Sports Reports: World record attempt falls short at Murray Bridge Speedway

This post includes contributions from MMS Media, Joseph Di Santo, Daniel Irvine, the River Murray Football League and the River Murray Netball Association.

Murray Bridge Speedway has missed out on a demolition derby world record for another year.

The venue hosted its final event of the season on Saturday night, with wingless sprints, street stocks, junior sedans, AMCA nationals and the demolition derby world record attempt.

A massive crowd was treated to an entertaining night of action, with Jack McCarthy dominating in the wingless sprints before the crash and bash of the demolition derby took centre stage.

Unfortunately the world record attempt fell well short, with 96 official entries taking to the track.

This was a little disappointing for event organisers, considering that the venue was only three cars short of setting the record last season.

The current record of 125 was set in Canada back in 2019.

Once all the carnage had unfolded it was regular street stock racer Steven Gartner who emerged as the winner of the event.

As the field began to be reduced, Gartner definitely became the crowd favourite – he had them on their feet, cheering for more as he also collected the “most damage” award in his #132 Hyundai Excel.

A “best presented” award went to Grahem “Smokie” Reynolds for his brilliant Ghostbusters-themed car.

• Read more: www.murraybridgespeedway.com.

Murray Bridge United shares trophy with Salisbury Villa

Murray Bridge United have taken on arch-rivals Salisbury Villa at home in both senior grades in the Anzac round at Jaensch Oval on Saturday, where the annual Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy was up for grabs.

In a brief ceremony before the A grade game, former United player and current Army Reservist Joseph Di Santo was on emcee duties with support from Murray Bridge Community Concert Band trumpeter Roger Head, who played the Last Post.

Local football identity and former National Soccer League referee Charlie Di Santo tossed the coin before the game; United won and gave Villa the kick-off to the clubroom end.

The battle had an intense tempo at the get-go; Villa seemed to be the more dominant of the two in the first half, and United goalkeeper Raymond Agius was called upon early to make numerous saves.

United’s Vanuatuan import, Joshua Ngui, came off at the 15-minute mark with an injury, forcing United’s playing coach Stuart Bradshaw to bring himself on in his place.

The move unsettled United and Villa pounced.

Moments later Villa were awarded a corner and full back Nicholas Daloisio broke the deadlock, heading the ball into the back of the net to give Villa a 1-0 lead.

United regrouped and built upon their intensity, after which a number of yellow cards were issued to both teams.

Both had their chances in the first half but failed to make any further impact on the scoreboard.

United came out firing in the second half, but Villa had an answer for everything they threw at them.

Midway through the second half, United’s Josh Margetts opened the side’s goal account, putting United back in the game at 1-1.

Fifteen minutes from time, United’s Damon Sorensen thought he had scored the goal of the season, crossing the ball from the right wing into the back of the net.

Some confusion occurred: United thought they had taken the lead, but Villa goalkeeper Anthony Varapodio had re-injured his hand in the process.

The linesman had signalled the ball had gone out of play, the referee disallowed the goal and awarded Villa a goal kick, much to United’s disbelief.

Bradshaw decided to substitute himself and inject some fresh legs into the game to try and pounce on Villa’s substitute goalkeeper for a late winner and the sole rights to the Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy, but the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Matteo Tukja, from Salisbury Villa, was judged the player of the day, having best demonstrated the Army values of courage, leadership, initiative and teamwork.

Helen Di Santo presented him the Di Santo Medallion, which acknowledges the family’s contribution to local football and the Australian Defence Force.

Charlie Di Santo presented the two captains with the trophy.

The B grade secured their first win of the season, defeating Villa 2-1; goal scorers were Lewin Kwaomae and Jay Eckermann.

This week both senior teams will be away to Stirling Districts, club legend Terry Hayes will coach against United and the As will be eager to get their first win of the season.

