Sports reports: Young sporting champions celebrated

This story includes contributions from the office of Tony Pasin and Michael Potts.

Six young sporting champions from the Murraylands and Barossa have been recognised for their achievements through the Australian government’s Local Sporting Champions program.

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin presented certificates to the recipients on Monday and congratulated them on competing at national level.

The recipients were:

• Cricketer Sarah Cameron, for a School Sport Australia championship
• Eight-ball players Oscar and Kaden Chamberlain, for the Junior Australian Eight Ball Championships
• Softballers Zaxton Sward, Cohen Myatt and Kaiden Martin, for the national under-16 softball championships

Zaxton, Cohen and Kaiden were members of the most successful under-16 boys’ softball team in South Australian history, becoming the first to finish runner-up at the national championships.

Mr Pasin also recognised three recipients who were unable to attend the presentation:

• Motorbike rider Ollie, for the Australian Enduro Motorcycling Championship
• Wheelchair basketballer Johnathan, for the under-18 and junior wheelchair national championships
• Hockey player Logan, for the Hockey Australia Under-16 Championships

Over the past six months, 16 young athletes across the electorate of Barker have received grants through the program, which provides grants of between $500 and $750 to help eligible young competitors, coaches and officials meet the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms and equipment.

“Representing your community at this level takes enormous commitment from these young athletes and their families,” Mr Pasin said.

“These grants help ease some of the financial pressure and ensure talented young people from regional communities have the opportunity to pursue their sporting ambitions.

“I congratulate each recipient on their achievements and wish them every success in their chosen sport.”

• Apply for a grant: Visit www.ausport.gov.au before August 31.

Troy Penhall powers to victory

Camera-shy C-grader Troy Penhall has let his clubs do the talking for him, winning Saturday’s Stableford competition at Murray Bridge Golf Club with 39 points.

When asked about his fine round, Penhall used another low-key golfer’s favourite cliché, that of “Gentleman” George Langsford: “Nothing to see here, just good, honest golf.”

So, with little to report, we will just say, “Great score, Troy,” on a course that hasn’t given up many points to players in recent rounds.

This difficulty in scoring was noticeable particularly in the B grade, where James Machin won with just the 32 points and Koady Miller would have choked on his beer when learning he was the runner-up with 30.

Crafty C-grader Deane Pannell would have considered himself unlucky not to be king of the day after putting together a fine 38-point round, but he had to be content with just the C-grade honours.

He did have a slice of luck, though, when he won the pro comp on a countback–his supreme 21-point back nine good enough to fill his pockets.

Teenager Mitch Gale famously shot an unbelievable round many months ago after just starting his competition career and was slapped with a ridiculous cut to his handicap by Golflink.

Forced to play off something like four for a short time, he had crept back out to 10 on Saturday, when he put in an excellent 35-point effort, but has now copped another two-shot whack by the handicapper.

It’s a tough game.

Speaking of talented teenagers–or is he even there yet?–the rapidly upward-shooting-in-height Levi Ashton slammed driver and then driver again from 210metresout to within10feet on the par five eighth before draining the putt for eagle.

While we’re on the youth train, Cohen Naughton snared the yabby with a delightful lob onto the tough par three 17th to be closest to the pin.

It’s winter, it’s cold and it’s tough going out there but come Saturday’s stroke competition, players will have the choice of playing off the newly introduced white tee blocks and gaining a head start on most holes for the cost of a shot or two off their handicaps if they so desire– another innovative introduction by the club worthy of consideration.

Lachie Thomas medals as SA Country defeats WA Country

South Australia Country has continued its dominance over Western Australia Country with a hard-fought nine-point win at Barossa Park on Saturday evening.

Both sides signalled their attacking intent in a free-flowing first quarter, the Croweaters earning a two-goal buffer whilst signalling their intent en route to stringing together their third win in succession against the Sandgropers.

Now boasting an ominous 10-3 win-loss record against their Nullarbor rivals since 2011, SA Country was forced into a slogfest after half-time as the visitors rolled up their sleeves in the persistent rain falling under lights at Lyndoch.

• Read more: sanfl.com.au.

Destroying demolishes the opposition as Murray Bridge produces several standout performances

Fine conditions have produced an entertaining 11-race program at Murray Bridge Greyhound Racing Club, with several impressive performances across Friday afternoon and several trainers enjoying strong results.

Destroying was arguably the standout performance of the meeting, producing a devastating display inracefive.

The Cameron Forshaw-trained chaser jumped cleanly and put the race beyond doubt with a huge 9.25-length victory in 22.17seconds over 395 metres.

The early 5.09 split set up the win before Destroying powered right away from the field.

• Read more: greyhoundracingsa.com.au.

River Murray netball results

• Ramblers 51 lost to Jervois 53
• Southern Mallee 32 lost to Mallee Districts 42
• Mannum 49 lost to Imperials 78
• Tailem Bend 44 lost to Coorong 65

River Murray football results

• Tailem Bend 4.4 (28) lost to Coorong 19.10 (124)
• Mannum 12.7 (79) defeated Imperials 6.8 (44)
• Southern Mallee 10.13 (73) defeated Mallee Districts 7.5 (47)
• Ramblers 7.4 (46) lost to Jervois 20.19 (139)

Murray Bridge United results

• Seniors defeated Strathalbyn Strikers 6-3
  J. McFee 17’, D. August 25’, 34’, T. Christiansen 38’, D. Kurniadi 58’, D. Binney 74’
• Reserves lost to Strathalbyn Strikers 2-1
  G. Alympic 38’
• Reserves lost to Adelaide Eagles 7-1 in the Reserves Cup

Send your sports reports to, or express an interest in sponsoring this weekly feature by contacting, jane@murraybridge.news.