[cool_dude69]

Rocky celebrates as Rockets, Comets, Cougars win
May 26, 2008

Rockets guard Ben Thompson sums up the great night of sport during their 116-66 win.


A RHYS Martin-inspired Rockhampton Stadium Nightclub Rockets men's basketball team completed a hat-trick of sporting wins for the city on "Super Saturday".

The Rockets destroyed the Mackay Meteors 116-66 in front of a sellout Hegvold Stadium crowd on Saturday night while the Central Comets and Minniecon & Burke Capricorn Cougars also tasted success on home soil.

A late try to centre Karl Johnson sealed the Comets a memorable 28-26 win over Queensland Wizard Cup powerhouse Redcliffe before a bumper Browne Park crowd.

At Jardine Park, the Cougars came back from 1-0 down to record their first home win of the inaugural QSL season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Olympic, much to the delight of their large band of supporters.

And it was almost four wins on "Super Saturday" after the Rockhampton Hog's Breath Cafe Cyclones women's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking 62-59 loss to Mackay in the dying seconds of their QABL showdown at Hegvold Stadium (see all reports inside).

It was the Rhys Martin-show in a fiery men's encounter, with the Rockets point guard's "hot hands" the highlight of the 50-point demolition Rockhampton's sixth straight win.

Martin finished with a game-high 39 points, which included an amazing seven of 11 three-pointers, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in what he and coach Neal Tweedy described as his best game in Rockets colours.

"It was one of those nights where the rim was as big as a field goal it was just going in," a speechless Martin said after the game.

While Martin was the hero in the round six grudge match, Grant Kruger played his usual role as the villain, with the vocal home crowd continuing their running battle with the former Townsville now Mackay big man.

It took Kruger just one minute to receive his first personal foul on local star Stephen Weigh before the fireworks began seconds later when he clashed with Rockets import Ryan McDade.

The Rockets led 25-17 at the first break and raced further ahead early in the second quarter courtesy of three consecutive long-range bombs from Martin.

When captain Darren Richardson nailed a three-pointer of his own to get the crowd on its feet with one minute to go in the first half, the Rockets had opened up a match-winning 55-31 lead.

It was shooting practice for the Rockets in the second half, with the home side leading by as much as 62 points in the final term.

After scoring nine straight points at the end of the third quarter, Martin had the home crowd applauding his big night out when he started the fourth quarter where he left off the last.

The 22-year-old netted two points from just inside the perimeter, threw down another bucket and grabbed a steal and lay-up on the very next play before earning a well-deserved rest on the bench.

However, the biggest cheer went to Rockets import Saulius Dumbliauskas in the closing minutes when he was fouled for decking Kruger to the floor.

With the Rockets shooting at an impressive 52% for the night, Tweedy said it was by far his team's best offensive performance of the season but again paid tribute to their brickwall defence.

"We have been waiting to knock some decent percentages down, especially from the perimeter," Tweedy said.

"But it was our defence again, teams are just struggling to score against us."

Tweedy said Martin was simply superb.

"He had it on a string. He's shooting was incredible."

The Rockets are now aiming for back-to-back wins on the road in this weekend's northern double-header against Cairns and Townsville a feat the team has never achieved in 22 years.

 

[cool_dude69]

Mackay Cutters come close to causing a boilover
May 26, 2008


MACKAY Cutters coach Shane Muspratt was left lamenting another missed opportunity after his side battled to a 26-26 draw with reigning premiers Tweed Heads Seagulls at Cudgen Oval on Saturday.

Muspratt admitted it was "probably a game we should have won" after the Skills Training Mackay Cutters let slip a two point lead with just minutes remaining on the clock.

However, Muspratt was still impressed with his side's strong performance against a more fancied Seagulls outfit, which was shooting for its fourth straight win.

"It was a really good game," he said.

"We just really matched them in the middle."

Muspratt praised the "outstanding" efforts of hooker Luke Srama, who was on debut for the Cutters.

Muspratt, who produced a standout performance in his return from injury, admitted his kicking game had improved.

"We scored a couple of tries off kicks, which was nice," he said after the five-tries-to-four display.

The Cutters were the first to score when winger Chris Giumelli crossed for a try in the 11th minute.

Mackay added to their lead in the 14th minute when winger Dean Tass snared his first four pointer of the game, giving the Cutters an 8-0 advantage.

But the Seagulls hit back with three converted tries to give the game a half time scoreline of 18-18, following a try to Cutters' centre Sam Granville and a second to Giumelli.

Another try to Tass after the break gave the Cutters their fifth four-pointer for the match.

Late in the second half, the Cutters had a 26-24 advantage but a penalty for holding down in the tackle gave the Seagulls the opportunity to level the scores with a shot at goal.

Cowboys' fringe players Shane Tronc and Sione Faumuina provided resolute efforts in the Queensland Cup round 11 clash.

