Sport

MAJOR MILESTONE FOR LOCAL CLUB

60 years of football. Back page.

The Western Sydney Rollers are ready for a major event later this month. Maddison Gray is encouraging others to give roller derby a try.

Rolling back onto the court

NATHAN TAYLOR

After a long layoff due to the pandemic, one of the toughest sports around – Roller Derby – is finally returning.

The Western Sydney Rollers have announced that their upcoming Family and Friends Roller Derby Bout Day will be held on Sunday, June 26 at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre – and everyone’s invited!

The Western Sydney Rollers have been western Sydney’s own local Roller Derby League since 2008. After a tumultuous few years – from fires to COVID and then floods – Roller Derby is officially back in business.

Ready and raring to get back into the swing of bringing Roller Derby to Penrith, the Western Sydney Rollers are asking locals to join them for a fun-filled day to help celebrate their longawaited return, as some of their skaters play in their first ever bout.

“Everyone’s super excited with the Family and Friends Bout coming up, and we’re just all hyped about playing the game,” Maddison Gray told the Weekender.

“I’ve been with the league for just over a year now, so I’m just as hyped as anyone to be back.”

The return of Roller Derby is all thanks to a grant received from Penrith City Council’s 2021 Community Assistance Program, which funds local non-profit community groups for projects that strengthen the community, address community needs and improve opportunities for participation in Penrith City.

Roller Derby is a dynamic and exciting sport for all genders, ages and abilities. Adult and Junior teams, Referee Training, Non-Skating Officials and Development Programs are available for anyone looking to learn.

The Western Sydney Rollers’ aim is to bring the community back together in enjoying the vibrant sport that is Roller Derby with its upcoming Family and Friends Bout.

“We are trying to break that stereotype that roller derby is really brutal,” Gray said.

“We’re not as big as soccer or football in the area but we want people to know that Roller Derby is a community sport for all ages.”

Don’t miss the Western Sydney Rollers’ Family and Friends Roller Derby Bout Day on Sunday, June 26 at 10.45am. It will be held at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre in Cambridge Park. Tickets are $5 at the door (cash only), with kids under 12 free.

“There will be many events on the day that will get spectators involved including our famous Buck Duck Chuck game,” Gray said.

“It’s one not to be missed!”

For more information or to keep up to date with the Western Sydney Rollers, visit www. westernsydneyrollers.com.au.

Emus keep chipping away

Turfed from the Shute Shield, Penrith is welcomed with open arms in Canberra

NATHAN TAYLOR

As they approach the halfway point of their first season down in the nation’s capital, Penrith Emus President Gary McColl says the club is finally heading in the right direction.

While Penrith’s first grade side are yet to record a win in the John | Dent Cup, their impressive Colts team sit in second place on the ladder with five victories, while their new Women’s side has also bagged a win after half a dozen games.

After being unfairly turfed out of Sydney’s Shute Shield last season, McColl said the club has been made to feel very welcome down in the chilly ACT, the home of the Brumbies.

“The main purpose for joining this competition was to create a pathway for our Colts players and everyone’s been impressed with their progress so far,” he told the Weekender.

“The ACT competition overall is a good competition and we’ve been welcomed wholeheartedly by everyone, it’s been a really pleasant experience up to date.

“Teams have enjoyed coming to visit us in Penrith and we’ve enjoyed visiting them down there as well.”

While Penrith’s Colts team have been a real force in their debut season in the ACT Vets Colts Cup, their first grade side are struggling to find their feet despite some encouraging performances. In Round 6 against Gungahlin, the Emus came awfully close to their maiden win but ultimately went down to the Eagles 29-19.

A week later, the Emus took several steps backwards when they were thrashed by competition leaders the Canberra Royals 64-7.

McColl said the club’s John | Dent Cup side is a work in progress.

“They definitely have a lot of improvement in them, but we need to remember there’s a lot of first year players in that team,” he said.

“We basically got decimated in first grade last year with players going elsewhere because they thought they had no future here. So, there’s a whole lot of new players and, for many of them, it’s a step up in standard as well.”

With the entire competition enjoying the Queen’s Birthday long weekend off, McColl said he's looking forward to the second half of the season.

“Our head coach Ronnie Patea is working hard with all the players, and we’re on our way to building a strong culture here that the Penrith community can be proud of,” McColl said.

There’s plenty to smile about at the Penrith Emus this year. Photo: Mona’s Photography.

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Around The Grounds

BASKETBALL: Penrith’s incredible winning run has rolled on another week, defeating the Hornsby Ku Ring Gai Spiders 72-63 in Round 10 of the Waratah 1 Youth Men competition. For the third straight week, Jonah Pares top scored for the Panthers with 16 points. Penrith will look to extend their winning streak when they face the Norths Bears next Saturday night at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre. Meanwhile, Penrith’s Waratah 1 Youth Women also enjoyed victory over the Spiders 72-49. Chloe Bloom was a beast for the Panthers scoring 28 points. Penrith will tackle the Norths Bears and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in a double-header next weekend.

