Post sporting briefs with Michael Cain and Stephen Bisset
FUTSAL: Good showing at national champs Congratulations to the Hunter Futsal Strikers
(HFS) for a sterling eff ort at the national futsal championships in Sydney earlier this month. HFS fi elded 12 teams, across all age divisions, coming together as Northern NSW (NNSW) Strikers metro. With two of the NNSW teams, the under 13 and under 15 squads, making it to the grand fi nals (both narrowly missing out in thrilling fashion to Central Coast and Queensland respectively), one, the under 12s in the quarter fi nals and the open men’s squad making it to the semis, it seems the future of futsal in the Hunter is looking bright. Special mention must go to under 13 player Jarrod Penfold who was picked in the All Star team and Shane Farmer from the under 16 semi-fi nalist squad who is hotly tipped to make the Australian touring team. HFS president George Poulos was also full of praise for the senior girls’ squad. “The girls really gave it to all teams in one of our hardest women’s competitions I have ever seen. Although coming eighth, they won the admiration of a lot of other teams used to fl ogging NNSW girls,” he said. “Hopefully, word will get out and we can attract more girls and women to this wonderful sport.” SB
FOOTBALL: On notice It hasn’t been a happy season to say the least for the Newcastle Jets,
although there’s still time to limp to the fi nals and make their presence felt on the A- League. All the talk has been on coach Gary van Egmond and his management skills with his side. To bring you up to speed, the former championship-winning mentor returned to the post he once held at the start of this season after Branko Cullina was sacked by the Jets at the league’s season launch. There wasn’t’ much time for Dutchy to do much with his squad right from the word go, but he has come under fi re from plenty on the way he has come out publicly, telling his players to more or less shape up, or ship
out. We all knew a player clearout would happen, as most new coaches weed out the players they don’t want, but it doesn’t happen overnight. So, in the mean time, just getting on with what he’s got may have been the best measure, while doing the dealing behind closed doors. I was speaking with another A-League coach the other day and he said as soon as players felt like they were treated like stock and not human beings, that was when anarchy set in. I feel for the loyal fans who turn up to see their team challenge for the title week in, week out. Instead, they’re seeing a team of individuals all worried about their own performances, trialling for the season after. ----------------
One player who hasn’t got that worry is Jets defender Taylor Regan who had his contract extended for another 12 months, meaning he’ll be at Ausgrid Stadium until the end of season 2013-14. A great decision for a great bloke. The Post did a story last year on the murals at Adamstown Oval, but I thought I’d give you a bit of an update. They’ve now been painted and look spectacular. Adamstown Rosebud legends Joe Senkalski, Ray Baartz and Col Curran line the walls as well as a goal mouth scramble. It got me thinking that other clubs could follow this club’s lead and honour their greats of the past in this kind of way. History should never be forgotten!
ARCHERY: Hitting targets Archery is a sport we don’t ever seem to give enough coverage. Well, here we go. Recently, the national youth archery championships were held in
Armidale, with one young lass cleaning up with fi ve, yes fi ve, gold medals in the under 17 division. Cessnock’s Ella Hugo backed up her great performances at the world titles in Poland last year where she fi nished third against the world’s best. A member of the Cessnock Target Archers Club, Hugo will now set her sights on the Trans-Tasman Challenge starting in April. No doubt she’ll be heading to Rotorua (New Zealand) with her eyes on the prize. Or should I say target? Watch out, Kiwis.
GOLF: Go girl I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a female golfer with plenty of goals ahead
of her. Jordana Keaton is her name and she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face after starting her fi rst week of a traineeship at Charlestown Golf Club. Born and bred in Muswellbrook, the 19-year-old believed it was a big step forward in her eff ort to one day crack it into a women’s tour. “It’s an honour to get this opportunity at this club,” Keaton said. “I did apply for a few in Sydney, but here it’s laid back and still has a great work ethic.” I have noted there is a shortage of female golfers from the local area making it to the big time, yet there’s been a conveyor belt of men constantly being churned out. Let’s hope Jordana sets the tone for a new wave of interest in the sport. Oh, and good on Charlestown for keeping these dreams alive for young players.
CRICKET: Rep kids Anyone who was driving past Smith Park at Hamilton North last
week would have noticed willow hitting leather all over its three grounds. It was the annual under 11 Newcastle junior cricket tournament with 11 associations from all parts of NSW represented, with the hosts fi elding two sides. For most of these players, it was their fi rst taste of representative cricket and for the hour that I was present, it looked like the future was bright. Organiser Sharon Beck couldn’t have been happier with the four days’ play and was looking for the event to grow even bigger in 2013. “There’s some teams which take it more seriously than others, but all in all it’s about bringing people together, not just the kids, but visitors to this region.” See how sport can bring so much more to the table? Friendship, tourism, strengthening ties with other areas, and all this from a four-day cricket extravaganza of under 11s. Hey, and it even went longer than an Australia versus India test match.
Michael Cain is a journalist for NBN Television.
GOALS: Jordana Keaton hitting them straight.
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www.newcastlepost.com.au THE NEWCASTLE POST Wednesday, January 25, 2012 47
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