River Murray Football League results

Jervois 20.8 (128) defeated Ramblers 9.5 (59)

Jervois goals: Josh Scott 8, Zane Barry, Josiah Ferrer 3, Seth Catford 2, Ben Hansen, Taite Silverlock, Tom Kluske, Bradley Towill 1. Best: Zane Barry, Josh Scott, Taite Silverlock, Josiah Ferrer, Tom Kluske.

Rambler goals: Connor Baker, Lual Kelei, Jacob Trevorrow 2, Keynan Harradine, Ethan Cornish, Griffin Sibley 1. Best: Keynan Harradine, Jacob Trevorrow, Shannon Callery, Aaron Pratt, Nelson Miller.

Meningie 12.16 (88) defeated Mannum 9.15 (69)

Meningie goals: Brodie Martin 6, Darcy Spinks 2, Jiye Hoad, Brad Thompson, Charlie Allgrove, Brody Vandenbrink 1. Best: Brad Thompson, Matthew Hartman, Peter Reichelt, Sam Sanders, Brodie Martin.

Mannum goals: Jake Keller, Bailey Boughen 3, Dylan Ribbons, Danny Walker, Sebastian Quaini 1. Best: Harrison Hawkins, Tyson Schellen, Mitchell Heward, Michael O'Malley, Josh Boylan.

Imperials 14.9 (93) defeated Tailem Bend 4.12 (36)

Imperial goals: Sam DeMichele 6, John Boras 5, Lucas Young, Harley Montgomery, Ben Gogel 1. Best: Harley Montgomery, Clint Diment, Mitchell Lienert, Sam DeMichele, Brayden Martin.

Tailem Bend goals: Dale Finnie, Steven Clay, Louis Merrett, Charlie Fisher 1. Best: Steven Clay, Daniel Perks, Josef Rack, Charlie Fisher, Dylan Hogarth.

River Murray Netball Association results

Ramblers 49 drew with Jervois 49

Imperials 46 defeated Tailem Bend 31

Rifle shooters struggle with inconsistency

Murray Bridge Rifle Club members should be getting used to tricky weather by now, or so you would think.

Ten members tried their hand from 800 metres on Saturday in the ongoing annual championship, where a strong right wind, hiding frequent tricky changes, proved that things were not always meant to be easy.

The difficulty was evidenced by top TR shooter Robert Paech, whose hard-earned 50.04 in the second round was marred by a 39.02 in his first.

Even with a possible he was unable to hold off Andrew Heard, whose consistent 47.03 and 46.03 were enough to secure him top off-rifle in TR and the handicap award ahead of Jasamine Irvine, on her first shoot back after having a baby.

It wasn’t a completely happy return, though, as she also managed to count out Paech to win the Magpie Award.

F-class also was beset by the difficult conditions, with few escaping the acquisition of a “bird” or two; Frank Marshall claimed the un-coveted award on a day when it could have gone to anyone.

The standout individual score for the day was a 57.03 from David McDonald in F-open in his second round, but he was plagued by the same problems as Paech, only managing to score a 45.00 in his first round.

The overall winner of the F-class handicap by a long way was up-and-coming shooter Oscar Neumann, whose consistency gave him a nine-point lead on second place.

Impressively, he also managed to collect his first off-rifle win, outscoring everyone on the day with his 108.06.

The next best was Wayne Halliday, who was the top F-open shooter, finishing on 103.02.

Several club members also represented South Australia recently in state teams matches in Bendigo as well as competing in the Victorian State Championship.

Nicole Edwards was a member of the victorious South Australian FTR team and also scored a near perfect 60.08 at one range during the Queens.

Competition was fierce, with McDonald also scoring highly at a range with a 60.07 that still left him fifth.

It all made Adrian Conlon’s efforts to win a fourth, 10th, and fifth-place badge at the lead-up, the Queens, and the Grand Agg respectively, and his wife Karen’s 16th in the Queens, that much more of an achievement.

The club will continue its championship season next Saturday from 700 metres.

Email your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news or call 0419 827 124.

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