Sport
Plater to coach the Roosters in 2023 Three cricket grand finals One of the most talented rugby league of size we would love to get another front rowfootballers to play in Cobar, Thomas Plater, er or second rower to firm up our forward pack. has been appointed as the new Roosters “We also lost our halfback in Jimmy Neyland First Grade Coach. from last year but I am hopeful that Lochlan Plater has more than proved himself on the Ford will be able to fill that void.” field since he debuted in 2021 with the Roost- Plater describes his coaching as a mix of ers First Grade team. styles. Playing at Hooker, Plater instantly made a “I will try to bring a modern approach to our huge impact in his first hit-out at the Castle- attacking game plan and a traditional, tough reagh 2021 preseason knockout, and he contin- approach to our defence,” Plater said. ued to impress throughout that season (which “First and foremost, I would like my players was cut short by COVID restrictions) where he to have an enjoyable season. Enjoying yourself earnt the Club Best & Fairest award as well as in footy comes from working hard as a team the Castlereagh Player of the Year award. towards a shared goal. Last season he was part of the Premiership “That shared goal is obviously to win another winning side, and was the Roosters’ Most Con- premiership but we need to start with small sistent and Highest Point Scorer of the season. steps like giving preseason training our all and Plater will head up the First Grade team for starting the season strong. their assault on the 2023 Christie & Hood Cas- “We can achieve this by getting numbers to tlereagh Rugby League competition, taking training, being willing to do the hard work, over from Loma Atuau, who led the side to listening and accepting what we need to do to grand final victory last season. improve and using our close mateship to build He co-captained alongside Atuau last year cohesion on and off the field,” he said. and said they’ve talked about him taking over Preseason training has begun and Plater rethe coaching role this season. ports they have been getting good numbers at “Loma is looking forward to being able to the twice weekly sessions. focus on his own footy without the pressure of “We have been doing a mix of field, pool and directing the team around,” Plater said. gym sessions,” he said. “Currently, most of the team look like they Roosters club president, Chris Deighton said will be playing again, although we have had Plater was a “great fit for the job”. some notable losses due to moving or retiring,” “He’s earned the respect of the players and Plater said. when you have that respect, it makes it 10 “These include David Watson, Ben Simon times easier to coach,” Deighton said. and James Neyland. Tristan Everett seems to “He’s passionate about the game and, as a think he has retired but I think we will get an- school teacher, he’s also going to bring plenty other year out of the old boy. After losing a bit of structure to the role.”
Based right here in Cobar
We have plenty of trailers in stock Single Tandem Flat Tops Axles Axles & Tippers Trailers also available for hire
We also stock TGB Quad Bikes for all your work & play needs
Page 14 The Cobar Weekly Wednesday February 15, 2023
Continued from Page 16. In reply, Tilpa Bushies got off to a slow start, with Jade Buckman being dismissed for just five runs. Alec Fraser and James McClure tried to steady the ship but couldn’t build a big partnership. Jacob King scored a quick-fire six runs, from a six, before being dismissed. The innings was taken into hand by Matthew Nicholson (16 not out) and Robert Childs (5 not out) with their unbeaten partnership seeing Tilpa Bushies over the line with three overs to spare. In the bowling department, Jacob King was the standout performer for Tilpa Bushies, taking two wickets for just 12 runs in four overs. Robert Childs and Zac Broughton also chipped in with two wickets each. For Bourke DCA, Mark Fraser and Anthony Mitchell took a wicket each. Tilpa Bushies face the competition’s defending champions, Whackers, this Friday night in the Twenty20 grand final. In the 40 Overs competition, Golf Club faced off against Empire Billy Goats on Saturday and the result was a nail-biting finish with Golf Club taking the win by 28 runs. Golf Club batted first and set a total of 150 with Jake Harbison, who scored 48 runs and Jason Hampel, who contributed 34 runs, their top performers. Jay Egan was the star performer with the ball for Empire Billy Goats, taking three wickets for 15 runs. Lic # MD057428 In the second innings, Empire Billy Goats ABN 50 021 709 070 started off on the back foot, losing early wickets. Thomas Plater was the standout with the bat, scoring 39 runs. However, the team total of 122 runs was not enough to chase down Golf Club’s score of 150, with Lakshmi Maddipati being the chief destroyer for Golf Club with five wickets for just 12 runs. The two teams face each other again next Saturday in the grand final and, despite Saturday’s loss, Empire are tipped as the slight Stuart favourites.—contributed
0427 362 574 Kaila 0427 783 343
All Deadlines—2pm Mondays