Ron Lane
Boxing.
It has happened again. Once more the Head Coach of the Cooroy Impact boxing Academy Mark Evans, has taken one of his amateur boxing team right to the very top. This time it is a member of the female team. Her name is Paige Robinson and boxing in the 60kg Division of the Female Youth Championship of Australia, this 17-year-old girl, not only won the gold medal but was also named the Best Female Boxer of the tournament.
Definitely a great effort: but it does not stop there. On Thursday evening when the Amateur Boxing team to represent our country at the World Championships in Spain was named, Page Robinson was selected. Also, it is interesting to note that Paige was the only female to be named in the team. Mark Evans, her very proud coach, said, “For Paige it was a very nervous time waiting for the Australian selectors to name the team. But now the wait was worth it. She made the team.”
Paige started at Impact Boxing seven years ago, when not many other girls were boxing. There were times when they could not get opponents for her so they travelled interstate, and overseas to New Zealand looking for fights. There were times when Mark thought she may give it away due to lack of opponents. “I have always said that Page had something special: that one day all her dedication, hard work and commitment to her sport would pay off. At just 17 she has been crowned the best female boxer in her division in the country and now she will represent Australia. She has always dreamed of wearing the Green and Gold: I honestly believe that this is her time to shine.”
Like all successful boxers she has her strong points and one of these is the move called the switch. This is when boxing as an orthodox she can suddenly switch to fighting as a southpaw, a move that can leave an opponent very confused and off balance. “The good thing about this,” said her coach, “is that she is quite happy with both and also it is something that she picked up herself.” The titles which will be held in Alicante Spain, will be contested from November 5 to November 15. We wish Page and her Australian team mates, all the very best.
Rugby League.
For Noosa Pirates Rugby League club Saturday was definitely a testing ground. The weekend prior was for the Pirates one to forget when their team, racked with injuries and Covid restrictions played Kawana and took a trouncing. To say that the Pirates needed a convincing win against Caboolture would be the understatement of the season. With a good crowd in attendance, that important factor called local support, certainly gave the Pirates a boost as they ran on to the field. Then with only three minutes on the clock, a good sweeping run by the back line saw the home team score out wide and convert. Pirates 6 Caboolture o.
Both teams showed that they were willing to play open football. Good performance from the backs of both teams saw their attacking moves take them to within 10 yards of the opposition line. However good defence saw the score unchanged until the 20- minute mark when Pirates big man, known as R. J. scored near the posts. With an easy kick it was Pirates 12 Caboolture 0. Then in the 27th minute Dan Moevao scored another converted try, making it 18-0. However, Caboolture’s aggressive back line running, finally saw them get on the scoreboard with an unconverted try from their left wing, making it Pirates 18-4. This held till half time
Caboolture kept the pressure on but the Pirates good cover defence, sometimes from just yards out, saw their forwards keep the Caboolture forwards from crossing the line. The visitors were aggressive and spent a lot of time in the Pirates territory. This usually resulted from back line moves but in the final yards they seemed to lack a good, solid finishing combinations with their forwards.
Resumption of play saw Pirates score again, out wide on the right wing: and with what had to be the kick of the day it was converted. Pirates 24 Caboolture 4. From then on it was to be all Pirates. Their forwards were also maintaining good attacking moves, one of which resulted in a converted try near the posts making it 30-4.With Caboolture continuing to fight back, their last- ditch effort was lost when an intercept by a Pirates centre, who then ran 50 m to score, definitely made it the Pirates: 34-4 on the last whistle.
Despite the final score Caboolture had, on several occasions made good ground into Pirates territory and showed good ball control. But a lack of support runners in the last vital yards saw them loose some scoring opportunities. For Pirates the highlight of the day had to be the factor that in the last 15 minutes, their speed and ball handling would have to be one of their best performances for the season. In the words of head coach Brett Winkler, “It was a great win with A graders back from injuries and Coved restriction. To win on a home game made it even better: a really great team effort.”
In the lower grades U/18 Pirates vs Caboolture, Pirates 22 Caboolture 6: Women’s vs Caboolture, Caboolture 38 Pirates 10 : Reserve Grade Pirates vs Bribie Island, Bribie 42-Pirates10. After the main game Pirates again conducted a charity fund raiser: this time it was in support of Sunshine Butterflies. The main sponsor for the A grade game was Always Cool: and they also sponsored the goods for the auctions. Pirates wish to thank the local business houses who donated prizes for the raffles.
Coaching.
Sharlene Kelly, who has been making a reputation as a coach in surf lifesaving competition has, as a result of her success, received two appointments. She has just been appointed as the QAS (Queensland Academy of Sports) head coach for sprint kayaking on the Sunshine Coast. Also, she has been appointed as the Surf Lifesaving Australia National Coaching Advisor.
Speaking with Sharlene she said, “I am presently, a presenter and facilitator for SLSA Women’s Coaching for the Elite program: a program which is run annually. I am also a member of the SLSA Women’s Mentor Program as a Mentor.” These appointments are indeed a good indicator as to the high regard that those in high places, hold this young lady. Her succerses, while coaching in the Noosa Heads surf club, are second to none, and would be without a doubt a great inspiration to many up- and- coming young coaches. But perhaps one of the most pleasing aspects for Sharlene, is the chance to work as a member of the SLSA Women’s Mentor Program. “I just love having the opportunity to work with the ladies and be of assistance when- ever I can. To have a program designed specifically for women is definitely a step in the right direction.” Congratulations to Sharlene: and the very best from all of us in the Noosa community.
