Page 24 The Moorabool News – 30 November, 2021
Cobras have finger on finals pulse By Todd Whelan Bacchus Marsh Coach Tom German believes a recent injection of sound leadership and quality personnel will see the Cobras in finals contention once again in 2022. While the external narrative in this current off-season has circled around the exit of up to nine senior players, Cobra fans will be pleased to know the reinforcements have arrived. Former Werribee and Camperdown key defender Jack Williams joins the club to sure up an unsettled back six, given the untimely departures of Ryan Bartlett (work), Tom Wardell (Dunnstown), Kane White (Skipton) and Tim Hughes (Skipton). Williams, a former Hampden League Team of the Year selection, is considered to be 'top end' talent and looms an exciting prospect for the red, yellow and black. Joining Williams across half back is former Victorian Amateurs representative Michael Colliver who will provide the run and carry with his aerobic ability (Personal Trainer) and above average foot skills, softening the blow left by Lachie Christopher who has returned home to Mansfield. Experienced power forward Reg Hickman has arrived at the Cobras to add flexibility to a dangerous front half, again filling a void left by Jaydn Owen (younger brother of Jake) who has returned to Gisborne. Hickman, Colliver and Williams especially have already shown the necessary leadership qualities that will aid German in his second year in charge, with a focus on developing youth. Max Eastmure has made the journey from Torquay, adding further depth to a well credentialed midfield trio that finished one, two, three in the 2021 Cobras Best and Fairest (Daniel Burton, Nick Stuhldrier, Tom German). The 19-year old's 186cm frame brings added size and potential grunt around stoppage as the youngster plies his trade under the watchful eye of an experienced leadership group. Also committing to the club for 2022 to bolster the defence is Ryan Chandler from Hillside in the Essendon Football League. Chandler returns to footy after a lay-off pursuing a boxing career. Sam Crea has also arrived from Glen Orden (Div 2 Western Region FL) as a potential rotation prospect through the midfield but is likely to spend a majority of his time forward. Crea won Glen Orden's 2016 Best and Fairest (Div 3 WRFL) and was rewarded with selection in the competition's Team of the Year. And finally, to round out a busy month in the market place, the Cobras welcome back handy winger Daniel Foley after a successful stint with Melton Centrals. The immediate football playing futures of Bryce Carroll, Logan Blundell, Josh Martin and Jackson Kirley remain doubtful at this stage due to injury, ongoing work and or family commitments. Pressure small forward Billy Griffiths has also notified the club of his intentions to play with Gordon in the Central Highlands Football League, much to the disappointment of German. "It wasn't through lack of effort on our part to keep him, but unfortunately these things happen in footy," he said. "We wish him (Billy) all the best."
Ballan Golf Club Results - Week ending Saturday 27 November Wednesday – Stableford Winner - Jimmy Walsh (20) 38 points. R/up - Les Martin (17) 35 points. Magpie - 14th John McLeod. NTPs - 12th Kev Lockman, 15th Jimmy Walsh (Hole in one). Saturday – Stableford A GRADE: Winner - Chris Tudor (11) 35 points on c/b from Frank Raffaele (10). B GRADE: Winner - Hugh Miller (16) 35 points. R/up - Jimmy Walsh (20) 33 points. NTPs - 12th Bob Arklay, 15th Aggy Germon. Magpies - 14th Pat Clifford, 18th Jason Bonar. Balls 5 Cut-off 33 points Chris Tudor, Frank Raffaele, Hugh Miller, Travis Preston, Jimmy Walsh.
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Adelle hits right note on debut By Tim O’Connor (HRV) A well-travelled trotter that once spent time with the late great Gavin Lang, bobbed up to win at massive odds for champion horsewoman Kerryn Manning on Saturday night. Having her first start for the Great Western trainer-driver, Adelle ($26) forecast a promising future in the Victorian squaregaiting ranks with a narrow but tough success in the Reliance Real Estate Trot. The daughter of Orlando Vici has only been with Manning just over a month, but she headed to Tabcorp Park Melton confident of a good showing after some exciting signs on the training track. "She's been working really, really good at home. Works like a really nice horse," Manning said of the former New Zealander. "I've watched her replays and she either goes really good or she gallops. So, I was hoping tonight she went really good and, yep, we got that. "She's been (with me) long enough to get a good grounding on the track and obviously came from racing, so she was fairly forward. I didn’t have to do a lot with her to get her fit.” Manning settled the five-year-old midfield in the running line from her back row draw and peeled three-wide down the back straight the final time. She loomed up to early leader Swiss Miss and race favourite Hopeful Beauty approaching the turn, but took until the last 50m to wrest the lead and win the race. Adelle had one start for Andy Gath in October after joining his team from the New South Wales stables of Blake Fitzpatrick. Lang first got the horse from New Zealand in 2019 and won all of his three runs with her. Manning felt Adelle would likely measure up to the open metropolitan trotting mares here in Victoria. "It's hard to say. She works at home like she is (up to them)," Manning said. "She ran home in 28-something at home the other day and nobody at home has done that for a long time. And she did it quite nicely. "Obviously at the races there's a bit more pressure, it’s a bit
Tabcorp Park Saturday 27 November Race 2 winner: Adelle (9) driven and trained by Kerryn Manning. Photo: Stuart McCormick.
