SPORTCORE
Sports photography
MEL POCKNALL
Our Sports Columnist GEOFF MANN geoff.mann@dubbophotonews.com.au
Last hop on the home paddock for the Roos DUBBO Kangaroos will need to win their next three games if they are to reclaim the Blowes Cup they won in 2014. After a gruelling encounter at Platypii Park in Forbes last Saturday, the Roos went down 29-18. They will face a Bathurst Bulldogs side still yapping about their unbelievable 39-34 extra time win against Orange City. Dubbo and Bathurst are old rivals. The Dogs have had the measure of the local boys in most of their Grand Final clashes over the past 20-odd years so there is plenty of motivation for the Roos to redress the imbalance. The clubs only met once this season, in Round 2 at Victoria Park when the Roos won handsomely, however the Bulldogs have momentum following their miraculous victory on Sunday. Trailing 27-0 at half-time and then 34-12 well into the second half, the boys in blue and gold raced in four late tries to force extra time and then added another to seal an incredible 39-34 win. Roos players thrive on support from the sideline so dress up in your red and blue, get into Vic Park early on Sunday and “Roo, Roo, Roo�.
Roos fans will be hoping to see John MaďŹ afa plant the ball over the line on Sunday. “MaďŹ aâ€? has been a crowd-pleaser since arriving at the club earlier this year.
St Pius takes silver!
Back, Lillian Beatty, Abby Jones, Millie Gooch, Clare Amor, front, Dakota Jones, Alyssa Ellis, Lanie Mears, Merryn Chapman. Inset: Coach Mrs Therese Jones 30
DRESSED in their stylish new uniforms, the team from St Pius X in West Dubbo turned on a performance to match. St Pius might be the smallest Catholic Primary School in Dubbo but their outstanding display to win a spot in the Bathurst Diocesan netball final is commendable. Coach Therese Jones says the students, who have been together most of their lives, played above themselves against the likes of the much larger schools like Catherine McCauley Primary and St Mary’s in Orange, and the three Bathurst schools. “I am so proud of them. We didn’t have enough to field a totally Year 6 team, so two of the Year 5 girls stepped up and lifted accordingly. As a teacher it was wonderful to watch them run on in their new dresses. The They discussed the sty style and design and tthe uniforms were a talking point on the day.� Therese praised tthe older students w who ran additional tr training sessions at scho school. “The were so motivat“They ed!� she said. “It was beautiful to see the way they involved the less experienced girls. That added a lot to their memorable play throughout the day and the experience of being in the final.�
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