OCLife | sporting life with ANTHONY BARBAGALLO
BARRACKER THE
Make State of Origin a three weekend wonder I’m one of the few rugby league fans, who finds the State of Origin series between NSW and Queensland, annoying and disruptive. Just as the rhythm of the NRL season settles down into some kind of theme and narrative, our best 40 or so players are pulled out of their clubs to spend six or seven weeks in a best-of-three “Mate versus Mate” gladiatorial series where the bounce of the ball can determine the result. The overhyped passions (“Cockroaches versus Cane Toads”); the blue wigs; the terrible, home-town refereeing that almost always mars the game in Brisbane at Lang Park; and the crippling injury toll for so many players; makes me almost dread this annual battle between NSW and Queensland. Not that the football isn’t scintillating, the event a sporting spectacular, and the evenness of the contest almost always riveting, it’s just that it is sometimes just a little too much. Annual matches between the two dominant rugby league states, NSW and Queensland, have existed for more than 100-years. It’s just that they used to be a bit of a representative trial to determine places in the Australian rugby league team, “The Kangaroos”. Teams were selected on residency, so players based in Queensland, played for the Maroons, those contracted in NSW, for the Blues. It was only when poker machine money to Sydney-based clubs from the 1960s, had so bled the Queensland competition of all its best players (Queensland did not have widespread poker machines until the 1990s), that the idea of a “State of Origin” games was first suggested. Most have now forgotten that the idea was pinched straight from Australian Rules football, which ran its own state of origin series in the late 1970s for the same reasons. Wealthy Melbourne VFL clubs had so denuded player talent from South and West Australian leagues, that they were
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no longer competitive in the interstate competition. However, while entertaining, there was still a novelty feel to the Australian Football state of origin games with club players seemingly reticent to belt their professional teammates in what was basically an exhibition match. In the first NSW versus Queensland state of origin rugby league game in July 1980 — Queensland captain and rugby league “Immortal” Arthur “Artie” Beetson famously laying into his Parramatta teammate, Mick Cronin — laid that fear to rest. And so, as the ad writers say, the legend was born, and more than 40 years of topsy-turvy, thrilling, heartbreaking football, later, State of Origin is still one of the premier events on the Australian sporting calendar. It is also noticeably one of the few times each season, when the AFL with its nationwide reach, huge crowds, and passionate fan base, seems genuinely envious of its poorer northern rival. It’s not the event itself, it’s the drawn out, overwrought nature of this sixweek extravaganza, that I find most annoying. With the game almost invariably on Wednesday nights (originally timed so as to allow club footballers to still play the previous and following weekend), it puts a pause in the week-in, week-out competition. With more than half of the professional players in the game now of Polynesian, New Zealand, and British backgrounds, it also means that the game is not quite “the best of the best”, as it may have been three decades ago. The NRL should move the event to three weeks of straight football with the competition ceasing for that time. Polynesian, New Zealand, and English players can have their own representative series in adjacent Test matches on the same weekends, and we can all get back to the real competition, a little sooner.
JUNE 09—15, 2022
sporting life | OCLife
— IMAGES BY HENRY DEROOY —
Junior rugby league action from Brendon Sturgeon Oval on Saturday morning.
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OCLife | around the grounds with ANTHONY BARBAGALLO
Steele-Park steals show as Emus thump Platypi Orange Emus beat Forbes Platypi in convincing fashion on Saturday, scoring eight tries to record a 56-22 victory in local rugby in front of their home fans at Endeavour Oval. The impressive win comes as a relief, the Emus snapping their two-game losing streak to come within two points of third-placed Dubbo Roos. What a �me to put on one of their best displays so far this season! Emus scored their first try inside the first five minutes. Charlie Steele-Park breaking through the opposi�on’s defensive line and figh�ng off several opponents before diving over from close range. Nigel Staniforth then crossed over a�er a well-executed set-play in the 18th minute to score the home side’s second try. With the home side dicta�ng the game and leading 14-0, Forbes s�ll managed to sneak in a scrappy and successfully converted try in the 33rd minute to halve the deficit. In response, the Emus remained calm and scored their third try moments later, increasing their lead to 14 points. But the Platypi didn’t back down, scoring their second try just before hal�ime to keep pressure on the hosts. A�er a confident start in the second stanza, Forbes kicked a penalty goal in the 56th minute to get back within a converted try and push their Orange opponents un�l the final whistle. But from this point on, it was all one-way traffic from the Emus with their intense and aggressive a�acks. The men in green scored their fourth try just shy of the hour mark a�er Steele-Park ran from the le� flank and crossed over for his brace near the posts. The Emus star bagged his hat-trick six minutes later, picking up a loose ball within Emu’s half and scoring a heroic runaway try to give his side a 37-15 lead. The Emus con�nued to run riot in the last 15 minutes, scoring another three tries to cap off an outstanding performance. One of the final three tries again came from Steele-Park, who intercepted the ball in his half and ran away to score his fourth try for the match. Following this dominant victory, the Emus should feel confident going into the clash against Dubbo Roos in a fortnight.
