10 – Brilliant comeback
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This time last year Luke Thompson was beginning his rehabilitation from a brutal bicep injury which ruined his season and also his 2015 representative aspirations.
Fast forward 12 months and the powerful prop is leading a resurgent Narromine Jets side in Group 11 and preparing to run out for the Western Rams in the Country Championships this weekend.
Thompson tore his bicep from the bone in round two last year and was forced to miss the rest of the season.
The grand final dreams of two of Group 11’s leading players are in tatters following Thursday night’s judiciary hearing.
Dubbo Macquarie and the Nyngan Tigers were both dealt huge blows with the 2016 campaigns of Raiders half Josh Merritt and Western Rams hooker Reece Goldsmith both ended due to suspension.
Six players fronted a three-man panel on Thursday evening following last weekend’s heated qualifying final between the two sides.
The Outback Angler recently opened at the northern end of Macquarie Street, bringing a much needed specialist fishing tackle shop to the city in the process. Proprietors Luke and Cassie Carney are both long time Dubbo locals with a love and passion for recreational and sport fishing.
Their dream of owning a specialist tackle store became a reality when doors opened at their independent Dubbo store just weeks ago.
Group 11 secretary Ross McDermott has defended his referees following the release of photos taken by a Daily Liberal photographer that appear to show one of Claire Barber’s tags was removed prior to her kicking the match-winning field goal in Sunday’s Group 11 League Tag grand final.
The CYMS players remonstrated furiously with referee Rob McKechnie following the field goal, with halfback Kimberlee Gordon adamant she removed Barber’s tag moments before the ball was put to boot.
Three send-offs and a potentially career-ending injury marred an otherwise thrilling Group 11 qualifying final at Nyngan’s Larkin Oval on Sunday.
The Tigers played host to Dubbo Macquarie and ran out 32-22 winners to set up a major semi-final at Caltex Park against minor premiers CYMS next Sunday, but that was only half the story.
A brawl broke out midway through the second half following a spear tackle on Raiders co-captain Anthony Egan, and Macquarie duo Josh Merritt and Kini Talaulucavu were sent from the field by referee Troy Warner for striking, as was Nyngan prop Rod Coates.
The Dubbo CYMS club has accused its Group 11 rivals of short-sightedness following the competition’s annual general meeting on Sunday.
CYMS officially presented its proposal over a switch to Group 10 in front of what outgoing Group 11 secretary Ross McDermott described as one of the most well attended meetings in some time.
But, in a discussion that excluded all CYMS-affiliated people, media and visitors, the other clubs sent a “strong message”, denying the Fishies the move.
Four players from a Dubbo football club were taken to hospital after a car crash on the way to a game at the weekend.
The Dubbo Demons AFL Club is rallying behind its members after the confronting incident near Molong on Saturday.
The four players were travelling in the same car and were all taken to Orange Hospital after the crash, club officials say.
Ned Hanigan is a star on the rise.
The Coonamble boy earned Australian Schoolboys selection in 2013, and last year represented Australia at the World Rugby 20s Championships in Italy, where he was named Australia's MVP.
Now his career has soared to new heights, with Hanigan elevated into the core training squad for the NSW Waratahs just before Christmas.
"I think it was a bit surreal," he said.
Dubbo CYMS is set to rock rugby league in the western region this Sunday when it puts forward a proposal for the club to move to Group 10.
While CYMS chairman Kevin Walkom said on Monday “there was nothing to discuss at the moment” a submission will be put forward at this Sunday’s Group 11 annual general meeting outlining the club’s desire to change competitions.
Both Group 11 president Derrick Hoe and Walkom confirmed the Fishies met with the competition’s board last month in a formal, minuted meeting where the Dubbo club first signalled its intent to move.
The Dubbo Macquarie football family will come together with the wider Dubbo community next Tuesday to farewell one of the great larrikins.
Perry Thomas Meredith died last weekend at the age of 24, leaving behind a heartbroken bunch of clubmates but also a shattered family.
While he didn’t spend a long time on Earth, he crammed a lot into his life