OCLife | sporting life with ANTHONY BARBAGALLO
BARRACKER THE
EMUS STELLAR SECOND-HALF TOPS ORANGE CITY IN LOCAL DERBY WIN
Dreaded promotion and relegation — having your comp and enjoying it too! Why has promotion and relegation; keystones to the success of the best and most popular football leagues in the world; been shunned in Australia? All our major football codes — rugby league, Australia Rules, rugby, and soccer (football) — have never embraced the premiership model that is an inherent part of the great English, German, Italian, and Spanish football leagues. The reasons for this are probably historical, geographical, and practical. With the four football codes all competing against each other in physically isolated cities and a widely dispersed population, there is less competition for new sides to seek to enter the top leagues and less financial imperative to reward excellence and innovation. The “franchise” arrangement of our top competitions, the AFL, NRL, A-League, and Super Rugby, guarantee all teams, barring insolvency, perpetuity in their comps. In the AFL, a total of 10 sides have been in the competition continuously for more than 130 years. In the NRL, half a dozen clubs either as stand-alones or as merged entities, have been in the competition since its inception in 1908. While this continuity is no doubt comforting for supporters and fans, is it in the best interests of the sports themselves as the population and geographic base has expanded so far? The AFL now incorporates 18 teams from five mainland states while the NRL has 16 teams (17 from next year) from three States, two countries, and one territory. With increasingly strident calls to the AFL for a team from the traditionally very strong Australian Rules state of Tasmania and suggestions that the NRL could increase to 18 franchises with a team from Papua New Guinea — where the game is the national sport — how close are these competitions to becoming too big and unwieldy? While no major football code looking likely to be prepared to take the dramatic step of splitting their comp into “conferences” (geographic zones) as occurs with American Football, how big, is too big? While the vested interests from established clubs, programmers, and broadcasters may oppose a cut-throat yearly promotion and relegation struggle, there is a modified system that may appeal to our top-heavy leagues with their overlong seasons. The old VFL and Sydney rugby league competitions in the 1970s seems a good model. Both had 12 teams with sides playing each other in a home-and-away comp.
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With 22 regular rounds and four weeks set aside for finals, the season filled a neat six-month period in the autumn and winter of each year. How do you then cut down the number of top-flight teams without killing much-loved clubs? You institute two competitions with a first and second division. Both comps, however, would have to have the same salary cap and player draft rules. Unlike in the European football models, the way to avoid so-called “yo-yo clubs” that go up one year and down the next, leading to short-term decision-making from desperate boards either seeking promotion or dreading relegation, the decision is not automatic. Instead, the top team from the second division each year plays a “million-dollar game” against the bottom team from the top division. Only if they defeat the premier league’s wooden spooners, do they get promoted. This model has many benefits. Suddenly, every game in the topflight becomes important as no-one wants to be one game away from relegation. Conversely, the second division immediately becomes more important to not just fans, but to sponsors and broadcasters, as the club who comes out top each year gets a shot at the big league. The other benefit, of course, is that if the second division team wins the play-off match, it is by definition deserving of the spot in the top league of the team that they defeated. A multi-millionaire like John Singleton wants to bring back his beloved North Sydney Bears? All he has to do, is assemble a team of good footballers and a master coach in the lower grade, and go from there. Same with the AFL, a Tasmanian team could start in a lower league and work its way up to the national competition, probably eventually replacing the financial black hole that is the Gold Coast Suns, perpetual bottom place-holders with a derisory fan base in a rugby league heartland. The same could apply to both the A-League and the Super Rugby, while only one team may go up or down every five or six years, the appeal is in that, in the end, if your team’s good enough to beat the top-league wooden spooners, then you’re good enough to take their place in the elite competition.