WESTERN PREMIER LEAGUE: ROUND NINE ACTION Waratahs snatch late draw against Bathurst ‘75 in bush football classic Waratahs grabbed a late point in their thrilling 3-3 draw against an undefeated Bathurst ‘75 on Friday night at Proctor Park. The Tahs were full of confidence a�er their dominant 7-0 win over the Dubbo Bulls last weekend, while Bathurst ‘75 survived a scare against Macquarie United in their narrow 4-3 victory. With both sides heading into this heavyweight clash in excellent form, everything was in store for this old rivalry to be a classic. The pair’s combined 10 Western Premier League �tles ensured that the fans gathered at Proctor Park were in for a real treat. As expected, both teams played aggressively right from the start. The a�acking quality on display immediately turned this match into a high-scoring affair, causing numerous headaches for both sets of defenders. While Bathurst ‘75 was closing in on a famous victory and ending Waratahs’ four-game winning streak, the North Orange side struck a late equaliser to earn a hard-fought point. The resilience of the Tahs once again highlighted how hard it is to defeat the mighty Sky Blues. There’s no doubt these two top-sides will put on a similar spectacle in the la�er stages of this season.
Barnies comfortably beat Macquarie United Barnstoneworth United got back to their winning ways on Saturday a�er cruising to a 4-2 victory over Macquarie United at Victoria Park, Dubbo. Jarvis Marat put the visitors ahead in the fi�h minute before Kenny McCall doubled Barnies’ lead moments later. Macquarie halved the deficit shortly a�er, keeping the pressure on through their counter-a�acking football. But a Charlie Ross goal before hal�ime gave the red-and-whites a 3-1 lead going into the break.
While an improved Macquarie tried to pull some goals back in the second half, Grant Koch killed the game off through a corner to seal the win for the visitors and ensure the three points. The Dubbo side scored their second goal just before the full-�me whistle, but it was nothing more than a consola�on. The win propels Barnies into fi�h spot in the Western Premier League standings, two points behind the fourth-placed Dubbo Bulls FC.
AFL CENTRAL WEST FIRST-GRADE ACTION
RUGBY LEAGUE: PETER MCDONALD PREMIERSHIP ACTION Bathurst Panthers hand Orange CYMS its first defeat of the season Orange CYMS’s undefeated streak ended on Sunday, a�er Bathurst Panthers recorded a 35-18 victory at Wade Park. Despite the �ght tussle in the first half, the Panthers ran rampant with their forward pack in the second stanza. The Bathurst team scored four tries in the la�er stages to pull off an incredible upset and shake things up in the Group 10 standings. CYMS slip into second place with this loss, while Mudgee Dragons currently take the top spot in the Group 10 ladder.
Bathurst Giants run riot against Orange Tigers Orange Tigers have fallen to last place in the AFL Central West first-grade ladder a�er last Saturday’s 117-60 loss against the Bathurst Giants at George Park. The Tigers, who have been struggling in recent weeks, failed to keep up with the Giants’ intensity and kicking game from the beginning of the contest. The Giants kicked 17 goals to the Tigers’ nine, piling more pain on a frustrated and unconfident Orange Tigers side.
