Jack de Belin (left) enjoyed Papua New Guinea’s dominant win over the Cook Islands. Image – NRL Media. Below Right, Kristian Miller recently competed in the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships in Sydney, medalling in multiple events.
The Jack de Belin-inspired Papua New Guinea outclassed the Cook Islands in a high-scoring Pacific Championships clash, winning 46-10 in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon. In his international debut, Jack de Belin was immense in the middle of the field, finishing with over 150 run metres and 20 tackles without miss. Former St George Illawarra Dragons teammate Nene MacDonald rewound the clock to his NRL days and scored four tries. The Cootamundra product and his Papua New Guinea outfit will now have a weekend off before reconvening at their home ground once again to square off against Fiji Bati on October 29 in a crucial clash.
Miller medals at state
Kristian Miller recently competed in the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships held at the Olympic Games complex at Homebush in Sydney, representing Cootamundra High School. Coming back from an injury sustained whilst playing for the Cootamundra Bulldogs under-16’s rugby league team, Kristian gained a silver medal in both the long jump and javelin, a bronze medal in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint races, fourth in the shot put and fifth in the discus and 800 metres in the 15-16 AMB division to show his versatility and commitment to athletics.
Overpass fades in thrilling Everest
It wasn’t to be for the locally-owned and Bjorn-Baker-trained Overpass in Saturday’s $20,000 TAB Everest. Ridden by Josh Parr, the five-year-old led them up from gate two and was still in front with 250 metres remaining, but things started to go pear-shaped. The Vancouver gelding didn’t find his customary second wind and drifted back through the field, finishing tenth, beaten four lengths by the Joe Pride-trained Think About it. Parr was surprised with the final two furlongs, hinting something wasn’t right with Overpass. “He went no good,” Parr said. “He was unable to quicken and let go. The last 400m of the race was very plain; I’m somewhat confused.” While locals didn’t enjoy success in the world’s richest race on turf, Proven Thoroughbreds had a day to remember as owners of the winner, along with the third-placed horse, the Joe Pride-trained Private Eye (Nash Rawiller), which finished three-quarters of a length off the winner. Splitting the two was the Peter Moody-trained I Wish I Win (Luke Nolen), which was beaten half a length.
Highwaymen off to winning start
The Coolac Highwaymen proved too strong for Adelong in the opening round of the Elders Cup competition on Saturday, winning by 106 runs. Playing the Donkeys at Adelong Showground, the Highwaymen won the toss and elected to bat and scored 9/178 from 40 overs. Andrew Keatinge added 33 at the top of the order while long-serving skipper Tim Graham scored 49. Further down the order, Ben Wysman added 28, and Coolac put up a good first innings total. For Adelong, spinner Jace Wilson took 4/70 from ten overs. In reply, Adelong was rolled for 72 in 25 overs. Mark Johns and Tate O’Donovan added 23 each, but Thomas Sharman spun his magic, taking 4/3 from two overs, and veteran paceman Duane Shawcross took 3/12 from seven overs. Coolac is at home on Saturday when taking on the Murrumbidgee Mankadders in their Round Two match at Coolac Recreation Ground.