WNBL in the Valley this weekend Success for BASKETBALL WNBL By GREGOR MACTAGGART
THE Latrobe Valley is poised to play host to a Women’s National Basketball League doubleheader on Saturday. The Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium will be the venue for the two clashes. The first is between the Sydney Uni Flames and Perth Lynx at 2.30pm, with the Melbourne Boomers and Canberra Capitals to square-off in the later game at 5pm. The Capitals will have plenty of local support with Traralgon export Jade Melbourne a key part of the line-up. Latrobe City Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan said the matches would provide great exposure for the region to a wider audience. “We’re also excited to showcase our world class sporting infrastructure like the GRISS to the whole nation and attract more big-time sport to our expanding major events calendar,” O’Callaghan said. This event is the first step of a basketball bonanza throughout this month, with NBL club South-East Melbourne Phoenix playing the Adelaide 36ers on Tuesday, January 25. “Bringing the NBL and WNBL to town in the same month builds on our growing reputation as a regional sporting hub of national significance, and we can’t wait to welcome all the clubs to town in January,” Cr O’Callaghan said. Most interest does surround the presence of Melbourne in the Capitals line-up. Canberra sits second on the ladder with a 3-1 record, trailing Adelaide Lightning by inferior points’ differential. The Opals representative has been an influential cog in that bright start, averaging 11.5
Home return: Traralgon export Jade Melbourne and her Canberra Capitals will play a WNBL clash in the Valley this Saturday afternoon. photograph supplied points, 3.5 rebounds and an assist per game.
But the Boomers (6-2) will present a test, especially with Ezi Magbegor (14.8 points, 7.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game) and Cayla George (12.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game) in outstanding form. The trip to Traralgon does loom as a crunch clash for the Flames and Lynx, who are both striving for a first win of the season. The Lynx’s campaign has been hamstrung by border issues, while the Flames are yet to hit their straps under new coach Shane Heal. Heal, the former Australian Boomers and NBA ace, is starting to have an impact when it comes to his team’s identity, run the break, play full-court defence and shoot from outside the arc. Organisers have said that team schedules may be subject to change due to the fluid nature of COVID-19 restrictions (as best seen in the Big Bash League cricket), but are hopeful just days out from tip-off that all four sides will be in the Valley on Saturday. Tickets are available at https://wnbl.basketball/ tickets In the gold section, prices are adult $18, junior (4-16 years) $8.95, concession $13.95 and a family of four for $43.95. In the silver section, prices are adult $13.95, junior (4-16 years) $7, concession $10 and a family of four for $33.95. There is also a $4.95 one-off handling fee per transaction. CURRENT SCHEDULE WNBL ACTION AT GIPPSLAND REGIONAL INDOOR SPORTS STADIUM,TRARALGON 2.30pm: Sydney Uni Flames v Perth Lynx. 5pm: Melbourne Boomers v Canberra Capitals.
local trainers
HORSE RACING
LATROBE Valley thoroughbred trainers have enjoyed a successful week across Victoria. Yesterday’s Stony Creek meeting saw the good times keep rolling for the training partnership of Paul and Tracey Templeton. High Done ($5.50) scored an impressive all-the-way win in the Fish Creek Hotel Benchmark 58 Handicap (1700m). The six-year-old son of High Chaparral relished the drop back in trip after finishing runner-up at Yarra Valley at his previous outing, with jockey Jason Maskiell dictating proceedings throughout on the way to a 2 1/4 length victory. The Templeton stable is certainly firing on all cylinders with Changing Tracks getting the job done in good fashion at Geelong on Boxing Day and the mercurial Joltin’ Joe running a slashing second at Moonee Valley on New Year’s Eve. Trafalgar-based hoop Maskiell also combined with Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis for a winner at Cranbourne on January 2. Mark down Titan Of Choice as a horse to follow after the three-year-old son of Extreme Choice scored a stylish two-length win in the Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Maiden Plate (1200m). It was the first-up run of his second preparation after four appearances as a two-year-old, which produced one third from four starts. Stablemate Long Arm ran a good third in the Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day. Ally’s Reward, who scored an emotional win for the Douch family at Traralgon on Cup Day in late November, landed the fifth win of her 53-start career at Stony Creek. The nine-year-old mare took out the Ladbrokes Switch Benchmark 58 Handicap (2100m).
Stars shine at Classic Singles BOWLS ENERGYAUSTRALIA CLASSIC SINGLES By MICHAEL HOLROYD
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Elite: The EnergyAustralia Classic Singles has attracted high profile players such as Australian representative James Reynolds. photographs liam durkin
MONDAY EXPRESS ADVERTISING Bookings: Wednesday 12noon
EnergyAustralia Classic Singles Final 32 Draw A Eng (Yarraville-Footscray) v S Cannington (Melbourne); R Jansen (MCC) v T Shannon (Essendon);T Cullinane (Heathmont) v T Schiavello (Bundoora RSL); D Morrison (MCC) v N Schiavello (Bundoora RSL); M Prosenica (Melbourne) v G Van Vugt (Pakenham); A Dalli (Mitcham) v B Hubber (Bundoora RSL); E Miller (Brunswick) v M Adams (Mornington); D Carroll (Heathmont) v G Spencer (Beaumaris); N Bush (Deer Park) v N Lewis (Moonee Valley); D Mars (Middle Park) v P Tirant (Yarra Glen); B Watt (Whittlesea) v T Blackburn (Webbcona), F Krslovic (Rosebud Beach) v J Reynolds (Canberra), C Veenendaal (Mitcham) v S Pallot (Moe), W Morris (West Sale) v P Dodd (Lilydale), H Cortenbach (Mooroolbark) v R Dennis (Merrylands NSW), I Ewing (Brunswick) v T Ristic (MCC).
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Eyes on the prize: Traralgon bowler Kirsty Van Den Hoff prepares to launch during the Classic Singles.
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THE EnergyAustralia Classic Singles commenced at Newborough Bowling Club on Monday, with a full field of 96 top bowlers from throughout Victoria, along with Rohan Dennis and Alan Fawcett from New South Wales and James Reynolds from the ACT taking part. Players were placed in 32 sections of three players with each person playing games against the other two players in their section and marking the third game in their section. Steve Pallot from Moe was the only Latrobe Valley player remaining after the section play despite a number of locals performing well on the greens. Reynolds, a former Australian representative player, won his section and defeated Jayde Leech from Moe fresh from winning the Strzelecki North State Singles. Dennis, from Merrylands, also won his section after defeating Stephen Adams from Karingal. Eight ladies entered this year including Kirsty Van Den Hoff from Traralgon and Sarah Ashby from Newborough. Despite performing admirably, Trish Cullinane from Heathmont was the only lady winning through to the last 32 following her defeat of Brendan McCallum (Hampton). The winners of the past two years, Nathan Bush (Deer Park) and Thor Shannon (Essendon) won through and are hot favourites to play-off in the final tomorrow. They will face opposition from former winners Tony Schiavello (Bundoora RSL) and Ray Jansen (Melbourne Cricket Club), who are both keen for another win. Bob Watt (Whittlesea) won the Prelude to the Classic last week and continued his good form to win his section. Andrew Dalli (Mitcham) and Todd Blackburn from Webbcona won on their first visit to Newborough. Blackburn was a late entry after a number of players withdrew due to illness and performed the best of the five players who came down with former local Gary Johnson, now based at Webbcona in Ballarat. The stage is set for the last 32 players to engage in five rounds of knockout play today and tomorrow. Spectators are welcome, with free admission.
The Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 5 January, 2022 — Page 31
