Sports Reports: Murray Bridge golfers bring home some silverware

Plus the latest in local cycling, rifle shooting and more.

Sports Reports: Murray Bridge golfers bring home some silverware

This post includes contributions from Murray Bridge Golf Club, the River Murray Football League, Phil McGee, the River Murray Netball Association and Daniel Irvine.

Murray Bridge Golf Club’s B2 men’s pennants team has had a good weekend. Photo: Murray Bridge Golf Club.

Murray Bridge Golf Club’s men’s B2 pennants team has tasted success on Sunday at Echunga, where they won a final convincingly, five rubbers to two, over Aston Hills.

Led by their fearless captain, Steve Angove, the team played great golf to overcome strong opposition.

A mix of consistency from Corey Dahlitz, brawn from Greg Schmidt, silky timing from Brett Altschwager, crafty course management from Shane Aldridge, determination and skill from Mark Sappenberghs and bamboozling “power fade” golf from Damo Moloney was too much for their opponents.

Meanwhile, he’s done it again: classy golfer Aaron Zrim has dominated Saturday’s par competition, winning with a dazzling score of five-up.

In peak form at the minute, he must be considered a real chance in the current club championships with the final qualifying round being played this Saturday.

To win it he will have to get past another red-hot golfer in club president Mark Bolton, who won the A grade with a great score of two-up.

Rod Thoman took B-grade honours on a countback from David Lewis, with both players registering scores of one-up.

In the C grade, 80-something-year-old Ken Parbs checked in feeling a bit off-colour from his recent COVID-19 booster shot but questions need to be asked about just what was he injected with after he ended his round on a brilliant four-up.

Parbs was heard saying afterwards that he would be returning to see that doctor again before his next round.

Ball winners were led by Joel McFee, with one-up, while “Buckets” Jackson, Graeme Munt, Craig Mathew and larger-than-life Graham Edwards each recorded nice square-with-the-card rounds.

Matt Kowald won the yabby on the 14th and the pro comp went to one of the women who entered.

Yes, teenager Asia Marsters shot a wonderful back nine of four-up to take the kitty, albeit in a countback over the luckless “Buckets” Jackson.

It will be time for the third and final qualifying stroke round of the club championships for the men this Saturday.

River Murray football results

Jervois 11.14 (80) defeated Imperials 11.6 (72)

Jervois goals: Ben Hansen 4, Owen Love 3, Dylan Barry, Josh Scott, Josiah Ferrer, Brayden Gommers 1. Best: Brayden Smith, Tyler Miller, Mitchell Noye, Luke Kluske, Zane Barry.

Imperial goals: Clint Diment 3, Luke Harrowfield, John Boras 2, Mitchell Lienert, Sam DeMichele, Ben Gogel, Aidan Morrell 1. Best: Clint Diment, Nathan Daish, Aidan Morrett, Louis DeMichele, Harley Montgomery.

Tailem Bend 11.9 (75) defeated Mannum 7.13 (55)

Tailem Bend goals: Charlie Fisher, Connor Smelt 3, Steven Clay 2, Keelan White, Scott Chandler, Tom Starkey. Best: Charlie Fisher, Nick Westhoff, Harry Porter, Louis Merrett, Daniel Perks.

Mannum goals: Blake Tabe 3, Jake Keller 2, Matthew Weistra, Zakk Bullard 1. Best: Michael O'Malley, Harrison Hawkins, Daniel Walker, Tyson Schellen, Joel Webster.

Mypolonga 16.7 (103) defeated Ramblers 7.9 (51)

Mypolonga goals: Simon Norris 5, Stephen Mills 4, Timothy Atkins 2, Jack Wilkins, Jack Kluske, Kobe Wilson, Lochlan Gotch, Regan Gotch 1. Best: Jack Kluske, Stephen Mills, Regan Gotch, Simon Norris, Todd Howson.

Rambler goals: Not posted. Best: Jarrad Weyland, Lual Kelei, Jayden Parker-Menzies, Tyreen Gollan, Aaron Pratt.

James Hand, in black, lines up for an event at the Riverland Cycling Weekend. Photo: Turn Eight Photography.

Tailem Bend cyclist records a handy result in the Riverland

The Barry Skinner Senior Classic has been ridden and won at the 48th annual Riverland Cycling Weekend, with Tailem Bend lad James Hand doing well to finish 12th in a tight group of 23 riders that all crossed the finish line in two hours, 11 minutes and 38 seconds.

Hand was the second under-19 rider over the line and also finished second overall in the sprint points with a third, first and first on each lap.

“On the day my group was working well together all taking pulls to hold off the bunches behind,” Hand said.

“I knew that after each lap there was a sprint comp so I thought I would try to go for those.

“For the finish I didn’t have much left, so I tried to be up the front of the bunch of around 50, so then I didn’t have to worry about getting around riders and just hang on for the finish.”

Hand also raced in the men’s C grade criterium, on another 4km closed circuit along the picturesque Riverview Drive, just east of the Berri Hotel.

Hand said the course’s sharp corners hadn’t suited his riding style, and that he had been able to hang on throughout the race but got “spat out” at the finish.

River Murray netball results

Imperials 64 defeated Jervois 25

Mannum 45 defeated Tailem Bend 29

Mypolonga 62 defeated Ramblers 32

Nicole Edwards adjusts her aim at Monarto on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Irvine.

Nicole Edwards makes her mark on the rifle range

A strong right wind has challenged the dozen shooters competing in the 29th stage of the Murray Bridge Rifle Club championship on Saturday at the Deed Range at Monarto.

Most of the contingent coped well at a range of 700 metres, but a few were caught out, although no-one from either grade won the dreaded Magpie Award.

Certainly not caught out in target rifle were Andrew Heard and Robert Paech, both of whom shot 99s, including possibles in their second rounds.

In the end Heard snuck home off-rifle by a single centre, and by 2.4 points in the handicap.

In F-class, Peter Casley took out the handicap award with his top off-rifle performance in F-standard, scoring 113.02.

He was 3.5 points ahead of second-placed Nicole Edwards, whose 114.04 not only won the F-TR grade but was also the top score by any F-class shooter on the range.

Both finished ahead of the highest-scoring F-open shooter, David McDonald, who ended the day with 112.03 that did include a 58.02.

Shooters will have to bring their A game next week as competition continues from 1000 yards.


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