Excellent Alaalatoa
Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa has taken out the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) Medal For Excellence at the 2019 BDO Rugby Players Lunch in Sydney on 11 December. Alaalatoa won the award, which is voted for by all Super Rugby players, for his achievements both on and off the field in 2019. The front-rower was also a finalist in the Academic Achievement Award for continuing his tertiary studies and now has just three units left to complete his Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Blake Enever, Tom Ross and recently retired Josh Mann-Rea were all also finalists in the Academic Achievement Award, while Andy Muirhead was shortlisted for the Community Service Award. Lachlan McCaffrey was awarded the Community Service Award, and Scott Sio was inducted into the RUPA Centurions Club.
Glory snatch draw
Perth Glory claimed their first competition point for the season after snatching a 1-1 draw with Canberra United through a Kim Carroll header in the 90th minute. Simone Charley scored for United. Canberra United’s next match is away to Adelaide United on Sunday 22 December followed by a Boxing Day clash (26 December 7.30pm) at home against the Western Sydney Wanderers at McKellar Park.
Flyers end Capitals’ home streak
Unbeaten at home for 16 straight games, the Southside Flyers ended the UC Capitals’ home-winning streak with a 70-65 win at the National Convention Centre on Sunday 15 December. In a tight contest, the Capitals held a slight advantage heading into the final quarter, up 50-47, however the Flyers finished strongly, scoring 23 points to UC’s 15 to claim the five-point victory. The UC Capitals host Bendigo Spirit at the National Convention Centre on Saturday 21 December 5.05pm before hitting the road in round 11 with matches against Adelaide Lightning (27 December) and Perth Lynx (29 December). In other news, UC Capitals players Marianna Tolo and Kelsey Griffin have been named in the Australian Opals squad for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament. The tournament will take place in Bourges, France on 6-9 February and will be the final qualifying step for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Cavalry fall to Blue Sox
The Canberra Cavalry have gone down 3-1 to the Sydney Blue Sox in their series held at Narrabundah on 12-15 December. The Cavs lost the first three games of the series 5-3, 2-1 and 12-9 before posting a high scoring 18-2 victory in game four to avoid a series sweep. Canberra hosts the Brisbane Bandits at Narrabundah Ballpark in a series on 19-22 December before an away series against Geelong-Korea on 26-29 December.
Bates brothers claim 1-2 finish
Canberra brothers, Harry and Lewis Bates, have a claimed a historic 1-2 in the 2019 Australian Rally Championship (ARC), driving a pair of Toyota Yaris AP4 rally cars. Harry Bates and co-driver John McCarthy had a dominant season on the way to becoming champions, with younger brother Lewis Bates and co-driver Anthony McLoughlin finishing with three podiums from three events to be runners-up. The results mark the first time in history that a sibling duo has claimed first and second in the Australian Rally Championship. Aged 24, Harry Bates also becomes the youngest-ever Australian Rally Champion. The Bates’ title defence will kick off in Canberra next year, with the first round of 2020 Australian Rally Championship being the Netier National Capital Rally, on 21-22 March.
Facility upgrades
Canberra Tennis Centre: The Canberra Tennis Centre is receiving significant upgradesin preparation for the Apis Canberra Internationalin January 2020. Works include: resurfacing the nine outdoor acrylic hard courts and four indoor acrylic hard courts; LED lighting upgrades on centre court, three additional outdoor courts and the four indoor courts; and a new northern grandstand.
Jerrabomberra Tennis Club: The Jerrabomberra Tennis Club will receive $125,000 from the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program to upgrade the lighting at its courts. The grant will see a major upgrade to the court lighting, which will help improve night competitions, social games, coaching and future events.
More sport:
