7th April, 2016 Gosford’s re-entry into the ranks of senior rugby league has generated tremendous excitement among local footy fans however the opening round of the 2016 Open grade competition saw the Storm run into a clinical Tigers outfit at Duffys Road Oval, Terrigal.

Well rested spectators sporting purple and gold, flocked to the post daylight savings Sunday game to cheer on the Gosford Kariong men and yet The Entrance Tigers were having none of the hoopla; spoiling the party with a red hot display. After an even opening few minutes, the orange team soon began to dominate possession for long periods and duly ran in a series of tries to claim the competition points.

Disappointed Storm coach Edward Johnson, conceded after the game that, “The result probably came as a bigger surprise to me than anybody. There is a lot of work to do, fitness first, defence second, and continue to support each other and keep growing the positive atmosphere that we have created so far”.

Best player on the day for Gosford was undoubtedly their whole hearted skipper Max Russell, who was rewarded for his efforts, receiving a point in the referees 3-2-1 post game awards. Simon Latimer and Ben Richards also toiled manfully up centre field, while Jordan Groom had some nice touches from five eighth. The brightest piece of Gosford attacking play arrived in the shadows of halftime when bearded winger Josh King shot down the right touchline to gather a Kurt Burrell cross field kick before steamrolling a hapless defender and flinging the ball back inside to Scott Westwood, who went very close to scoring.

Despite an unflattering scoreboard, and injuries sustained by Kurt Burrell and starting dummy half Nathan Linsley, the Storm were back playing senior footy, which stamped the day as a resounding victory for Gosford rugby league.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

REPRESENTING the CENTRAL COAST Gosford Kariong juniors have been mightily prominent within the various Central Coast representative sides during the earliest exchanges of 2016.

Josh PINE

The seven strong posse is led by our current U16s skipper, and 11 season GKS veteran, Logan Campbell who gained selection in the Centurions U16 Country C’ships squad. Our other Central Coast rep’s include former Stormers; Lachlan Bell, Ryan Bender, Ryan Jones, Adam Bing, Tom Bateup & Josh Pine.

Tom BATEUP

Well done boys!

Ryan JONES

Lachlan BELL

Adam BING

Ryan BENDER

REPRESENTING the CENTRAL COAST

Logan Campbell

Logan CAMPBELL

Kariong Club: Gosford Club: Raiders Favourite NRL r: Blake Austin Favourite Playe ion: Lock Favourite Posit ons ow: The Simps Sh V T te ri ou lay Fav o Get Paid to P T e: gu ea L y d Kingy Goal in Rugb : My Family an ar F o S r ee ar nce in Your C l: Steak Biggest Influe Favourite Mea e Up yers: Never Giv la P r ge n u o Y Advice to

In The Press …

Gosford Kariong Surprise the BV Panthers

by Andrew Stark Coast Community News, 24th March, 2016 The Gosford Kariong Open grade rugby league team kicked off their preseason campaign with an encouraging away performance against the seasoned Berkeley Vale side in excessively hot and humid conditions.

The Storm announced themselves as a potential surprise packet in this season’s competition after a spirited contest finished up at one try a piece. Given the 1.15pm kick off and the players early season level of fitness, the game’s duration was sensibly reduced to a sweat filled brace of twenty minute halves in the unrelenting heat.

Following on from a scoreless opening period, the Panthers struck first when they crossed just after the break via an unspectacular, yet effective burrowing effort from close range. This was countered shortly thereafter when gifted Storm half Kurt Burrell managed to skip outside his defender, before scurrying a handful of metres to spear over in front of the modestly patronised car park. Powerful Gosford skipper Max Russell had earlier combined with Burrell and club president Josh King, to threaten Berkeley Vale on the right edge however a dose of preseason rustiness saw the last pass go astray as one or two promising raids unravelled.

The Storm’s tremendous commitment in defence will have pleased Gosford coach Ed Johnson, as the men in purple look forward to the opening round of this season’s competition, which will be played against 2015 semi finalists, The Entrance Tigers at Duffy's Road, Terrigal on Sunday the 3rd of April, kicking off at 11.30am.

In the most recent round of junior trial games, the scheduled Narara Valley High School fixtures, which were to have been played against Ourimbah and Asquith, were moved across to the Ourimbah Rugby Park at the eleventh hour owing to the spongy state of the school oval. A hastily reconfigured program provided a keen pre Easter hit out for half a dozen of the Storm’s teams.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

Mt Penang to

Bradman

Andrew Stark

Arthur Allsopp

Photo courtesy of Norma Wood

by

The bitter sweet tale of Gosford footballer

coincided the birth of club rugby league in this country. This son of a coal miner, who tragically found himself a ward of the state following the death of his mother, would grow to become a tremendous rugby league three-quarter. And yet it would be the ‘gentlemanly’ game of cricket that would ultimately garner the focus of a true sporting prodigy. That the cricketing authorities of the period did so callously dismiss Allsopp’s undoubted claim to greatness, based on nothing more than his welfare home upbringing, does sit as an ugly stain on the history of our nation’s grand summery game.

Above: Arthur Allsopp (left) pictured with NSW team mates; Donald Bradman, Stan McCabe & Cassie Andrews during the 1929/30 season.

The boy who can take with good grace a hard bump or a defeat on the football field, is learning to meet those buffets which will be his in later life.

Selwyn E. Hinder, schoolmaster at the Mt Penang Boys Home (1913).

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

Arthur Allsopp was born in the no nonsense, NSW town of Lithgow during early 1908. The timing of his earthly arrival perfectly

The arrival of former international footballer and state cricketer Billy Farnsworth to the district as an employee of the Gosford Training School (Mt Penang boys home) during May of 1924 would change the course of Gosford rugby league history. Farnsworth was able to instantaneously forge a connection with the local Gosford team; a football club suddenly blessed by serendipity. Training School Superintendent Major Parsonage with the assistance of Farnsworth and fellow instructor Charlie Staunton would instigate a pathway for talented Boys Home footballers; enabling the young tyros to enter into grade with Gosford. It was a feeder arrangement that would dramatically alter the course of the Brisbane Water town’s footballing fortunes.

The greatest of these graduates was undoubtedly the teenage sensation, Arthur Allsopp who would play two and a half sparkling seasons with the Gosford first grade side before heading south to etch himself into the nation’s sporting consciousness.

Allsopp secured the ball and, with fine dodging that was tricky and pretty to watch, went through the whole team and scored.[1] scored Billy Farnsworth was 38 years of age the year he steered Gosford to their initial first grade title. Overseeing the team from the stand off position, the former Newtown Bluebag led a settled Gosford line up during 1925 that imbued an unmistakable Boys Home influence. And while it’s difficult to garner too much detail with regards the inhabitants of the Mt Penang institution, The Eye has managed to trace a hefty ten members, of the eighteen-man premiership winning squad, directly to the drafty dormitory’s and humble classrooms of the Gosford Training School.

Billy Farnsworth pictured during his Newtown days

Right

[1] Gosford Times, 10-6-1926.

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

The 1925–1927 period represents a golden era for Gosford football. Three tremendously successful seasons which are directly attributable to the close relationship forged between the Gosford Football Club and Major Parsonage’s boys home on the hill at Mt Penang. When viewed within the context- of the decades that lay on either side, this was a period of unparalleled on-field prosperity that buoyed the spirits of the town and gave local sports fans a privileged preview of a prodigious young talent named Allsopp.

Football and cricket matches about the district can be attended or participated in by the lads, if they earn the privilege … several play with the Gosford town team, and are among its most dependable men.[2] [2 During the mid 1920s the Gosford Training School was an industrial school that was based on the military styled, tiered model of company’s and sections; of captains and sub section leaders. The lads who made up the institutions numbers at this time ranged from 13 through to 20 years of age and had variously; committed crimes of a petty nature, were guilty of more serious offences, or as was the case with Gosford’s star fullback of 1925, Arthur Allsopp; their family life had disintegrated to such a par less state as to render the poor boys effectively orphaned. The majority of the Homes inhabitants however were there for either, stealing offences or for having been judged as uncontrollable by the Children’s Court. Upon first arriving on the mountain a boy would typically be issued the standard uniform of white sailor’s pants, a shirt and boots, before having his head shaved; the lad would then be sent for a shower and shuffled off toward Ward No1 to begin his stay at sunny Gosford.

It looked pretty bleak. It was I think, July, in winter. We went into this room and were escorted over to the showers where we had a cold shower on the cement floor.

At the top of Penang Mountain I can assure you it was pretty cold. I made some remark at the time, like “This will kill me”, and the officer said “It’s a pity, isn’t it?” I said, “Yes it is”, and with that he gave me a backhander …[3] [3

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

Footballers; Billy Farnsworth, Charlie Staunton, Tom Connolly, Sylvanus Bush and the former Wyong postie, Ernie Selman were all employees at the Home, while Arthur Allsopp, Leo Snakey Carroll, T. Slattery and Smudgy Wright were inmates.

Given that at least ten of its 1925 team emerged from either side of this hard boiled existence of callous discipline and ceaseless routine, the Gosford Football Club doubtlessly gained a certain steel to their endeavour. One can only imagine the tremendous release obtained by these men and boys alike as they travelled down the mountain each Saturday, around the bend in the road known appropriately as the Devil’s Elbow and on toward Waterside Park (later renamed Grahame Park) for what must have seemed a relatively carefree game of footy.

[2] A piece written about the Gosford Training School which appeared in The Farmer and Settler newspaper, 18-6-1926 [3] An extract from Norman Graham’s interview with Valerie Ruby 5-8-1999, reproduced in Sent to the Mountain. Norman was sent to the Gosford Training School having been charged with joy-riding in cars.

With this large influx of players, who all ate together, slept in adjoining dorms and worked side by side throughout the week, the Gosford team would assume a steely purpose as they finished a clear five points ahead of second placed Erina on the competition ladder.

The following season saw Gosford lose a number of players from its premiership winning side; most notably Billy Farnsworth, who went from team five eight to more of a club mentoring role. Despite the former international having hung up well travelled boots, his contribution off the field continued to prove invaluable to the club.

Above: The sports loving superintendent of the Gosford Training School, Major Parsonage.

Under his care at the Riverina Welfare Farm at Yanco, an inmate with a known heart condition died during 1932 having been made to run for many hours around the sports oval. The subsequent inquiry revealed that Parsonage’s second in charge, the former professional boxer, Hector Melville (who’d also, previously worked at the Gosford home) had often punched misbehaving boys and was involved in a concerted campaign to white ant the superintendent with a clear view to assuming the role himself.

Both Parsonage and Melville were relieved of their positions.

Despite the controversy, Allsopp always spoke highly of the Major.[5]

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

Jumping many decades forward, it is somewhat fitting that the local football club should officially incorporate Kariong into its title with the advent of the Gosford Kariong Storm at the turn of the millennium. For the Training School had played an important role in both the success of early Gosford rugby league and the development of the Kariong[4] township itself. A certain historical symbiosis exists between the institution and the football club and in a round about kind of way, that connection has now been acknowledged.

Gosford’ Gosford’ First Grade side during their successful 1925 campaign included; Arthur Allsopp, Harry Newsham, Tom Connolly, Arthur Chapman, Adrian Hickey, Billy Farnsworth (capt), Leo Snakey Carroll, Joe Foster, George Pryor, Tom Johnson, Jack Pateman, T. Slattery, Sylvanus Bush, Charlie Staunton, Ernie Selman, A.E. Smudgy Wright, F. Smith & A. Hitchcock.

[4] Kariong was originally known as Kendall Heights, changing its name in the mid 1940s to avoid being confused with the town of Kendall on the mid north coast of NSW. [5] Obtained From Correspondence with Allsopp’s daughter, Norma. M. Woods (October, 2015).

The high standard of football attained by Gosford was due, in a great measure, to the excellent knowledge of Billy Farnsworth[6].

Along with Farnsworth, the Black’s also lost Snakey Carroll, Arthur Chapman, Adrian Hickey and key forward’s; Tom Johnson and Ernie Selman from its 1925 side; the last mentioned player successfully turning his hand to refereeing.

The new recruits included a further sprinkling of talented Training School lads; Tommy Brown (hooker), Frank D’Harty (three quarter) and Freddy Dove (forward) joined point scoring wiz, Arthur Allsopp in the Gosford firsts.

