Between Seasoners,
Having been overseas for a while, missed the end of the cricket season and the start of the football season.
The news of Benji Marshall breaking down within minutes of the start of the opening game of the season, doing his knee in an apparently innocuous tackle, didn’t exactly make back page news in the Bangkok Post or the Vientiane Times!
[although the Bangkok Post, to its credit, does carry the cricket scores!]
Benji says he hasn’t been walking under any ladders or running into black cats lately, but you do have to wonder.
A good thing for everyone involved that the kiddie saw the light and decided to sign on again with the Mighty Tiges on a considerably reduced wage, and after being told by those who know, that no other club would be prepared to take him on given his form when it comes to injury.
SC Sheens, as you’d expect, was philosophical.
“…at least it’s not a season ender. I hate season enders. Both for the player, and what it does to the playing roster”
West Tigers 24. Tries: Fulton, Lawrence, Farah, Moltzen. Goals: Hodgson 4.
St George Illawarra 16. Tries: Gasnier, Soward, Reynoldson. Goals: Soward 2.
At Sydney Football Stadium.
Crowd 18,211 [Other sources suggest: 18,247]
The Swans side for the opening match of the caper against St Kilda has an interesting look to it on paper.
The time honoured mix of yoof and experience.
Good to see SC Roos has slotted the debutant Bird into the team right next to BBB Hall, that should sort him out; the Son of Gary right next to the Ugliest Man in Football, which doesn’t give the backline much of a calendar pin up look, but should be effective; especially with the Great Thadhg deciding to stick it out for one more year before returning to Dublin, and the Mattner kiddie, who was unloved and unwanted at the Crows, also getting a guernsey in the backline.
The forwards can look after themselves, you would have thought.
You can only hope that Magic and The Goodes Train can play through the tired old legs and aching bones and find the form that was sadly lacking for much last season.
The coach has faith, so so must we.
The Mighty Blue Bags winning the Sheffield Shield was never in doubt for mine, months ago, when my bookie was offering the juicy odds of $3.00
Happy to see a not inconsiderable pay out on the wager.
How was it ever in doubt when Kaptain Kat broke the all-time record for runs scored in a Shield season, with 1506, at a Bradman like average of 94.12?
How was it ever in doubt when Doug “Champagne” Bollinger played out of his skin all season to top the bowling averages with 45 wickets at 15.44?
After having seen perhaps more first class cricket this season than any other in Sydney, should have gone to the ground on the fifth and final day as the opportunity was there, but at the moment the boys were lathering themselves in Champagne and beer foam, found myself having an afternoon nap at home, secure in the knowledge that the job was done.
A champion effort from a champion team.