MAY 19 — 25, 2022
A dominant second-half performance steered Emus to a 28-7 victory over cross-town rivals Orange City in Round Four of the first-grade Blowes Cup on Saturday at Endeavour Oval. It’s Orange City’s fourth consecutive campaign defeat, while Emus now jump into third spot in the standings following their satisfying derby victory. The hosts were looking to bounce back after a loss to Dubbo Roos in Round Three, while Orange City hoped to snap a three-game losing streak. The Lions may have been massive underdogs in this contest, but the orange-and-green gave the home side a few surprises in the early stages of the first half. Emus found themselves on the back foot early, after Orange City’s Nathan Ahkee muscled his way over the line for the opening try. Some poor discipline and mistakes by Emus allowed City to continue to play with more freedom and put their opponents under the pump for 20 minutes. But after the shaky start, the home
side started to play some attractive footy with some quick passes and runs on both flanks. The men in green eventually scored a converted try in the 21st minute through Nigel Staniforth to level the score at 7-all. The Emus continued to grow in confidence. Alexander McNiven crossed over the line to score the home side’s second try in the last 10 minutes of the first half giving Emus a 14-7 lead at the break. The Emus extended their sevenpoint lead in the 46th minute after some sensational passing and quick movement led to their third try of the afternoon. George Jackson scored Emus’ fourth try to secure the victory and cap off a tremendous second-half display. Orange City are yet to register a win this season and remain at the bottom of the competition standings. For the Emus, this derby win couldn’t have come at a better time as they prepare to host undefeated league leaders, Cowra Eagles, this Saturday.
sporting life | OCLife
Local derby fun at Emus vs City — IMAGES BY HENRY DEROOY — All the action from Saturday’s Orange Emus versus Orange City Blowes Cup Rugby local derby game at Emu’s Endeavour Oval won by the home-side in dampish conditions.
MAY 19 — 25, 2022
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OCLife | around the grounds with ANTHONY BARBAGALLO
Central West Premier League Hockey > Women’s division Orange CYMS continue to struggle this season, being defeated 4-0 by an impressive St Pat’s on Saturday at the Orange Hockey Complex. It leaves CYMS sitting at the bottom of the standings with -4 points after forfeiting to Bathurst City in the opening round. Souths recorded a 3-2 victory after a hard-fought contest with Orange United in Round Three at the Bathurst Hockey Complex. It’s United’s second loss of the campaign, with the side now sliding to fifth in the standings.
The result means Barnies now sit in sixth place and will face last-placed Orange CYMS in a local derby on Saturday.
Western Premier League action > Barnies stop Panorama FC’s hot streak
> Dubbo Bulls pile more pain on winless Orange CYMS
Barnstoneworth United is the first team to take points off the unbeaten Panorama FC this season after a nail-biting 1-1 draw in Round Six on Saturday afternoon at Jack Brabham Park.
Dubbo Bulls recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Orange CYMS at Jack Brabham on Sunday.
Barnies were coming off the back of a respectable 1-1 draw with top-side Bathurst ‘75, while league leaders Panorama FC continued their winning streak by easily beating Mudgee Wolves 6-1. Despite Panorama entering the contest as overwhelming favourites, Barnies stunned their opponents by scoring the opener inside the first five minutes.
Former Socceroos star makes Bathurst ‘75 debut in Western Premier League
Controlling the possession for almost the entire first half, a costly mistake inside the Barnies defensive unit led to a Panorama equaliser just before the halftime whistle.
Orange-born Nathan Burns made his Western Premier League debut on Saturday, during Bathurst ‘75’s 1-0 victory over Lithgow Workies.
The contest turned into a stalemate in the second 45, giving the home side a crucial point against the unstoppable force of Panorama. It also breaks the Goats’ four-game winning streak in the 2022 Western Premier League. 48 ORANGE CITY LIFE
While the 2020 premiers are still to hit top gear this season, the Bulls still dominated the possession and showed their clinical finishing against a struggling CYMS outfit. Unfortunately, this is CYMS’ fifth loss of their 2022 campaign.
The star recruit hadn’t played professionally since 2019 when he was with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. The former Blayney football product earned 25 caps for the Socceroos during |
MAY 19 — 25, 2022
his professional footballing career.
AFL Central West first-grade action
Bathurst Giants edged out a 86-81 victory over a brave Orange Tigers in Round Three of the AFL Central West Tier 1 on Saturday at George Park, Bathurst.
After the Bathurst Giants kicked six goals to the Tigers’ one in the opening two quarters, the home side pulled out to a 15-point lead before halftime. But in the second half, Bathurst started to lose their firm grip on the match and buckled under the Tigers’ intensified attack. The away side placed further pressure on their opponents, kicking eight goals in the second half and it seemed a Tigers’ comeback was on the horizon. But a couple of behinds and three late goals from the Giants put an end to those hopes as the home side ran away with their first win of the season.
