French-bound Nic White will probably be halfway across the world by the time SE is published in the Maitland Mercury but the departing Australian halfback left a lasting impression on one Maitland Blacks junior team.
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While at home during the week White made a guest appearance at his old stomping ground – Marcellin Park – to help put the under 10s through their paces ahead of Saturday’s Newcastle and Hunter Junior Rugby Union grand finals at Tomaree Sporting Complex.
All the kids, both young and old, we’re pretty pumped by the visit and while the baby Blacks narrowly missed the desired result in the decider on the weekend they won’t forget that training session for a while.
The under 10s went down 7-5 to Merewether but Maitland’s under-13 side got the job done 21-5 against Singleton.
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Still on Maitland junior sport and the Mustangs under-12 girls made it through to the final four at the state championships in Sydney.
This put them two wins away from a Basketball NSW title on Sunday.
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Lorn equestrian Libby Hulin has been acknowledged by the University of Newcastle for her efforts outside of the classroom.
The student received a scholarship and was a finalist at the Uni’s annual sportsperson of the year awards on Friday night.
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Maitland cricket historian Lindsay Wood recalls former Test cricket opener Arthur Morris as quite the all-round sportsman.
One of Bradman’s Invincibles, Morris, who passed away last weekend, used to play tennis with Wood and others at Hinton when he lived at Cessnock.
Wood said the left-hander was quite the polished performer on court.
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Former Kurri Kurri Bulldogs fullback Nathan Ross crossed the stripe on #thanksGids day but it wasn’t enough for the Newcastle Knights to get across the line against the Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday.
The Knights fell two points short of the visitors in front of a packed Hunter Stadium there to farewell outgoing skipper Kurt Gidley.
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Bollywood has turned its attention to sport with a crack at a rugby sevens movie.
The trailer is online and is well worth the Google, especially for the interpretation of the ruck.
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And it couldn’t be a SE this Monday without a mention of the segway debacle which almost ended the career of the world’s greatest athlete.
Jamaican sprint star and six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt was bowled over by a cameraman on two-wheels while celebrating his 200 metre victory at the world championships in Beijing.
It ended up humourous and harmless but it could have been a lot worse and safe to say the Segway driver may be looking for a new job.
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Numbers Game: 121 – the number of years which the Maitland Mercury has been a daily newspaper.
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Moment That Mattered: The death of Melbourne Cup king Bart Cummings aged 87 – thanks for the memories.
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Quote: “The run we had was outstanding and no-one would have predicted it,” Newcastle Knights premiership winner Daniel Abraham reflecting on his six seasons at Kurri Kurri, with the highlight being the Bulldogs charge towards the 2013 Newcastle Rugby League grand final.
