Sports reports: Alex Wilson named in Opals squad

This story includes a contribution from Daniel Irvine.

Murray Bridge basketballer Alex Wilson is on the cusp of making her debut for the Opals, Australia’s national women’s basketball team.

Wilson was added to the Opals squad for the Women’s Asia Cup ahead of the tournament’s beginning in Shenzhen, China this Sunday.

Australia will play their group matches against the Phillippines, Lebanon and Japan at 6pm on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, respectively, with finals to follow.

Games will be broadcast on ESPN and Disney Plus.

Wilson has not played for the Opals before despite starring as a 3x3 basketballer for Australia at last year’s Paris Olympics, as MVP at the 3x3 Asia Cup both this March and in 2024, and as a Women’s National Basketball League first-team all-star last season.

• Read more: www.australia.basketball.

Crows give back on visit to Murray Bridge

As a wide-eyed 10-year-old in Lucindale, Darcy Fogarty still remembers the day the Crows rolled into town.

Now, years later, the Crows forward has come full circle, giving back to young fans by helping to host a coaching clinic in Murray Bridge alongside teammates Mitch Hinge and Nick Murray.

Speaking to AFC Media in Murray Bridge, Fogarty said it was a privilege to bring that same joy to hundreds of regional fans.

• Read more: www.afc.com.au.

Kym Schenscher breaks RMFL’s A grade games umpired record

Back in the Murraylands, Kym Schenscher has broken the River Murray Football League record for A grade games umpired.

Schenscher took the whistle for his 375^th league match on Saturday as Mypolonga hosted Mallee Districts.

He had already notched a pile of other milestones in the league, having umpired his 500^th game in any grade last year.

Prior to his umpring career, Schenscher recorded 352 A grade games for Mypolonga as a player, bringing his total in the top tier of River Murray footy to 727 games so far.

However, he still has a little way to go to catch up to the RMFL’s reigning games umpired record holder: the late Harold McLaren, with 765.

• Mypolonga 12.14 (86) defeated Mallee Districts 2.8 (20)
  Mypolonga best: Riley Robinson, Brayden Hein, Jack Wilkins, Jordan Hein, Samuel Elliott. Mallee Districts best: Corey Cox, Chris Rudiger, Brodie Case, Henry Olsson, Matthew Brown, Kynen Adams.
• Imperials 6.8 (44) lost to Jervois 10.11 (71)
  Imperials best: William Crane, Cameron Ball, Louis De Michele, Sean Samblich, Luke Harrowfield. Jervois best: Joshua Scott, Lachlan Thomas, Zane Barry, Harrison Ingram, Peter Zarantonello.
• Southern Mallee 19.11 (125) defeated Mannum 6.5 (41)
  Southern Mallee best: Rory O’Driscoll, Ryan Wurfel, Charlie Hay, Josh Smithson, Oscar Barrett. Mannum best: Cody Woolford, Nick Fergusson, Cody Krollig, Thomas Roberts, Mitchell Heward.
• Tailem Bend 15.13 (103) defeated Ramblers 13.10 (88)
  Tailem Bend best: Jake Weidemann, Ed Schultz, Cameron Zander, Daniel Zander, Nathan McPherson, Samuel Jarvis. Ramblers best: Jack Lewis, Ethan Lewis, Aaron Pratt, Lachlan Butler, Griffin Sibley.

Grahame Reid stands out on tough day at golf club

It was a battle of the C-graders at the top of Saturday's stroke competition at Murray Bridge Golf Club, with Grahame Reid easily coming out on top.

In fact, he was the only player to beat his handicap out of the 58 that tried.

He didn't just beat it, either – he obliterated it by seven strokes in returning a superb nett 63.

Scintillating stuff!

Youngster Lucas Ackland was the runner-up for the day with an even-with-the-card 70, edging out the unpredictable John Barwick on a countback after putting together a solid Saturday effort.

The field was a bit down on numbers, being the middle of winter, with a quite a few members away chasing the sun, watching the footy or just keeping out of any unfavourable weather.

For those who are willing, though, a Stableford competition will await this Saturday.

New season begins at rifle club

Greg Traeger and John Cranwell have both had perfect starts to the new championship year for the Murray Bridge Rifle Club, attaining double possibles at the first stage, shot over 300 metres.

Neither shooter had it their own way, however, as competitors made the most of the close range and the cold but agreeable weather.

In TR, Traeger’s 100.10 was only a point ahead of Robert Paech on 99.16, which included a 50.08 in his second round.

Paech’s exceptional centre count meant that he was able to claim the handicap win, finishing two points ahead of Traeger.

In sporting production, Mark Whittle continued his stellar return to the range, scoring a 99.14 and a 50.08.

In F-class, open shooters Adrian Conlon and David McDonald were hot on Cranwell’s heels, both scoring 118s to finish only two points behind his 120.15.

There were no surprises in the handicap, either, with Cranwell’s very good score giving him an almost four-point win ahead of Conlon.

Peter Casley and Bryan Robertson were the pick of the standard shooters, each scoring 113.05.

The new championship year will continue this week from 500 metres.

Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.