Sportslive Story wins award
Sportslive has won the "Best Feature Story" award for 2007 from Basketball NSW, for the article titled "Wildcats lose Grand Final Replay". This story was written by regular Sportslive basketball correspondent Noel Rowsell. Noel and his business partner Marion McNeill of www.photoexcellence.com.au provide photos with most of the stories Noel writes for Sportslive.
The story ran on March 17 and has been recognised by Basketball NSW as the "Best Feature Story" written on the Waratah Australian Basketball League (WABL) competition in 2007.
To read the award winning story click on the following link:http://parramatta.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=1881
Congratulations Noel.
To see more of Noel Rowsell’s reports on basketball competitions, clubs, wheelchair basketball and representative teams click on the following link: http://parramatta.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=288 Sharks defend WABL Title in Style
The Sutherland Sharks men's team has defended its Waratah Australian Basketball League (WABL) premiership title in style, defeating the Sydney Comets 113-94 in a high-quality grand final at the Sutherland Basketball Stadium on Sunday night.
The Sharks had been equally impressive the previous night, out-running the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the semi final to win 116-96.
Both games were played in front of a capacity crowd, justifying the decision by Basketball NSW to keep the playoff series in Metropolitan Sydney, rather than a country venue.
Sydney Kings NBL team-mates BJ Carter and Cameron Tovey were spectacular as always for the Sharks, well supported by Brendan Gleeson, outstanding rookie Ben Conguista and, in reality, every other player in the squad.
Head coach Phil Vannan was hoping to begin a dynasty at the Sharks and has now begun the process, with this year's victory giving the Sharks back-to-back WABL titles.
PHOTO: The Sutherland Sharks men's team with the 2007 WABL trophy and banner - photo courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)
The Sharks will now head to the national Australian Basketball Association (ABA) playoffs in a very different frame of mind to 2006, when the only priority after the NSW playoffs was to party hard and often. The Sharks subsequently performed well below their own high standards at the national playoffs and that performance will perhaps have sparked some lingering regrets over their limited preparation.
The 2007 national playoffs are now likely to see a totally different Sharks team in attendance, particularly in attitude, with the pride of being NSW champions a banner to wave in front of Australia, not just another trophy on the mantlepiece.
Local fans were undoubtedly shocked to see former American import Rod Proctor suit up for the Sharks in the semi final on Saturday, with the likeable and talented guard having recently undergone brain surgery. Proctor showed glimpses of his best but was given restricted court time in both the semi final and grand final, with coach Vannan obviously mindful of his former star's recent health but also happy to give Proctor and the crowd some added enjoyment on the day and the opportunity to welcome back one of the Shire's favourite adopted sons.
Semi Final: Sutherland Sharks 116 (C Tovey 29, B Gleeson 24, BJ Carter 20, B Henricks 17, D Morris 6, O Johnston 5, D O'Shea 4, B Conguista 3, R Proctor 2, P Cvieticanin 2, R Nacson 2, B Clowry 2) def Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 96 (N Kirwan 21, R Carter 20, D Jordan 18, PJ Isaacson 13, R Radan 6, M Unicomb 6, B Smith 4, J Braddy 3, B Smith 3, M McDaid 2)
Grand Final: Sutherland Sharks 113 (C Tovey 34, B Gleeson 21, BJ Carter 20, B Congiusta 15, D Morris 7, B Henricks 6, R Proctor 4, B Clowry 4, R Nacson 2) def Sydney Comets 94 (M Seckold 22, S Whitehead 20, M Cork 19, A Bauk 14, B Borgia 11, L Callier 5, M Whyte 2, J Jovine 1)
Gymea Under 18A’s Women’s State Cup Triumph.
THE popularity of women’s soccer is almost certain to surge in the Sutherland Shire after Gymea United FC’s Under 18A Women’s team won the State Cup Final last weekend.
In their first year of the Under 18-year-old competition, the impressive side overcame Lidcombe Waratah 1-0 in a nail-biting match to become the 2007 State Cup Champions and the first Women’s Side from Gymea to win the title.
