The Apollo Degenerates continued their 2009 premiership-winning form with their 65-35 point domination of competition rivals and last year’s grand finalist St Collegians in the opening round of Rawson Homes premiership.
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In the 2009 grand final the Apollo Degenerates A-grade side broke the club’s 15-year-premiership drought when they overcame Collegians 40-35.
A shortage in the number of referees available to mediate the Tooheys New Group 11 rugby league competition this year is of major concern to group officials with the season set to kick off this weekend.
With only seven referees available for the 12 games to be played each weekend group secretary Bob Walsh is urging those who may be slightly interested to have a go.
“A few referees have been made unavailable mainly due to work commitments this year,” Walsh said.
Woodstock trainers Sandie Brown and Steve Cleary provided the winning quinella with Myalla Valley and Myalla Fake in the Shanlyn Prince at Stud Maiden Stakes over 400m at Dawson Park.
As he runs onto No.1 oval as part of the Roos first grade outfit in round five of the Blowes Menswear Cup against Cowra today, prop Tim Cullenward will have some big boots to fill.
He replaces playing coach Geoff Koerstz, who has been sidelined after sustaining a head injury in last weekends loss to Narromine.
“I attended university in Canberra and had been working there for a few years. I played footy for uni (Australian National University) and also with a club down there,” he said.
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Dubbo Roos breakaway Adam Whalebone had a dream first grade debut when he helped his side mastermind a magnificent 44-33 victory over the previously unbeaten Bathurst Bulldogs at No.1 Oval on Saturday.
After beating Blowes Menswear Cup defending premiers Narromine last week to win their seventh consecutive game the Bulldogs were pronounced favourites to handle the Roos, a side missing several key players and one that has been mixing its form.
The Dubbo Bulls made a massive comeback to get away with a 4-3 victory against Canobolas Rangers in round two of the Western Premier League competition in Orange.
It may have been the effect of playing away from home that took them sometime to find their feet, along with a number of injuries.
Captain Scott Fox said after a dire first half, which saw his side down 3-0, a few forceful words were said at half-time and they managed to fight their way back.
“We were acting like we didn’t want to be there in the first half , with some very scrappy play. But they showed their scrappy play in the second half and we really lifted our intensity.”
Luke Anderson is going from strength to strength in his basketball after being chosen to represent NSW country in the under 16 side for the second year in a row.
The Year 9 student was recently selected in the 2010 NSW squad after attending the country championships in Albury earlier this year.
“I played well down there so they asked me to try out for the team in Newcastle about a month ago and I was selected from there,” he said.
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The Dubbo Rams women will be looking to cement their position in the State League top four during the next few weeks, starting tomorrow night against Blue Mountains.
After last weekend’s amazing effort on the road, picking up a winning double against Newcastle and Central Coast, coach Nick Hubbard will be hoping the girls can continue to perform.
“Last week every player stepped up so I will be looking for the same effort again against the Blue Mountains,” he said.
Seven winners from three race meetings last weekend has Greg Ryan in the mood for more success at the big Scone Cup meeting today and at Dubbo on Monday.
Ryan’s book today includes first emergency Prior Baron in the $12,000 Emirates Park Scone Cup and the Dubbo trained Pigalle in $20,000 Yalumba Benchmark 65 Handicap.
He said yesterday that the Rodney Northam, Scone, trained Prior Baron faces a huge task in the Cup should he get a run.
“He won the Gunnedah Cup for me very easily last Sunday but this is a completely different grade of race,” Ryan said.
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Mark Jones and Peter Lewsam have lost their patience and sacked Music Academy after the gelding was scratched at the barrier once again yesterday.
Starter Ray Canham and attendants spent more than the permissible time at the barriers attempting to load the gelding before the start of the Spic ‘N Span Benchmark 70 Handicap (1120m) at the Dubbo TAB meeting.
As the trainer and part-owner , Jones said he has spent more than 18 months trying to overcome the barrier problems associated with Music Academy, but it’s time to say he’s had enough.
Australian champion rider
Tye Simmonds will be racing in Dubbo on Sunday, much to the delight of Dubbo Dirt Bikes Club members.
Simmonds has agreed to take time out from his busy MX Nationals training schedule to race in the local club championship to assist with fundraising for injured rider Jesse Rutherford.
This will be the first time he races his factory spec KTM 350 at the Morris Park circuit, presenting a great opportunity for spectators to witness the skill of some of Australia’s hottest young motocross talent.
Former Dubbo cricketer Tim Armstrong has secured a rookie contract with Cricket NSW which will see him through the next 12 months training as a professional cricketer.
The 19-year-old, who has been enjoying some time away from cricket since the end of the Sydney club season where he plays for Eastern Suburbs, said he was extremely pleased when he received the offer, especially since only six rookies contracts were offered.
“It is a good reward for the hard work I’ve done,” he said.