AFL: The Penrith Rams have won three straight games, too good for the Camden Cats 60-40 in Round 9 of the AFL Sydney Platinum Division competition. Mitchell Stevens was the best for Rams, kicking a pair in the 20-point win. Penrith will battle Southern Power this Saturday afternoon at Greygums Oval. Meanwhile, the Penrith Ramettes, who had a bye last weekend, will play Southern Power in Round 10.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Round 11 of the Sydney Shield and Ron Massey Cup competitions took place last weekend, with St Marys enjoying victories in both games. In the Ron Massey Cup, St Marys were too good for the Hills Bulls 22-4. In the Sydney Shield, St Marys thrashed the Bulls 36-16. This Saturday, St Marys will battle the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the Ron Massey Cup and Penrith Brothers in Sydney Shield.

SUPER NETBALL: Giants Netball are hitting form at just the right time, defeating the Queensland Firebirds in a thriller 73-72 in Round 13 of the Super Netball competition. The Giants, who have secured a place in the Super Netball Finals, will return to Ken Rosewall Arena this Saturday night to battle the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

PREMIER LEAGUE NETBALL: Panthers Netball have lost back-to-back games, going down to the Sutherland Stingrays 55-52 in Round 8 and ERNA Hawks 66-43 in Round 9 of the Netball NSW Premier League Opens competition. Meanwhile, the Panthers U23s team lost to the Stingrays 63-50 before drawing with the Hawks 47-47 last weekend. Meanwhile, despite results not going entirely Panthers’ way in Round 9, their home match at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre in Cambridge Park was a huge success with a strong crowd in attendance last Saturday evening.

FOOTBALL: The Western Sydney Wanderers have announced the signing of French midfielder Romain Amalfitano for the A-League season. The experienced midfielder started his professional career in France’s Ligue before signing with English Premier League side Newcastle United.

MARATHON: The Western Sydney Marathon is set to return to Sydney International Regatta Centre on Sunday, June 26 with the event featuring five race categories and distances to suit children, families and elite runners. Registrations have just opened. Head to www.westernsydneymarathon. com.au for details.

To make a submission to Around The Grounds, email Nathan@westernweekender. com.au. You can also private message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/westernweekender or Tweet us @wwpenrith.

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Family club’s major milestone

NATHAN TAYLOR

One of Nepean Football Association’s longest running clubs is turning 60 next month.

To mark the monumental milestone, St Marys Football Club will be holding a special celebratory event at Potter Field in Colyton on Saturday, July 23.

Everyone’s invited to their 60th birthday extravaganza, with a cake, BBQ, jumping castle and a fabulous colour fun run all set to feature.

“We would love for our life members, sponsors, committee and all our players – current and former – to come down and celebrate with us on July 23,” St Marys Football Club Social Secretary, Maryanne Moore said.

“The event is free to attend and it will start in the morning and run throughout the day.”

St Marys Football Club has a long and rich history in the local area that dates all the way back to 1962 under the guise of Oxley Park Soccer Club.

Formed by a small group of local soccer players, the club’s activities were managed from an old house adjacent to the Balgay Jam Factory at Colyton by the club’s first President Col Twemlow and Secretary George Brunskill.

Oxley Park’s first playing strip was blue and gold, while their alternate strip was brown and white. As there was no money available, the strips were made by the players’ mothers at the time.

A huge change for the club happened in 1964 when Oxley Park Soccer Club became St Marys Soccer & Sports Club and changed its colours to green and white. The colours are still in use today, even though the design has changed over the years.

Another significant development occurred in 1969 when the club underwent another name change to St Marys Soccer Club after dropping basketball and cricket and staying with soccer.

Confusion remains as to when St Marys moved from playing at the ground near the old jam factory to Ridge Park, but in 1990 the club was directed to move to its present home ground, Potter Field.

Earlier this year the club changed its name once again to St Marys Football Club, and is now home to two dozen teams and hundreds of male and female players.

Moore has been a dedicated and valued member of the club for over 17 years after her son got involved as a child. She said St Marys Football Club has lasted the test of time for one key reason.

“St Marys is a family club, and that’s been our focus over the six decades,” she said.

St Marys Football Club will celebrate their 60th birthday on Saturday, July 23 at Potter Field, located at 146 Shepherd St, Colyton.

If you have any memories of the club, including historic images, that you would like to share, drop them a line on Facebook.

St Marys Football Club is turning 60 next month. Players young and old are invited to attend the celebrations.

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