Allsopp switched from his previous role at fullback, to play up in the centres once news filtered down Mann Street that the accomplished 25 year old Erina custodian, Albert ‘Doc’ Atkins had married his sweetheart Doris during the off season and that the new couple were setting up their home in Hely Street, West Gosford.[7] Other notable additions to the 1926 side included; the return of the club’s former star five eight William Kilpatrick, Erina three quarter Jack Frost, Narara Road and Peats Ridge orchardists; Dick Easterbrook and Bert Sinclair, as well as 23 year old former Narara forward William Grahame, who’s father of the same name would become the Mayor of Gosford from 1936 to 1940 and who would receive the honour of having Gosford’s home ground renamed in his honour in January, 1939.

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

At the post season awards presentation, the irrepressible Gersh Baker of Wyong paid tribute to Farnsworth’s pseudo coaching role, stating that;

The first game of the year played at Waterside Park saw a weakened Gosford side ground out a 3-3 draw with their neighbours Erina. Three of the local men were unavailable for the game after the tough battle at Wyong and the Blacks found themselves trailing by a try inside the first ten minutes.

Gosford’s light stepping centre three quarter Arthur Allsopp saved his sides bacon when a jinking run provided the youngster with a try and earned the home team a gritty draw.

Left: 1926 Gosford forward, Freddy Dove pictured a few decades hence. Dove found himself at the boys home following local theft convictions. As well as being a solid footballer, Freddy Dove was also the district’s swimming champion.

[6] Gosford Times, 7-10-1926 [7] Atkins was the son of W.A. Atkins who owned the Woodport Nursery at Erina. Once ‘Doc’ relocated from Woodport to West Gosford, the competition’s residential rules required that he also switch his footy clubs, from Erina to Gosford.

Allsopp shone again; he defeated six men, and scored after a run that was fine to watch. This player’s speed and tricky side stepping put him well among the best players of this competition.[9] Gosford would power home to claim their second top grade premiership in as many years. The freshly minted Lewis-O’Brien-Rowe Shield, named in honour of the three prominent Mann Street publicans who’d pitched in to purchase the prize, would in the weeks that followed the season’s final whistle, be garnished with the name of the Gosford Football Club.[10] During the Associations presentation night, Gosford Football Club President, Jack O’Brien accepted both the first and second grade shields on behalf of the Club from fellow benefactor Harry Rowe; the latter publican offering that, he was pleased to be a citizen of Gosford, and hoped the trophies would always be retained by the Gosford Football Club.[11] The GFC first grade awards were subsequently won by Joe Foster, as the team’s best forward, and the evergreen Charlie Staunton who was rewarded for his efforts in the backs. A special medal was also minted on behalf of the supporters of the club and would be presented at the Training School Assembly two and a half weeks later.

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

The round 2 loss at Wyong followed by the shared points against Erina a week later would be the only stumbles in Gosford’s brilliant season. Nine successive victories followed as the men in black streeted their rivals to finish five competition points clear at the head of the table. A sixteen try romp over an undermanned Mooney Mooney, in a game that was anything but football,[8] began the sides down hill run toward the premiership. Eighteen-year-old Arthur Allsopp nabbed four tries of his own in the 64-8 win as the youngster’s sporting reputation continued to grow more pronounced with the passing of each week.

A pleasing school incident was that at the morale talk on Tuesday the 19th instant, when Arthur Allsopp, Captain of the School, was presented with a gold medal, donated by supporters of the Gosford Football Club, for securing the most points throughout the season. This was given with applause, and the usual Training School war cry.[12]

[8] Gosford Times, 10-6-1926.

[9] Gosford Times, 29-7-1926.

[10] Gosford would appear to have kept the trophy as the following season the teams were competing for the Chapman Shield.

[11] Gosford Times, 7-10-1926.

[12] Gosford Times, 21-10-1926.