ORANGE NETBALL: SENIOR WOMEN’S DIVISION 1, ROUND SIX
Second-placed Cowra sneak past brave Orange City
League leaders Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical cruised to a 66-24 win over third-placed LIFE Studio in Orange Netball’s Senior Women’s Division 1. While it looked like a �ght ba�le on paper, this heavy defeat casts doubt on LIFE Studio’s �tle creden�als as Orange City managed to easily dominate a genuine �tle contender.
On Saturday, Orange City was close to pulling off an upset against top-side Cowra Eagles. But it was the Eagles who managed to pull off a slim 16-8 victory against the compe��on’s bo�om-placed side.
In other games, LIFE Studio MID West Eyes scored a thrilling 56-54 win over Hawks Marvas� Security. It’s LS MID West Eyes’ first victory of the season, meaning they leapfrog Hawks in the standings.
Despite entering this match as overwhelming underdogs, Orange City surprised the hosts with their improved defence and a�acking cohesiveness. The Lions pushed the Eagles on the brink of capitula�on, but Cowra’s extra quality was too much to handle for the young City side. Unfortunately, the orangeand-greens are s�ll winless in seven matches.
The Vipers also stunned the OHS Hornets with an incredible 48-25 victory in their match-up. This win against the 2020 champions, ensures that the Vipers remain in second spot and keep the pressure on the league leaders, Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical.
RUGBY UNION: BLOWES CUP FIRSTGRADE ACTION
Orange City Our City Real Estate also jumped into the top-four a�er downing KWS Firsts 56-36.
Do you have a sporting event/player you would like to share with OCLife readers? Contact Anthony at sport@oclife.com.au 36 ORANGE CITY LIFE
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JUNE 09—15, 2022
sporting life | OCLife
C GRADE FOOTBALL: CYMS stun Canobolas with late comeback CYMS came from behind to beat Canobolas Rangers Blue 3-2 in the local third division on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon at Bernie Stedman, Jack Brabham Park. This recent victory takes CYMS' winning streak to four games, keeping the pressure on table leaders, Barnies United and Millthorpe 2. The loss for Canobolas Blue will be bitterly disappointing, especially after they had surrendered a 2-0 lead. CYMS started the better of the two sides, playing aggressively and closing the space through the high-pressing attack. But the green-and-gold couldn't capitalise on their chances, with their forwards lacking composure in the final third. As more CYMS goal-scoring chances went begging, Canobolas Blue seized the opportunity to counter with some of their own attacking football. The pinkand-blues played clean passes in the middle of the park before lobbing some excellent through-balls to their forwards.
With this strategy, Canobolas almost took the lead in the 20th minute after their star striker made a dazzling run and hit the ball on the left post.
football with renewed energy. The pinkand-blues almost doubled their lead minutes after the restart, but their striker's heavy touch in the final third allowed the CYMS goalkeeper to latch onto the ball and keep the scoreline intact.
Eventually, this hard work paid off when the Rangers scored a well-worked goal in the 23rd minute. CYMS almost netted the equaliser barely a minute later, but some sharp reflexes from the Canobolas keeper, prevented the ball from crossing the goal-line. Amid CYMS' renewed momentum, the Rangers surprised their opponents when their star forward fired a clean shot into the net several minutes later. CYMS almost pulled a goal back, but the upright prevented the green-and-gold on this occasion. As Canobolas started to run out of energy just before halftime, CYMS intensified their attack and immediately made it 2-1 with one of their strikers chipping the ball over the Rangers’ goalkeeper. In the second 45, the Canobolas Rangers played their counter-attacking
...CYMS scored five minutes later to take a 3-2 lead and complete their extraordinary comeback...
As the second half progressed, CYMS started to play more freely from the back and dominate the midfield battle. With the trailing side venturing forward with more fluidity and creating intelligent runs on the flanks, the green-and-golds eventually scored the equaliser in the 75th minute after one of their forwards remained unmarked outside the 18-yard box and curled his shot into the net. CYMS scored five minutes later to take a 3-2 lead and complete their extraordinary comeback; a brilliant pass from their midfield playmaker found a wide attacker, who slotted it past the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net. Canobolas desperately looked for an equaliser in the game’s final moments, but it was too late when the referee blew his whistle for full-time.
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