The draw with the Seagulls relegates the Cutters to 10th place on the ladder.

The Cutters have next weekend off as the QRL's annual city/country clash is being played at Clermont no Mackay players are involved.

Muspratt said it would be a good chance for the team to "freshen up" ahead of their round 12 clash with North Queensland adversaries Northern Pride.

The Pride dented the premiership hopes of Ipswich Jets with a rousing display at Ipswich on Saturday.

Cutters 26 (Chris Giumelli 2, Dean Tass 2, Sam Granville; Chris Giumelli 3 goals) drew with Seagulls 26 (Tim Maccan 2, Brad Davis 2; Brad Davis 5 goals).

 

[cool_dude69]

Pride season revived

Monday, May 26, 2008

© The Cairns Post

Starring role: Ben Vaeau was the "X factor" for the Northern Pride on Saturday.

NORTHERN Pride coach Andrew Dunemann expects his side to receive a "massive" confidence boost from Saturday's win against Ipswich in their top-of-the-table Queensland Cup clash.

The Pride bounced back from consecutive losses to record a 30-16 win against the Jets but it was the manner of the victory, rather than the final scoreline that impressed Dunemann.

Click here to view Northern Pride picture gallery

"In particular the first half, I thought we played some great stuff and the second half we ground it out," he said.

Poor ball control has hurt the Pride in its last two outings, with constant errors forcing the team to play much of matches against Tweed Heads and Wynnum inside their own half.

Dunemann was pleased with a great completion rate, but more importantly, the options his side took, even those that did not come off.

The Jets exposed the Pride badly in their pre-season clash and although little could be read into that game the Pride players knew they had to lift if they were to resume their Queensland Cup success.

While the Jets brutally attacked the flanks in the pre-season game, winger Drew Campbell turned the tables on Saturday and was one of the Pride’s best in attack and defence, especially in the opening stages.

The forward battle was always going to be a key and Dunemann was chuffed with his pack’s effort.

Queensland Country representative Alex Starmer, back from a shoulder injury, was among the best.

Ben Laity had one of his best games in several weeks, Greg Byrnes was solid, earning extra minutes by playing in the second row as well as up front, and newcomer Chris Afamasaga earnt the coach’s praise in his first run. But Cowboy Ben Vaeau was the "X factor".

 

[cool_dude69]

Marlins sting Townsville in Foley Shield rout

26May08

THE Townsville Stingers had their unbeaten run halted as Cairns stormed to a 50-24 win in the Good Guys Foley Shield rugby league match at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday night.

The Marlins ran away with the match after holding a halftime lead of 20-18. Townsville coach Todd Wilson said the Stingers had been found wanting defensively in their final hitout before major assignments next month in the Queensland final of the Toyota Centenary Cup and Foley Shield grand final.

"When you have 50 points scored against you, you're certainly poor in defence at times," Wilson said.

"They scored some long-range tries and we missed a lot of one-one-one tackles, we weren't up to standard defensively.

"Early in the second half it was still pretty close but in the last 20 minutes they opened us up on the edges, they certainly found some faults in our defence."

The loss was Townsville's first in five Foley Shield and Centenary Cup matches this season.

Townsville's next match is against yet-to-be-determined South Queensland opponents in the State final of the Toyota Centenary Cup on June 14.

The Stingers will host the winners of the upcoming match between Cairns and Mackay in the Foley Shield grand final on June 21.

Wilson said Saturday night's result was of concern heading into such important fixtures.

The scoreboard could have been even more lopsided, with Cairns converting only five of their 10 tries.

"It's certainly a concern, it's hard to put a finger on why it's happened," Wilson said.

"But Cairns certainly came to play and they did play well.

"You can't be competitive in any game if you can't maintain defensive concentration for 80 minutes.

"It's something we've got to work on and address if we're going to be competitive."

A desperate Cairns had always shaped as dangerous opponents for the Stingers, already safely through to the grand final.

"It certainly was a real mental challenge for the players," Wilson said.

"At halftime it could have gone either way and maybe that was the difference, Cairns certainly had a lot to play for. They're going to be hard to beat.

"They can attack from anywhere on the field, they have some very elusive players and a good, strong pack."

Townsville lost prop Quinton Mitchell with concussion late in the match. The under-18 Stingers completed the preliminary rounds unbeaten after downing Cairns 34-16.

 

[Oriolus]

Hmmm, I think having a thread in which to dump news articles about local sporting teams is steping a bit beyond the scope of this forum. Lets keep it mostly about skyscrapers, development and urban issues. Besides we already have threads for discussion of Queensland Cup, North Queensland Cowboys and Cairns Taipans & Townsville Crocodiles. If you really want a thread for this sort of stuff then it would probably be best placed in The Sports Club.