At the same assembly, the Gosford Football Club would also present a team photograph to Frank Henderson who alongside Arthur Allsopp was the institution’s star cricketer and would in the years that followed; represent NSW in two first class fixtures[13]. There is no documented record of Henderson having pulled on a Gosford football jersey however the presentation of a photo would suggest that he had played with the Blacks at some stage during 1926.[3] Despite Henderson’s name not appearing in any team lists or match reports from the era, a retrospective reference is made of the Newcastle lads contribution in a 1940 edition of the Gosford Times,

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

Photo courtesy of Norma Wood Allsopp shows off his gymnastic ability at the Yanco boys home

Those were the days when such fine footballers as Farnsworth, Allsopp, Henderson, Bush and Carroll from the Training School were playing with Gosford. Those players drew the crowds from Dora Creek to the Hawkesbury.[14] Add to this, the fact that he definitely played first grade rugby league in the forwards for Leeton during the 1930 season and one would sensibly deduce that Frank Henderson had in fact represented the Blacks at some stage during his stay at the Gosford Boys Home.

Allsopp and Henderson show that they are as good at handling something bigger than a cricket ball.[15] [13] The Newcastle born Henderson played two games for NSW over two seasons,scoring 101 in his final innings and averaging over 70. He never played at State level with his good friend, Arthur Allsopp however both men would end up playing grade cricket in Melbourne with the Richmond club.

[14] Gosford Times, 5-4-1940.

[15] The Murrumbidgee Irrigator 24-4-1930. opening game of the rugby league season from Leeton.

Saturday’s match may be instrumental in promoting him to a higher branch of the sport, where he certainly belongs.[17]

Mt Penang to Bradman: the ARTHUR ALLSOPP story by Andrew Stark

While Henderson was undoubtedly gifted, it was the brilliant young sportsman, Arthur Allsopp who truly lit up this period of Gosford’s rugby league history. 1928 would see Gosford enter the North Sydney A-grade competition and Allsopp would become the club’s sole representative in the Norths Presidents Cup side having been selected as five eight and vice captain; playing for the very first time on the SCG against the cream of the games emerging talent. Allsopp’s North Sydney side played St George in the curtain raiser to a NSW vs. England game in front of 55,356 fans. Arthur kicked a goal as his side fought back to score a thrilling 16-13 win; a game, in which the last try was scored a few minutes before time.[16] Norths would ultimately progress to the 1928 semi finals before falling 14-3 to Balmain in the mud.

A section of the SCG crowd pictured on Saturday the 2nd June, 1928 by The Sun newspaper. These earnest looking gents were privileged to witness both; a NSW win over the Englishmen, and Arthur Allsopp’s debut at the ground.

Left: The match day program for the semi final loss to Balmain, which includes a lazy man’s spelling of ‘Allsopp’ .

Above:

The story of the flaxen haired lad from Lithgow ranks without peer amongst the annals of Gosford’s early footballing history and yet remains largely unknown within our district. Sent to the Gosford Boys Home at 15, he would rise to become one of the nation’s finest cricketers, while also managing to compete alongside and against some of rugby leagues biggest names of the Great Depression era …

[16] Sydney Morning Herald 4-6-1928.

[17] The Gosford Times reports on Allsopp’s inclusion in the North Sydney Presidents Cup side.

---To Be Continued --Part 2 of the Arthur Allsopp story will appear in the next edition of The Eye

This piece is taken from, The History of Early Gosford Rugby League, currently being researched & written by Andrew Stark.

If anyone has a connection to local footy from the pre WW2 period please drop me a line at, 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

In The Press …

Gosford Kariong Storm Back in Action

by Andrew Stark Coast Community News, 10th March, 2016 Warm autumnal conditions greeted players as the Gosford Kariong rugby league club embarked on their first series of junior trial games in preparation for the new season.

Eight trials in total were played on the Narara Valley High School’s main oval with the visiting; Berowra Wallabies, Northern Lakes Warriors, Umina Bunnies and Blue Haven Raiders providing worthy opposition throughout a successful opening days play.

A handful of noteworthy first up performances were provided by; Jake Martin (U13s), Callum Skuse (U12s), Travis Burgess (U11s), Lorenzo Godoy (U10s) & Fetineni Aho (U9s). While the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for barnstorming Under 12s prop Jake Sutherland, who swatted Wallaby defenders aside like a Bledisloe bound All Black, as he galloped 90 metres to score a spectacular solo try in the farmyard corner.

