Several major sporting events throughout the region tomorrow are in the lap of the weather gods, including the Bulls Masters Cricket Festival at Salter Oval, the Bundaberg Golf Club Burnett Cups and Consolation Plates, and the Coral Coast/Hervey Bay Softball major and minor semi-finals in Hervey Bay.
But the Wests Panthers Rugby League Nines Carnival at Jubilee Park will certainly go ahead, although organisers are hoping that the visiting Hervey Bay and Maryborough Wallaroos teams are not road blocked by floodwaters, while unfortunately the three AFL Wide Bay Takalvans Senior Women’s Premiership games have already been cancelled “due to weather implications”.
All scheduled Bundaberg junior cricket last round matches tomorrow have been cancelled after the heavy rain of the last two days, but at this stage, tomorrow’s Bulls Masters program is still on, starting with a Bundaberg Masters v Bundaberg Youth Invitational clash at 1.30pm, followed by a Free Kids Super Clinic from 4.30-5.30pm, and Bulls Masters v Bundaberg Invitational T20 Bash at 6.30pm.
Admission is just $5 for adults with children under-16 free, with all funds raised going to Bundaberg Cricket Association. Gates open at 12.30pm.
Bundaberg Young Guns Dylan Heycox and Ned Jenner have been given the honour of playing in the Bulls Masters Team.
Bulls Masters: Jimmy Maher, Ken Healy, Darren Lehmann, Andy Bichel, Michael Kasprowicz, Cameron Boyce, Charlie Hemphrey, Nathan Reardon, Gavin Fitness, Lee Carseldine, Ben Laughlin, Michael Phillipson, Andrew Gode, Dylan Heycox, Ned Jenner.
Bundaberg Invitational: Arden Lankowski, Michael Loader, Blyton Pendergast, Ryan Norton, Josh Winen, Trent Seeds, Nathan Van Eekeren, Mitch Waters, Sam Pearson, Hayden Pope, Ben Davey, Chris Duff ©, Dean Krebs.
Bundaberg Masters: David Boge, Damian O’Neall, Rod Jensen, Laurie McCloskey, Bruce Worthington, Lachlan Donovan, Dale Steele, Graham Werner, Sean Stuchbery, Nick Catasti, Anthony Rehbein, Troy Coates, Eric Petersen.
GOLF
Bundaberg Golf Club’s Burnett Cup, which is Wide Bay Golf’s Men’s Premier Event and is now in its 52nd year with a Player Prize Pool of $7,200, will be decided tomorrow with John Muller and Wayne Scott to play Shaun McMahon and Brendan Stevens in the grand final at 12.06pm.
John and Wayne defeated Kurt and Rod Burton 1-up in the semi-finals, while Shaun and Brendan knocked out Josiah Manteit and Shaun Sergiacomi 2/1.
Tim and Wayne Olsen will meet Graham Tesch and Mark Pearen in Peter Hitchcock Memorial Plate, which was contested by the Burnett Cup first-round losers, in that grand final with an 11.59am tee-off.
Tim and Wayne booked their place against Cameron and Zac Bainbridge 7/6, while Graham and Mark advanced at the expense of Patrick Turton and Owen Hedley 2-up.
Sally Hancock and Sandra Dawson will battle it out with Deon Fleming and Averil Chalmers in the Ladies Burnett Cup decider at 11.52am after Sally and Sandra disposed of Jill Marrinan and Alex Donovan 2/1, and Deon and Averil edged out Sue Brandon and Rose Lay with the same scoreline.
The Penny Teiniker Memorial Plate will also be up for grabs at 11.45am between Leesa Ison and Leslie Irvine, and Linda Phillips and Kaye Rosengreen, after the former outgunned Shirley Jarrett and Di Rowley 4/3, and the latter were victorious against Jacki Petterson and Caryn Wilde 6/5.
Good luck to all players.
SOFTBALL
After beating two-times defending champions Brothers United Firesticks 8-3 last Sunday to pilfer the Coral Coast/Hervey Bay Softball A Grade Ladies minor premiership from them, Waves Tsunamis will be confident when the two heavyweights meet again in the major semi-final in Hervey Bay at 2.10pm tomorrow.
At the same time, fourth placed Terrors will also be looking to repeat their last-round 9-3 victory over third seeds Bargara Bullets in the minor semi-final.
A Grade Men’s minor premiers Waves Schooners will be favoured in their major semi-final showdown with first season composite side Maryborough/West at 4.10pm, while third placed reigning premiers Terrors will go head-to-head with Misfits at 6.10pm.
If games are not able to be played, the minor premiers in all grades will progress directly to the grand finals on 12th March, with the second and third placed teams to square off in the preliminary finals next Saturday.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Hosts Wests Panthers will field two teams in their annual Nines Carnival at Jubilee Park tomorrow, Red and Black, hoping to claim the lucrative winners’ cheque after being beaten by Hervey Bay Seagulls in the grand final at the event last year.
Just five teams have nominated, with also the Seagulls keen to defend their title, and Easts Magpies and Wallaroos also eyeing a share of the cash.
Each team will play each other in a round-robin, with the first game at 11.30am, running through to the Plate Final for third Place at 5.30pm, and Shield Final at 6pm.
Wests A Grade coach Corey Tanner, who will coach their Red side, said they would have a few of their stars missing, but he expects his team to challenge for the crown, with halves Chris Robinson and Tyson Douglas and powerhouse front rower Shaun Ezzy set for big carnivals.
GREYHOUNDS
Beachmere owner/trainer Paul McIlveen had a big day out at this week’s Bundaberg meeting at Thabeban Park, taking out a winning treble with I’m The Bill (East End Hotel 5th Grade), Bad and Boujee, which maintained her perfect record in in three starts in the Rum City in the 550m Mixed 4th/5th Grade, and white-hot favourite Sunshine Delight in the first heat of the Bundaberg Young Guns.
Takura trainer David Plummer chalked up another double, with champion Fogelberg, at unbackable odds, paying $1.07, romping home a 12-length victor in the Best 8 and making it 11 wins from his past 12 trips to the Park, and taking his impressive overall record to 24 wins, 6 seconds and 5 thirds from 46 outings, after Garfunkel had been en song at just his second start in the Maiden.
Last-start Albion Park winner Keen, a $2 favourite which campaigned successfully in Tasmania from July-January, also was an impressive winner on track debut for Karalee part-owner/trainer Brent Kline in the second Young Guns Heat.
Farmor Crownies, a 113-race veteran, notched his 21st triumph for Dalma owner/trainer Ken Boody in the 460m Bargara Bakery Mixed 4th/5th Grade.
