While the recent results of the Noosa Pirates Rugby League Teams saw the senior men and women bow out in week two of the finals, it has, however, been a good year for the club.
Despite not being the results that we wanted when our division 1 (men’s) went down narrowly, it was a positive step forward for the Pirates: an improved performance on the previous season.
Our women’s team also debuted in finals’ footy this year, which was a fantastic result for the club. For the ladies, they lost a close one at Caboolture, while the Division 1 lost a thriller in the dying moments of a home game.
There was a massive turnout by the Noosa faithful, and we are so thankful for your outstanding support of the mighty blue and gold. The players and staff are all disappointed that they couldn’t get the big W for you on the day.”
However, for the Pirates there is still one game to go.
For next weekend, the general manager has issued a statement.
“It is time to set sail, ye ole Pirate faithful, as the mighty blue and gold, U/18s Noosa Men’s team, go round in SCGRL grand final action, this Saturday 11am, at Sunshine Coast Stadium Kawana. Last Saturday, after a tough game at Shark Park, the Pirates prevailed 28-16 in the local derby that wasn’t sealed until the final few minutes of play. It was a great effort from the lads and a fitting reward for those who performed so well in the 2020 competition: now in 2021 with the addition of players from our U/16 premiership team, of last season.”
The words of club general manager Brett Winkler summed it up well when he said, “It has been a great result overall for the club: big improvement on all fronts, of the previous season”.
With the season being one of the most turbulent in the club’s history, due to all the Covid restrictions and cancellations, the hard work and loyalty shown by the entire Pirates Club, staff, coaches, players and supporters should be one that the club can look back on with pride. And let’s not forget the loyalty of the sponsors and the mums and dads. They didn’t hesitate. They stood by the Pirates throughout the season. So, to club president Paul Dwyer and club general manager Brett Winkler – all say, many thanks for your leadership.
The Noosa Outriggers canoe clubs, both junior and senior clubs, are now looking forward to competing in the inaugural Big Splash Summer Stunner regatta, hosted by the Bribie Outriggers on 9 October.
They took the opportunity to be fully prepared for the event by participating in the recent Mooloolaba -hosted Bay Relay Regatta. According to a club representative, it was a beautiful day to paddle with clubs from all over the South Queensland zone gathering for a big hit out, after being restricted for so long due to Covid. Mooloolaba promised and delivered a great event with exciting viewing as all canoes had to come into the beach for the crew change overs.
The Bay Relay consisted of a total distance of 25 kms, with the crews required to do five laps of 5km, with a change of two or three crews every lap. Exciting stuff as each crew battled for positions close to the beach, while looking for their new crew: a good change-over would enable them to get away quickly, thus maintaining their race position.
A rising shore break and a bigger swell in the bay made some change-overs and safe passage a real challenge, with some crews coming to grief as they failed to negotiate the breaks and ended up in the water. Noosa once again entered strong teams thus achieving great results. Noosa’s brave Mighty Minnows who carry the flag for Noosa’s growing junior program, had to paddle 4 x 1km rounds with a beach change-over and came home in second place with a time of 26 minutes, 47 seconds.
Noosa seniors performed well in the seniors’ race of 25kms, with beach change every 5km ,coming home first in the Golden Masters’ Division in 2 hours, 41 seconds, and first in the Senior Master Men’s Division, in 2 hours, 22 minutes.
The Golden Masters Mixed crew, finished second in their age group, coming home in 2 hours, 49.39, a very close race with the Masters women who finished third in their age group in a time of 2 hours, 49.16: just centimetres in front of the Golden Masters Mixed crew. With these overall results, it is easy to understand why the Noosa crews are eagerly looking forward to the Big Splash Summer Stunner.
This is a sport that is open to both male and female members: right through to the middle- age categories. A very important factor is that it is both an international sport and one that is steeped in age old traditions, traditions, that are not only being handed down from the Polynesian people to us Aussies, but are also accepted and passed on to our younger generation. The importance of successful sporting clubs within our community should never be underestimated at the Noosa Outrigger Club.
For the Ray White Dolphins Rugby Union Club, last weekend was full on rugby action. At Sunshine Coast Stadium, the Noosa junior teams turned out for their grand final experiences. The Noosa U/12s got the day off to a great start for the club, winning their grand final 22-7. In all other grand final matches, the under 13s,14s, 15s, and Junior Colts Noosa were represented. All grades did their teams and club proud, with games going down to the wire against Caloundra and Maroochydore. However, it was those two, who took home the silverware on the day.
Later that evening at the junior clubs’ presentation, club president Zoe Griffen thanked all players, coaches and managers for what has been a fantastic season for the club. The highlight of the season is the fact that every age group was represented in the finals and finished off what has been a difficult year for community sport: an amazing achievement for our rugby fraternity.
This weekend, all four senior grades will travel to the Sunshine Coast University to contest the grand finals: Noosa Colts vs Maroochydore, Noosa Women’s vs Caloundra, Noosa Reserve Grade vs University, and in the big game, the A Grade, it will be Noosa Dolphins vs University.
In his comments regarding the clubs’ achievements this season, Donald Mckill made reference to the fact that the nine Noosa teams, both junior and senior, that were eligible to make the grand finals, had achieved their goals.
“This is indeed an outstanding effort from everyone involved with our club. And I thank you and congratulate you one and all.’’
For the Dolphins support group, wanting information regarding travel and game times, the Noosa Rugby Social media web page will have all the information.
This year has been described by rugby union president Donald McKill and endorsed by rugby league president Paul Dwyer, as being a difficult year for community sport. However, it has also, regardless of the difficulties, been one of outstanding loyalty and achievements by all involved with both Dolphins and Pirates. And this, no doubt, would apply to the rank and file of many other organisations within our proud community.