The Gosford Kariong club has been further buoyed by news they will be re-entering an Open Grade side in this season’s third tier senior competition. The Storm side will be slotted in to play games on the undercard to all Terrigal Sharks first and second grade fixtures throughout 2016. The Gosford squad is currently being put together, and positions remain available for anyone interested in pulling on the boots and having a run with the mighty Storm this season. For further information, please contact the club’s secretary, Renee Martin on 0402190282.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

the

TRIALS

(continued)

THE 2016 PRESEASON TRIALS … Photos - ANDREW STARK

THE 2016 TRIALS

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Open Grade Back in the Fold

After spending a year in the rugby league wilderness, Gosford are back where they belong; playing senior footy.

Under the steady stewardship of club legend, Ed Johnson, the Storm Open Grade stepped out for their first trial game of the year against the Panthers at a sweltering Berkeley Vale Oval during early March. The good guys surprised their seasoned opponents with a spirited showing and a smart Kurt Burrell try midway through the second half enabled the purple men to share the day’s honours at one try a piece.

OPEN GRADE

OPEN GRADE

OPEN GRADE

OPEN GRADE

So How Do We Get A Photo For Uncle Col & Aunty Grace ?

Whilst the motivation for putting The Eye together each month is in no way financial, It would be good to recoup all those bus & train fares; public transport levies accrued chugging to and from the myriad of footy ovals scattered across the CCDJRL region.

So to keep Red Bus, Busways and even State Rail happy, all the photo’s appearing on the pages of this fine, up standing publication … come and are available for purchase in all their high resolution JPEG slip me $10 magnificence for just $10 (via Paypal, cheque, money order, Dan on game day Murphy’s gift card, gold bullion, krugerand, or my personal … I’ll be the favourite; good old CA$H). Email me (Andrew) at 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com and let me know which image you’re after bleary eyed, disheveled … or simply see me on the sideline and let me know in person. looking bloke with the dodgy Jolly well haircut … played

Gosford

oh yeah, and the big camera !

Buy one $10 photo & get a bunch of others free

In The Press …

Magpies Prove Too Strong in Grand Final

by Andrew Stark Coast Community News, 23rd September, 2015 The Gosford Kariong Storm’s U13(2)s went down to an impressive Ourimbah side 46-22 in a free flowing grand final at the Morry Breen Oval, Kanwal.

The game shaped as a huge challenge for the Storm boys given the unflinching dominance Ourimbah had asserted throughout 2015. Given that the Magpies had traversed the year undefeated and conceded an average of little more than two points per game throughout the season proper, Gosford did remarkably well to run in four tries against the northerners brick wall defence. The Storm did struggle to blunt Ourimbah’s potent attacking weaponry however as elusive Magpies; Josh Martin, Brock Elford, Sam Richardson and Eli Pohla proved especially hard to handle.

To their credit, the Shaun Martin coached Storm team never shirked the difficult task at hand. Despite finding themselves 16-0 behind after just ten minutes, and then 28-6 down in the shadows of half time; the Gosford lads fought back manfully to trail by just a dozen with a quarter of an hour to play. Weight of possession and the overall class of the Magpies shone through during the games later stages however as they added four further tries to Gosford’s one, to put the game well beyond doubt.

A tremendous game from the Storm’s Sione Vaenuku yielded the tear away backrower a brace of tries which could so easily have been three, or even four; after the popular forward had been held up over the Ourimbah line during the opening half and then grassed just millimetres short of the stripe with five minutes remaining. Nick Rodrigues was the other standout for the runners up; the classy lock forward worked tirelessly in both defence and attack; the latter discipline highlighted by a marvelous short ball, delivered in the lead up to Vaenuku’s second try.

Ourimbah finished as worthy premiers having swept aside all opposition throughout the winter, while the runners up from Gosford Kariong did themselves proud in a spirited grand final showing. The contest provided a fitting conclusion to this season’s Central Coast junior rugby league calendar.

s ’ t r e p u R

Stable of Gosford Scribes

While our club cannot lay claim to any of the current NRL stars, we do lead the way when it comes to churning out contemporary footy journalists. In what is a truly amazing record, The Eye takes a moment to celebrate three Gosford juniors who have all kicked on to become high profile sports writers for Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited papers.

Paul Crawley starred as a hooker with the Gosford junior teams of the 1980s alongside Paul Kent who was a very smart half/five eighth. The lads were members of the gun Townies Under 18 team of 1988 (coached by Crawley’s dad, Steve, also a noted journalist and TV producer), and both made their first grade debuts for Gosford in that same, bicentennial year.

