Thursday January 28, 2010 – Riverland Weekly • 39
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Win three sets before he does. That’s what I’ll be trying to do. ~ Lleyton Hewitt
Second meet at Sunline ■ SPEEDWAY returns to the Riverland on Saturday when Waikerie’s Sunline track holds its second meeting for the season. And it looms as one of the biggest for some time as astute organisers grab a spin-off from the Australian AMCA Championships that attracted over 70 vehicles to Murray Bridge last weekend. Thirty nine cars from SA, WA, Tasmania, NSW and NT are to appear in the SA AMCA Nationals Championship at Waikerie. Junior sedans will also be on the program with 26 to compete, so because of the large number of cars involved, there looks like only being room for the two classes on the night. The program will contain some 30 races. Gates open at 1.30pm with racing from 6pm. Admission is $18 for adults and $38 for family. Full catering facilities are available with strictly no alcohol to be taken through the gates. The next meeting at the Riverland Club’s Calperum Hill track will be held on Saturday, February 6, and will also boast an action packed program. Features will be the SA Production title, Riverland street stock championship, wingless sprints, AMCAs and vintage speedcars.
The number of consecutive Dinghy Derbies Linton Price has won.
SPORT
Special year for the ‘Dees ■ A RECENT trend in Riverland A grade football has seen Waikerie and Renmark celebrate their centenaries with premierships in the past two seasons. 2010, Berri Football Club centenary? The Demons will hold their special celebrations on the weekend June 25 to 27. Starting on the Friday night, there will be the launch of a special centenary book, unveiling of a one off guernsey, memorabilia displays, merchandise on sale and, of course, the start of a lot of chat, reminiscing and socialising. Berri plays Loxton in A grade, seconds and thirds on the Saturday at home and then at night, the Berri Resort Hotel will host a Centenary Dinner. Tickets at $50 will be limited, so watch for bookings at the hotel for a night of interviews, videos, the presentation of the club’s Hall of Fame and a silent auction of centenary guernseys. Sunday speaks for itself. Recovery amidst an all day breakfast at the clubrooms and a chance to watch the Demons’ future with the under 13s and 15s playing Loxton. The centenary committee appointed represents a Who’s Who of the Berri Football Club, with stalwarts in president Barry Leathers, Bob Warland and one of the Riverland’s best organised organisers Tom Hayes, joined by a host of premiership coaches, Malcolm Hill who masterminded four flags, Tim Jackson, Terry Fisher and outstand-
Heinicke’s home run ■ A RETURN to the sport after a layoff of some three seasons has resulted in Barmera’s Damien Heinicke celebrating a rare home run in last Friday’s baseball clash against Berri. Club coach and Riverland baseball stalwart Kym Bament, who had Damien in his squad in the years of the Pirates Junior Development team, says “he has not normally been known as a home run hitter and this may well be his first”. Heinicke has also been prominent in athletics and football but injury, including a shoulder problem, has kept him out of baseball for some time, although he has regularly turned up to watch. Under gentle persuasion from the coach he finally agreed to suit up again and now he has achieved his home run, which, by the way, did not prevent his Lakers going down 8-9 to the reigning premiers. Ladder leader, Barmera trailed 2-6 early, recovered to lead 8-6 but a wild pitch in the concluding stages cost them dearly. By the way, Kym Bament is apparently looking to swell the baseballer ranks by encouraging a number of young medical students, who are working in the area, to enter the sport. Baseball is fortunate to have the former Port Adelaide baseballer, as he is surely one of the region’s most astute and capable administrators.
