PERTH Spirit put on a defensive clinic on Saturday night to beat the Country Eagles in the NRC decider 20-16 at Scully Park.

Eagles skipper and home town hero Paddy Ryan was disappointed by the loss although summed up his opposition’s efforts pretty well.

“It was like running into a brick wall all night,” Ryan said.

Despite that the Eagles never gave up and had the enthusiastic crowd on their feet in the closing minutes as they attacked the line looking for  a victory.

Unfortunately they couldn’t quite get there and the West Australians were able to lift the trophy for the first time in the three year history of the competition.

The Eagles had plenty of early ball as the two packs went at it in the opening stanza, a cross field kick just missed the arms of a flying Reece Robinson who looked almost certain to open the scoring early, before Spirit’s fullback Luke Morahan showed a great touch, with an in and away and then a grubber and regather to score first points with only nine minutes remaining in the opening half. 

Three minutes later Perth scored again before Eagles flanker Sam Figg hit back on the bell to be right in the match at 12-8 at halftime.

Not long after the break Perth number eight ?? peeled off the back of a scrum and threw an inside pass to put halfback Ryan Louwrens in for his second of the night to go 20-8, before the Eagles hit back through Tom Hill to be only lagging by four points 20-16 with six minutes to go, although the score would stay that way as the Perth defence once again dug deep and held out one last attacking raid.

Perth skipper Heath Tessman congratulated his troops on doing what it takes to win a final.

“It’s the old cliche that defence wins championships and each guy from one to 23 really stood up,” Tessmann said.

“We were hard and we were physical which is what we needed to do.”

Fittingly openside flanker Richard Hardwick won the inaugural Phil Waugh Medal for player of the final for his huge efforts in defence and at the breakdown.

“It is a real honour,” Hardwick said. “It is a team sport and I couldn’t have done it without all the other boys.” 

Wednesday, October 19 a perfectly sunny morning with a cool breeze attracted 18 players to the Veteran’s Championships plus one nine hole player.

Nearest Pin winners ninth Wendy Jeffery 17th Vicki Gainsford. Raffle kindly donated by Wendy Jeffery won by Gail White.

Saturday, October 22 Stroke / Scratch and Handicap event with Vicki Gainsford’s Trophy, was abandoned due to 35 millimeters of rain during the night.

The AGM was held Thursday 20 more details in my last report.

Don’t forget to come along to our Melbourne Cup party 12 MD for lunch and champagne and a little flutter in the numerous sweeps on Tuesday, November 1 will be $25 per head.

Wednesday, October 26 will be our last round of 18 Holes for the winter competition.

This will be a Stableford event with Marie Houghton’s Trophy.

Weekly Ponder, You are only given a little spark of madness.

Don’t lose it!

Granny Golfing Guru 

Last Saturday we had just eight keen starters in a Single Stableford sponsored by Peter Kierath.

The course was extremely wet after the big storm Friday Night.

The winner was Bill Burke with 35 points from Greg Barling on 32 points.

Tony Harding was third on 30 points. NTPs ninth Tony Harding and tenth Grant Wilson.

On Sunday we 19 starters in an Irish Stableford sponsored by Col Shepherdson and Ash Bullock.

The winners on 69 points were Duane Mann and Geramy Seymour from John Butcher and Col Shepherdson with 58 points.

Third on a count back with 57 points was the team of Dudley Alcorn and Col Shepherdson.

NTP ninth John Butcher and tenth Dudley Alcorn.

Tuesday Night Comp commenced last week with the practice night with 62 starters.

Annette Treseder

Win for Burke

The Narromine Veteran golfers played their final match for the year on Saturday last with a Stableford on the back nine in conjunction with the Club competition.

A disappointing field of only four golfers turned up following the heavy rain on Friday night.

The winner was Bill Burke with a great score of 20 points. Steve Buckley was the runner-up with 13 points on a count back from Greg Barling.

The NTP went to South Australian visitor Grant Wilson.

That concludes the Veterans season for 2016 on the local scene.

The last event on the WDVGA programme is the Cobar Open on Friday, November 11 which also is the singles Championship for 2016 in the Western Districts.

Hope you all have a great break but remember -support your local Club. See you at the 19th.

Norman Lewis

Win for Fraser.

Last Wednesday the Narromine Gerries played a nine hole Stableford event on the front nine.

There were 13 players and competition was very keen despite the week-end rain.

Winner on the day was Malcolm Fraser with 22 points, a great score under the conditions.

Bob Fletcher took second place also with 22 points only to lose on a count back.

Once again the NTP was not won and now jackpots to next week.

The pool comp was next on the agenda with an interesting match to open proceedings.

Tiger Berryman and Bill Burke advanced to the final defeating Terry Willis and Norm Lewis.

Chris Harding and Ross King defeated Gus Smith and Bob Fletcher to make the the final.

The final was a somewhat lengthy affair eventually going to King and Harding.

There was some talk next week may be easy as these two are travelling the Murray for a game of golf on the flooded Murray river courses.

The Gerries are playing their comp this afternoon on the back nine with a hit off at 2.30pm.

There will be a meeting after golf to discuss and plan our summer competition which has been disrupted by the weather. See you all on the tee.

Norman Lewis

Trangie golf club has many long standing traditions, Manly visit, Cathundral Cup and the MacDougal Shield to name a few.

Thirty odd members off Dawn MacDougall's clan were all in Trangie last weekend for the 58th running of the event, to celebrate Dawns ninty third birthday.

Local Junior, Morgan Gale was too good for the 20 strong field to take home the prize and the Shield with 34 Stableford points.

It was a tough day on the course following Friday nights rain with low scores the order of the day.

Colonel Montgomery found the lack of run to his liking and carded 33 points to be runner up, Dawns Grandson, Douglas presented Morgan with the trophy.

"The MacDougall's thank the Trangie Golf Club, especially our own Scott MacDougall for their efforts in making the weekend special.

Congratulations to Morgan on a fine win" Morgan also managed the best shot off the tee on the sixth for the nearest the pin.

The Trangie Lady's played for Dawn's trophy to cap off a MacDougall day.

Linda McCutcheon just edged out Pam Ferrari to collect on this one.

Captain Fuzzly Fitzgerald announced after the presentation that the club will play for Kooka and Lyn Imperial Hotel two stick event next Saturday