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Tyla targets national boxing champs By Ben Triandafillou PENINSULA boxer Tyla McDonald is set for another big year as she prepares for the 2017 Australian Boxing Championships in South Australia on 3 April. McDonald is wanting to go one better this year after winning a silver medal at the 2016 National Championships in the under-15 ‘Schoolgirls division’. McDonald was only 12 when participating in last year’s tournament against the older rivals and had only fought twice prior. With added experience, McDonald will again face older opposition at this year’s championships and heads into the tournament as a leading contender. Peninsula Boxing head coach Marcos Amado said McDonald is fighting and training very well and that he’s looking forward to seeing how she goes at the championships. “She’s flying at the moment and doing a lot of work with older and heavier girls,” Amado said. “She’s the sort of kid that you want to hold onto. She shows more drive and tenacity to keep improving than most.” McDonald fought in an exhibition match at Margaret Court Arena in a function centre on Saturday 18 March and will have one more fight in preparation for the championships. Looking to add to her record, McDonald currently holds three wins
from six fights. Marcos Amado said that boxing has really opened up and created more opportunities for female boxers recently. “Females are now able to compete in the Olympics such as Rio, so it’s great to have someone like Tyla coming through. You want to keep them interested and keep them going,” he said. Peninsula Boxing had a highly successful team at last year’s Underage National Championships with Jack Gipp, Kayne Gipp and Lochie Higgins taking home three gold medals and Tyla McDonald earning silver. This year, Peninsula Boxing will be represented at the National Championships by two boxers, Tyla McDonald and Jason Whateley who will be fighting in the Elite World Games box off.
Going for gold: Tyla McDonald is aiming high at this year’s Australian Boxing Championships.
BELEURA Junior Football Club representatives Matty Mayne and Khyal Jacobson have excelled in the 2017 AFLNZ Premiership held in New Zealand. AFLNZ approached the boys at the start of the year to participate in New Zealand’s premier football league as part of a pilot program after their performance in the 2016 ANZAC Tour. Since leaving on 2 March, the boys played three matches in the AFLNZ Premiership against some of the best senior players in the country. They also worked as ambassadors for AFLNZ and have had continued support from the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. Jacobson, 16, was a standout in his three matches where he consecutively made the Team of the Week side and was awarded the Best on Ground in his second match. Mayne, who turned 17 on the trip, was also able to join the Team of the Week side in his second match after booting two goals for the Central Giants. Khyal’s father, Jake Jacobson, said the boys were lucky to have the experience and they really enjoyed themselves. “They loved it. AFLNZ did an amazing job and the boys were able to really get involved with the Maori and Samoan culture as well as being able to play football with some of New Zealand’s best,” he said. The Mornington Peninsula junior footballers were provided with the opportunity after being selected last year by AFL South East and the Beleura Football Club to play in an ANZAC Day competition against New Zealand’s under-17’s side. While in New Zealand the boys also had the opportunity to run clinics
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Beleura boys shine in NZ
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Beleura pride: Matty Mayne and Khyal Jacobson have taken the AFLNZ Premiership by storm.
at several primary and secondary schools to teach students the basics of AFL. Khyal and Matty returned on the 20 March and are now gearing up for the season opener on the 23 April where they’ll be playing for Beleura’s under-17 side.
Edithvale Public Golf Course – Fraser Ave, Edithvale Patterson River Country Club - The Fairway, Bonbeach Centenary Park Golf Course – McClelland Drive, Frankston Mornington Golf Club – Tallis Drive, Mornington Mt Martha Public Golf Course – Forest Drive, Mt Martha Devilbend Golf Club – Loders Road, Moorooduc Cerberus Golf Club – HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point Safety Beach –10 Country Club Dr, Safety Beach Rosebud Country Club – 207 Boneo Road, Rosebud Flinders Golf Club – Bass Street, Flinders Portsea Golf Club - 46 London Bridge Rd, Portsea ONE SCORECARD PER ENVELOPE. INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS & PHONE ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE. ENTRIES CLOSE 24/4/17 POST TO MPNG GOLF, PO BOX 588, HASTINGS 3915 Western Port News 28 March 2017
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