ing former players Roger Nettle, the 1964 Whillas Medalist, and Brian Thiele. Berri has been one of our most successful clubs, boasting 24 A grade premierships and many great players. The legendary Harold Oliver, Grant Foley, Terry Fisher, Bill Harris and Malcolm Hill were all named in the RFL Champions Team of the Century last year. As far as the 2010 premiership is concerned, there will be a ton of pressure on the Demons to deliver for their supporters in view of what has occurred in the past two seasons. Impressive new coach Rod Hankin knows all about winning flags but it would need a massive improvement, as the club has not lifted the A grade cup since 2002 and were out of the four in 2009. And it may also need the injection of a couple of class players (a matter that may in fact have been addressed if you listen to Vaughan Terrace rumours). Despite all that history tells us, the Demons will give their centenary year their best shot both on and off the ground as they strive to have their grand old red and blue flag flying as high as they can in 2010. ■ HEAD: Rod Hankin will be in charge of Berri’s A grade premiership assault in the club’s centenary year. Photo: FILE
McCulloch appointed State under 18 coach ■ LOCAL junior basketball coach Ben McCulloch has been appointed as an assistant coach of the state under 18 girls team to play in the national championships in April. As well as McCulloch, the Riverland has had a number of its junior players involved in carnivals at Port Macquarie and AlburyWodonga over the past couple of weeks. At Port Macquarie, the eighth annual Pacific Coast Slam involved under 15 and 17 boys and girls teams from NSW Coun-
try, NSW Metropolitan, Victoria Country, SA Country, Queensland and New Zealand. Shortly after that the Australian Country Junior Cup, which evolved from a meeting of SA, NSW and Victorian Country representatives over 21 years ago, was staged at Albury-Wodonga. Today it has developed to 60 teams from all over Australia, plus 12 from New Zealand and China playing at under 14, 16 and 18 age groups for boys and girls. There are two sections of five teams in each age division with
the top two from each section going through to the finals, first playing second in crossovers to decide the grand finalists. Our players would have gained valuable experience from their involvement, particularly in the Albury-Wodonga event, which has produced many outstanding performers. Sadly Berri’s highly promising Stacey Pront injured a knee during that carnival and will be sidelined for some time. As a result Stacey will be unavailable for the Riverland divi-
sion one women’s team that with division one men and masters men’s sides will compete in the state country championships this weekend at Wayville. Last weekend, Riverland had 11 teams amongst 88 competing in the annual Starplex Junior Carnival in Gawler and came away with titles in the under 12 division two girls, division two under 14 girls and division three under 14 boys. Loxton’s Jordan Jachmann took out the most valuable player award for Under 14 girls.
Dunhill: Twenty20 cricket too batsman friendly, bowler support a must ■ FOLLOWING last week’s article on the enormous impact of Twenty20 cricket on attendances at our major grounds, television audiences and indeed right here in our region’s competitions, I had a call from respected Riverland sports historian, Renmark’s David Dunhill. And gee, he made some interesting points. David considers the balance between bat and ball in this short version of the game is way out of whack.
He queried why a batsman could bash on for 20 overs if he was lucky enough but a poor old trundler could only deliver four overs. We agreed that in the main, people wanted to see runs and plenty of sixes, but honestly, I have often wondered about the lot of the bowler in the reduced forms of the sport. So much so that I have even considered adding a donation to my annual subscription to the ‘bowl-
ers union’. David’s main focus for concern surrounded the middle to lower order batsman who did not get a hit in only 20 overs and was not a bowler. We agreed that in the professional game, at top level, anyone who fell into that category probably could not care less because they received their pay packet in any case. But what about the amateur, like here in our region? How attractive, long
term, would no bat, no bowl, no pay – only chasing leather, in perhaps hot weather, be? I reckon David has a point. Why not at our level have a restriction on the batters’ time at the crease? Surely having the nine, 10 and ‘jack’ wielding the willow in the frantic chase for runs could only add to the fun and excitement of the contest. But of course those that labeled cricket the ‘gentleman’s game’ had batsmen in mind at the time, so any thought of
them not being able to continue to dominate the scene unrestricted will have their union puffing on their cigars and pouring an extra port. But I don’t care, I reckon David Dunhill has a valid suggestion on how Twenty20 cricket ‘amateur’ style could be improved for the benefit of participants and followers. How do you place limitations on batters? No idea. But I bet David Dunhill has.