different, but if she has a nice run in those sorts of races, I think she'll keep up no worries. Whether she's good enough to beat those sorts of horses I don’t know, but time will tell. "She's heading in the right direction, and she gives me the feel that she will be competitive in better races." The victory was one of two on the night for Manning, who teamed up with Shaun McNaulty-trained Yorkshire to win the TAB Long May We Play Claiming Masters. And she was just denied a treble in the night's feature event, the Equine Effect Westburn Grant Free For All, when Torrid Saint poked his nose in front near the post to deny Bettor Be The Bomb back-to-back victories. Amazingly, it was the third time in a row the pair had run the quinella, with Torrid Saint taking a 2-1 lead in those battles after reversing the finish from the Catanach's Jewellers Pace on November 19. The triumph completed a double for driver Jack Laugher and trainer Julie Douglas, who earlier won the DNR Logistics Pace with talented former Kiwi Rick Reilly. And there were smiles all around for Mick Blackmoretrained Jackson Square, who won his first race since April 2019 by leading all the way in the MKMV Pty Ltd and Cobber International Trot.
Lions too classy for Buninyong Darley Cricket Club – By Todd Whelan BCA ladder leaders Darley have powered their way to a 77-run win over finals aspirant Buninyong at the weekend. After winning the toss the Lions didn’t hesitate to bat, sending in-form opening duo Danza Hyatt and Dilan Chandima out to the crease with every intention of posting a big score. According to Lions coach Brian Wheelahan the pair did not let them down. “Both players showed their class and resilience against a bowling attack that were giving very little away,” he said. Hyatt (53) was the first man to go with the score on 94 having helped lay the foundations with Chandima for the aggressive middle order to go freely about their stroke play. Lions captain Brad Barnes (19) and Hasitha Wickramasinghe (39) gave Chandima the support needed to see the total pass 200 as the newcomer smashed the leather to all parts of the ground. According to Wheelahan, Chandima’s 92 deserved every bit of 100. “I loved Chandima’s innings,” he said. “His shot selection was a standout.” When the dangerous opener was finally dismissed with the score on 223, ‘better than handy’ all-rounder Madushanka Ekanayake (23) and Drew Locke (10*) each cleared the rope in the later stages to see the Lions finish on 6/250 from their 50 overs. Early wickets were always going to play a role in Buninyong’s response with the bat. In form Lion’s seamer Ben Longhurst, sent both openers packing by the time the score had reached 45 - job done, but unfortunately, calf done. Yes, the Lions veteran can expect some considerable time on the sidelines after straining a calf 4.1 overs into his spell. Wheelahan said with loss comes opportunity. “Thankfully we have some great bowling stocks in our twos,” he said. “Dayle Locke looks the obvious replacement after taking 3/12 at the weekend.” When the Ward brothers struck to dismiss key bats three and four, the home side were in all sorts at 4/60, their best batsmen already in the sheds. Needless to add the mission would be too much for Buninyong to overcome as they limped to 6/110. There was some resistance shown as they put on 47 for the seventh wicket before Ekanayake (2/34) and Hyatt (2/14) claimed the last four wickets to bowl out the home-side for 173, inside 43 overs.
The Lions are flying undefeated with three wins on the road. This week the reigning dual Premiers host a strong East Ballarat (3rd) outfit at Darley Park. Wheelahan is confident his boys ‘are just going’ at the moment and the thought of more gears up their sleeve is an exciting prospect. “Let’s hope we can fire on all cylinders in front of all our fans,” he said. “Whenever this happens, we’re going to be hard to play against.” An ominous warning straight from the top - - play starts from noon Saturday. Results – Round 4 1st GRADE Darley 6/250, Overs 50. D. Chandima 92, D. Hyatt 53, H. Wickramasinghe 39. Buninyong 173 all out, Overs 42.3. B. Longhurst 2/13, D. Hyatt 2/14, M. Ekanayake 2/34. Darley won by 77 runs. 2nd GRADE Darley 151 all out, Overs 40.3. D. Hoey 47*, E. Thewma 42. Buninyong 8/154, Overs 44.5. Da Locke 3/12, W. Johnson 2/26. Darley lost by 2 wickets. 3rd GRADE Darley 8/147, Overs 40. C. Salisbury 33, A. Morton 32. Buninyong 6/158, Overs 38.2. T. Cox 3/25. Darley lost by 4 wickets. 4th GRADE Coronet City 161 all out, 39.2 Overs. A. Kannar 4/31, J. Hynes 2/24, A. Bird 2/26. Darley 5/164, Overs 32.3. T. Gallagher 104*. Darley won by 5 wickets 5th GRADE Darley 7/131, Overs 40. Lucas 0/135, Overs 22. Darley lost by 10 wickets Under 17 - (R2) Darley 9/205, Overs 50. S. Fawcett 51, M. Hoey 48, G. Martindale 30*. Ballarat-Redan 7/197, Overs 50. S. Fawcett 2/18. Darley won by 8 runs WOMEN’S LEAGUE - (R 3) Darley 4/62, Overs 20. S. McKinley 18, T. Morrisey 18. Lancefield 6/64, Overs 11. A. Kilmartin 2/13. T. Morrisey 2/5 Darley won by 4 wickets