LAKE Nash Young Guns have lost three games in a row for the first time in many years. If last weekend’s 89-point loss against Buffaloes was anything to go by, it is clear that tensions are rising (not to mention the arguments on the sidelines) for coach Rohan Webb and his players as they approach the business end of the Mount Isa AFL competition. The third loss on the trot now has the Lake Nash side within touching distance of Buffaloes for the all-important second spot on the ladder – and a second chance at the grand final in August.
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FOR the third successive week, an AFL coach in Mount Isa has been required to pull on a playing jumper for his team. Last weekend, it was Rovers coach Rick Bailey’s turn to join in on Mount Isa AFL’s latest trend. For Bailey, it was probably not the most pleasant of games to join in as he watched his side crumble to a 107-point defeat. Much the same can be said about Young Guns coach Rohan Webb, whose services were required for the second time in as many weeks. At this rate, we will be seeing Tigers coach Craig Brice follow suit next weekend against Buffaloes.
ONE minute’s silence was observed at the beginning of the two Mount Isa AFL fixtures on the weekend as a mark of respect following the death of Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh last week. Black armbands were also worn on the left arms of players in remembrance of the former Collingwood and Richmond player. Like in round 14 of the AFL, no celebratory team songs were sung after the Tigers’ and Buffaloes’ wins in tribute to Walsh.
RUMOURS of prizemoney cuts across Queensland racing have also spread to the North West. The sacking of the Racing Queensland board by the Queensland government has sent shivers across the industry with speculation there will be a dent in prizemoney. Racing Minister Bill Byrne toured the region last week and was vague in his response to questions about potential cuts – especially for country racing. Industry participants are now waiting anxiously to see what decisions are made and how they will impact country racing. It would be another hit to the industry in rural and regional areas, which has watched metropolitan prizemoney soar while country racing languishes.
MOUNT Isa-owned galloper Le Cap will contest one of the top country sprint races in the country today. Le Cap, owned by Andrew Saunders, will be out for three wins in a row in the $150,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton. The sprinter has drawn barrier one and has the services of leading Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield for the race at 3.55pm.
TWO former Brisbane Broncos rugby league greats will be in Mount Isa on Friday for a free coaching clinic to be held at Alec Inch Oval. All interested should get down to the Mount Isa Rugby League grounds from 3pm to 4pm for a chance to meet Petero Civoniceva and Jharal Yow Yeh. There will be plenty of giveaways, autograph sessions on offer, and more. There is also a dinner at the Mount Isa Civic Centre from 6pm on Friday night. For further information contact NRL Mount Isa Game Development Officer Laurie Taylor on 0422 617 672.
HATS off to the organisers of the Mount Isa campdraft after its huge success over three days. Hundreds poured into Lagoon Park for a jam-packed weekend of entertainment. For the first campdraft event in town for eight years, it was definitely a hit and hopefully here to stay. What caught my eye the most from the action was the brave few bunch of women who had a go at the bull riding on Saturday night. Check out the picture below of one of the female competitors on the night.
LOSING the first match of the Mount Isa Rugby League association has hit the Wanderers players harder than most thought. Wanderers players had a table of eight booked for the Chris Franklin comedy night on Saturday at their sponsor’s establishment, the Barkly Hotel. But only two of the eight players showed up, meaning much of the antics was left to the duo Alex Weller and Brenton Stonier. Let’s hope the competition leaders’ first loss hasn’t dampened their team spirit when the MIRL season resumes this weekend. Other sponsored teams Cavaliers and Rippers showed camaraderie by filling up their tables.
THE Queensland under-20s rugby league team has travelled to Yeppoon to play in the QRL Central Division 47th battalion carnival held on July 11-12, where they’ll be competing against teams from Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Central Highlands and South Burnett. MIRL premiership clubs will be sending 11 players in the form of Lance Cope (Brothers), Herbert Walden (Black Stars), Ronald Francis (Town), Shayden Kerekere (Black Stars), William Teaukura (Brothers), Tayler Rub (Cloncurry Eagles), Timothy Braithwaite (Black Stars), Brodie Dzendelot (Town), Hunter Chong (Cloncurry Eagles), Mark Bull (Wanderers), and Bradley Aplin (Black Stars). Good luck to Cloncurry Eagles coach Ronald ‘Hombre’ Major and the boys for the weekend.