SPORT Bags full from long weekend ON THE BITE Chris Pitman
Picture: REBECCA HOSKING
OAM for our hockey guru By Luke Voogt Highton’s Claire Barnes has been swamped with phone calls and texts since winning recognition for her service to local hockey. The goal-keeping granny won an Order of Australia over the Queen’s birthday long weekend. “It’s a huge honour,” she said, ahead of running a junior training session. “It was really a delight to receive the notification.” “It’s lovely when people who haven’t played with the club for some time come and say congratulations - it really adds to the pleasure of the award.”
Claire turns 63 Monday and has played for Newtown City Hockey Club for 40 years. She said the award was great publicity for the sport. “It gives hockey as a whole a bit more promotion. If we can let people know hockey is alive and well in Newtown that would be great.” The Newtown City president has held a variety of positions for the club and Hockey Geelong. She has umpired, coached and co-ordinated junior seasons, and saved goals since the mid-80s. “(As a goal keeper) you can see the whole field and what happens,” she said. “It’s a bit of thrill when you actually stop a goal.” “I’m hoping to get to 700 games this season -
I’m currently at 685 or thereabouts.” Claire has two daughters who play and she hopes to keep the family tradition going. “My eldest daughter just had a baby, but he’s only a few months old. So he’s not quite ready to play yet.” Claire said anyone could play hockey. Until recently the club had a 71-year-old goal keeper, she said. “You can keep playing for quite a long time." She encouraged locals to give the sport a go. “Next week is actually National Hockey Week, so it’s actually quite an opportune time. We’d love to invite people to come out and try a game.
Mounting losses moving Warriors towards relegation By Josip Zilic
WONDERER: Warriors coach Micky Colina ponders what might have been after last round's loss. (Ivan Dugandzic)
North Geelong Warriors suffered another loss to further damage its chances of avoiding relegation with a 3-1 loss to Bulleen last week. Up next, they travel away again, this time to Port Melbourne on Saturday night. Port has become somewhat resilient and recent draws to top six teams Oakleigh and Green Gully will no doubt give it a level of confidence. Against Bulleen there was a lift in intensity from the Warriors who were combining better than in recent weeks. However, it was a crucial turnover that cost them to lose a player when Matt Thorne was easily dispossessed in the middle of park, Jordan Templin received the through ball and was goalbound, Darren Lewis was adjudged to have held him back and sent off for his trouble, what the referee didn’t notice was that the linesperson had already called for offside on Templin which accounted for nothing. Doing well at 0-0, the Warriors experienced
some further controversy when an offside call was missed allowing Oliver White receive a well weighted ball to simply tap past Marko Stevanja. With fire in their belly, the Warriors kept coming and pegged one back on 67 mins when Nicholas Jurcic crossed from left of the area to find the incoming Andrew Doig who chested down from Josh Pugh to drill home. Soon after, Bulleen began to dominate more, and on 76 mins took the lead again when Jordan Templin tried to barge his way through the defensive line, the ball bobbled around and seemed to hit his hand as he advanced through to drill past Stevanja, but calls for handball were waved away. The final nail was driven in on 83 mins when Luke Gallo was the beneficiary of a low cross wide of goal that was flicked on in front the Warriors defence to the waiting Gallo to tap in. There are further opportunities to try and lever back some points and make for a grandstand finish however time is drawing quick with nine rounds to go.
.05 DRINK O$2FF0 DRIVER PROGRAM
PROGRAMS OR ASSESSMEN TS (q uote ad)
Commences each month Call
1800 654 332 or 9654 3321 Human Services Accreditation No 95/049.
1208399-PB48-15
STICKABILITY: Claire Barnes has been fielding congratulatory calls since her OAM was announced on Monday. 169541
Anglers made the most of the long weekend, getting stuck into a wide mix of species. Whiting to more than 40cm were taken off St Leonards, with evenings and pippie baits working best. The town’s pier produced squid on size-three artificial jigs cast around the lights at night. Corio Bay remained the standout location, especially for sort plastics anglers chasing salmon and pinkies from Geelong’s waterfront to the entrance of the grammar school lagoon. Andrew Whitford spent another cold night out on the bay for a snapper of 4kg. Garfish were taken at the rocks at Limeburners Point and St Helens on silverfish under a stick float. Surf beaches continued producing Australian salmon, with Bancoora and 13th hot spots on the run in tide. The beaches also gave up gummy shark on fresh squid strips at night. Many anglers travelled down the coast to chase school tuna on skirted lures off Portland and Port Fairy. Barrel-size fish were boated out from Apollo Bay. The estuaries produced good numbers of bream and estuary perch on vibe-style lures and Z-Man Grubz. Lake Purrumbete was a popular destination, with anglers snagging a variety of fish. Redfin were a prime target for anglers who rounded up schools to jig with soft plastics, while big brown trout snapped up lures trolled or cast along the east bank at first or last light. Lake Bullen Merri was consistent for Chinook salmon. Trolling 13.5g Tassie Devils down deep with the aid of a downrigger worked best. Stony Creek Reservoir was solid for trout and redfin. Brown trout just on 1kg took Paco spoons cast from the lake margins, while bait anglers also found browns along with the odd rainbow trout. Next week could provide some worthwhile squid action in 3m to 4m off Clifton Springs, along with good fishing for salmon along local surf beaches on incoming tides. Cruising our coastline for big tuna could also be worthwhile, while freshwater anglers should head to Lake Bullen Merri for its consistent Chinook salmon.
27 GEELONG INDY Friday, 16 June, 2017