The second half was oneway traffic, the Panthers continuing their assault on the Hawks’ goal-line. Two more tries to Desmond Doolan and three late tries steered the home side to a commanding victory. The result could have been worse for the visitors if the Panthers didn’t miss four of their nine conversions. The two blues will quickly need to regroup before hosting Bathurst St Pat’s in Round Six this weekend. > Orange CYMS topple Lithgow Workies to secure fourth straight win Orange CYMS secured their fourth consecutive victory in the 2022 Peter McDonald Premiership, beating Group 10’s last-placed Lithgow Workies 22-12 at Wade Park on Sunday afternoon. Orange CYMS started brightly and looked in control at the outset of the contest. But it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Ryan Jervis to create some early tension.
> Late Orange Tigers charge not enough against Bathurst Giants
It was a tale of two halves, with the Giants dominating the kicking game inside the first two quarters and the Orange Tigers responding strongly in the contest’s final moments.
open with more quick-fire tries before the break.
The lead was short-lived though, as CYMS hit back through a try from Ethan McKellar.
Rugby League: Peter McDonald Premiership action > Bathurst Panthers hammer Orange Hawks Bathurst Panthers put on a dominant performance against the Orange Hawks, winning 46-4 at Carrington Park on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks, still reeling from their derby loss to Orange CYMS, looked rattled after early tries from Panthers’ winger, Desmond Doolan. And things only got worse for the visitors when the Panthers burst the game
Lithgow’s Ryan Jervis then went over the white-wash a second time to give the Wolves a 12-6 lead. But once again, the home side responded swiftly through captain Lachlan Munro to level the game. While a Lithgow upset still looked possible at this stage of the contest, the momentum shifted the CYMS’ way in the second stanza. The green-and-gold wore down a resolute Lithgow defence to grind out a 10-point victory. CYMS extended their undefeated streak and remain top of the Group 10 table following this gritty performance. Daniel Mortimer’s side can now look forward to a week’s rest with the bye in Round Six.
sporting life | OCLife
Saints FC now contenders for Orange A-grade football By Anthony Barbagallo
Saints FC have started the 2022 local A-grade football competition in emphatic fashion consistently blowing away their opponents with mesmerising football.
ball possession movements in training sessions this year; it’s made a huge difference when playing against the tougher A-grade teams,” Scott said. This Saints side is now a possession-based team that can build from the back and launch devastating attacking plays, which has hurt numerous A-grade teams so far this season.
Currently sitting in first place, this team’s fine form makes them one of the strongest candidates for the first-grade title. Founded by Richard Smeal, Saints FC has emerged as one of the most competitive football clubs across all Orange and District Football Association divisions in recent times. Despite the purple-and-whites having won second and third-grade trophies in their short history, the A-grade title remains elusive. Following last year’s average performances and the disruptions caused by COVID, the Saints have used the off-season to bolster their squad with key signings and look to alter their identity on the pitch. Club president and player, Scott Würzer, believes this year’s Saints FC team has great potential to go the distance in the first-grade championship. “Our ambition this season is to go all the way and win the ODFA first-grade premiership. Some new players have brought unity and different skills to the squad, and it is translating to our performances on
Another footballing technique that has helped the purple-and-whites reach the summit of Orange’s first division is their ability to overload the opposition’s 18-yard box through their fast forwards closing the space.
the field,” Scott said. Saints also used their pre-season preparations to work on their previously mediocre playing style. With former Barnies playmakers joining Saints before the new campaign, the team’s style of play has shown more dynamism and technicality. “We have been working hard on our passes and
But while Saints FC excels in all departments on the field, their greatest weapon is star striker Talby Upton. A clinical centre-forward, Upton is a lethal poacher that poses an aerial threat off set-pieces and is hard to neutralise in other attacking situations; he recently proved this after scoring four goals in the 9-0 win over KWS Firsts in Round Four. So far, the Saints have marched on and beaten top-sides Barnies United, Waratahs FC, and Barnies Beyond Blue. Cowra Eagles, however, have been the only team to slow this momentum after beating the Saints 3-2 in Round Three at Edgell Park.
MAY 19 — 25, 2022
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