“Gosford started with promise when hooker and captain Paul Crawley dived over after a Paul Kent kick rebounded off opposing legs”.

Central Coast Express (21-9-88).

Description of the opening try of the 1988, Under 18s grand final. Gosford would ultimately lose 14-12 to Woy Woy via a penalty goal in extra time.

Rupert’s Stable of Gosford Scribes, by Andrew Stark

The following season would see, Paul Kent accept an offer to play as Peter Sterling’s understudy at Parramatta and the former Gosford High School star played his sole first grade game for the Eels on Saturday the 12th of August at Parramatta Stadium; wearing the famous blue & gold number seven jersey in a 30-6 victory over North Sydney.

Above: Nick Walshaw (circled); as a member of Gosford’s 1990, Under 15s

team. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the team was coached by a journalist; leading Central Coast Express sports reporter, Ray Chambers (back left).

Future NRL star, John Carlaw is second from left in the front row.

The youngster of our pack of journalists is, Nick Walshaw who featured as a rampaging back rower for the Gosford Townies junior teams of the late 1980s & early 1990s; an age division most notable for the try scoring exploits of John Carlaw, who would progress to play over 150 NRL games. Apart from filing earnestly tapped copy for News Ltd, Nick Walshaw currently holds down the far more important position of head coach at the Ourimbah Under 9s.

In The Press …

Gosford Kariong R.L.F.C. Awards

by Andrew Stark Coast Community News 21st October, 2015 The Gosford Kariong Rugby League Club held their annual presentation ceremony at the Central Coast Leagues Club on Sunday October 18th to acknowledge the notable achievements of the season just passed.

A bevy of trinkets were handed out to a host of worthy recipients in a breezy afternoon of purple pride. The club’s grand finalists for 2015, the U13(2)s were the occasion’s big winner securing three major awards; Best Coach: Shaun Martin, Best Manager: Samantha Taylor, and the Gosford Kariong Senior Player of the Year prize, which went to the talented representative lock forward, Nick Rodrigues.

The Junior Player of the Year was awarded to the tireless, Rylee Oakes who played for no fewer than four of the club’s seven competition teams throughout the season. Rylee was a key member of the U10(2)s side and also backed up for the U10(1)s, U11(2)s and U12(3)s whenever required. The Presidents Player of the Year, fittingly awarded by the Storm’s president, Jason Bird, went to U15(1)s prop Toutai Aho who’s contribution both on and off the field was duly acknowledged.

The second recipient of the prized, Clint Gosper Memorial Award for Club Person of the Year, went to popular U11(2)s coach Greg Eather who had also taken charge of the talented U9(1)s squad late in the season. The Mini League Team of the Year was won by Ed Johnson’s Under 8s who had the thrill of playing at the Central Coast Stadium during half time of an NRL game back in July. Under 15s Players Player Award winner, Logan Campbell was presented with a swish looking jacket in recognition of the back rower having played ten seasons with the Storm. And on a more sugary note; the lucky door prize for correctly guessing the number of jelly beans in the jar, went to U9(1)s player; Andrew Grimley.

Hearty congratulations were reserved for the afternoon’s major award winners while a big clap went out to all of the club’s players, officials and parents who had united in producing yet another successful season of junior rugby league in the Gosford Kariong region.

Jake Leads the Way

the Back Page

Living as we do, in the age of whiny player dummy spits and the scourge of serial sideline pests; it is mighty refreshing to report on a simple, yet classy act of sportsmanship.

Sport Ge stu ing re: A Class y Ac t

‘Eye of the Storm’ – Vol 13, April, 2016 PDF-MAG compiled, photographed, written & designed by Andrew Stark © 2016 Contact - 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

It occurred during the quarter time break of the Under 13s opening trial game of the year against Berowra. The last run of the first period had seen Storm skipper, Jake Martin run over the top of a hapless Wallabies defender; the little fellow ending up the worse for wear and requiring medical attention. The teams had long been ensconced in their quarter time team huddles when Jake noticed that the Berowra lad was still being attended to. Breaking away from the purple pow wow he jogged twenty metres across to his fallen opponent to apologize, and to check that he was OK.