The gruelling match was decided with the only goal slotted in by Amelia West after great team build-up led to a cross by Alanna Haswell.
Having played for several years together under previous coach Col Lincoln, the girls’ side were appointed two new young coaches for the season in local club members Todd Lawrence and Tony Wade.
The State Cup title becomes the first for both coaches in their inaugural year, but the young pair admitted that at the start of the season they weren’t too sure how they would fair in the coaching ranks, handling a bunch of fifteen teenage girls.
“Initially, I didn’t know what to expect, but the girls have improved as a team this year in what I have seen of them since the start of the season,” coach Lawrence said.
“They are good to coach because they seem like they are all best friends and they want to win for each other and it was great being part of the State Cup win since it was our first year coaching them.”
Being the side’s second major title after having won the Shire’s Under 14A competition in 2004, captain Jessica Carter was ecstatic with the win.
“It is awesome just to play in a team where all the girls are good friends, but to win a State Cup Title together and be recognised throughout the state is something we can all be pretty proud about,” she said.
“We aren’t the most serious side going around but the win just didn’t come overnight.”
“We have been playing together for about five years now and season after season we have gradually improved, it’s a good feeling.”
The team had wins over Gunners SC 14-0, Local side Bosco FC 4-2 on penalties and AC United 3-1 to prevail through to the final at Valentine Sports Complex at Glenwood.
After cementing a semi finals birth in their local competition, the side will now concentrate on their last game against Loftus Yarrawarrah Rovers before the finals series starts on the following weekend.
Other finalists from the Shire included three men’s sides from Lilli Pilli.
The Under 14A’s side toppled Bexley North 3-1, whilst in the Robertson Cup the 21A’s side lost 2-0 and the All Age Men narrowly lost the Bill Cullinan Cup 2-1 against Baulkham Hills.
By Reece Carter.
Local Club tops table at NSW Swimming Championships
Sutherland’s SLC Aquadot was the top club at the NSW Short Course Swimming Championships which were conducted over a 24 hour period last weekend. Based on the performances of club members Aquadot picked up 472 points to head Sydney University (460) and Hunter (458) and 44 other NSW swimming clubs.
Unlike Australian, Olympic or Commonwealth Games long course championships there are no semi-finals and finals. Swimmers are seeded into heats based on their meet entry times with the top 8 seeds competing in the final heat.
Local swimmers who picked up medals were:
Kristy Morrison:
Gold – Women’s 200m Individual Medley
Gold – Women’s 100m Individual Medley
Silver – Women’s 100m Breastroke
Bronze – Women’s 50m Breastroke
Stephen Parkes:
Gold – Men’s 100m Individual Medley
bronze – Men’s 200m Individual Medley
Erin Malone:
Silver - Women’s 100m Individual Medley
Silver - Women’s 200m Breastroke
The Australian Short Course Swimming Championships will be held at the end of the month in Melbourne. Sharks split Round against Manly in Premier Youth League
The Sutherland Shire Sharks travelled to Cromer Park to take on Manly United last Saturday in Premier Youth League soccer. With Manly higher on the table in three out of five grades, the home side was expected to win the overall round.
However, the Sharks came away with a better than expected result with a win three draws and a loss. The day began with the Sharks 2nd placed 13s easily accounting for Manly 3 nil. Next followed two draws in the 14s and 15s, which was better than expected for the Sharks as the Manly teams were considerably higher on the ladders. The 1 - 1 result was particularly pleasing for the bottom placed 15s against their 7th placed opponents.
In the 16s it was 4th against 5th and another draw resulted. Unfortunately for the Sharks the only loss of the day came in the 18s when the 7th placed Sharks went down 2 - 1 to their 6th placed opponents.
Results for August 4 games against Manly United FC at Cromer Park were:
Sharks U13 won 3 nil
Sharks U14 drew nil all
Sharks U15 drew 1 all
Sharks U16 drew nil all
Sharks U18 lost 2 - 1 More Stories?
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