New sports adventure ... the Socceroos !

March 26, 2017

Today was a day to allow me to have a good opportunity to see a Champion player and person, Tim Cahill. The amount of following he brings along where ever he goes is phenomenal. Soccer Australia must be thanking their lucky stars after Cahill agreed to come back to play in the A league as his profile is huge and so many kids are interested to play the world game just because of him. I'm not trying disrespect all the other Socceroos, though even some one as old as me was enticed to drive across the bridge to see Tim train!

Anyways .. kudos to Soccer Australia, and extra special kudos to the players being so professional in their approach.

Final stretches by the players before warms ups

Cahill leads the team off for stroll and applause to the fans that turned up

Y... M... C... A... are they dancing or what

Back to the Footy ...

March 4, 2017

Round 1 of the 2017 NRL season started last Thursday and my beloved Dragons kicked their season off on Saturday against the Penrith Panthers. If you follow the experts the two teams are headed towards different ends of the table by seasons end. Penrith are expected to finish in the top 2 with their skillful yet youthful side who have had another year of experience, where as the Dragons are expected to finish in the bottom 2 as the side on paper does not look a lot different than last year except for a few new purchases.

So with that said it was looking like a bleak, rainy, wet, and cold Saturday afternoon at Kogarah Oval. I got myself comfortable on the Northern end of the ground where I have sat in the same seat for 3 years. Not the best seat in the house but it gives a view close the action without a media pass. I need to find out how to get one of those!

Photo kit wise it's all the same equipment except I got myself a 2nd hand Canon 1.4x Mk II extender to give my 70-200mm a bit more reach. I get 280mm @ f/4.0 now which is still not ideal but hey... its the cheapest way in to the market for a 300mm. No where to rent the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 unfortunately so I'm still saving my pennies.

Here are some pics, I'm a bit rusty so nothing seemed to be tack sharp. At the moment I'm blaming myself and not the equipment. So here are some pics for you to enjoy

I get close but the visiting side always warms up on the Northern end of Jubilee. Peachy and Cartwright warming up

No warm up here, no one calls Hiku and Moylan go for an early bomb

Dragons one the front foot early in the first half. Penrith seemed a little flat. Thompson getting involved early and steams on to a short ball to make 4-0

Forwards are really going forward today for the Dragons, but the backs are making it a game of it too

Josh Dugan on the charge early taking a hand off McCrone

It's all in the eyes, Paul Vaughn making a strong debut for the Red V.

Tim Lafai out in the open spaces, which was something rare last year

P train they were yelling out at the ground. Awesome go forward from the props

There was tough defence too, Gypsy helping out the skipper

Widdop didn't do much of this yesterday, his running game was back and reaped in the dividends with 2 meat pies

Frizell was not to be out done by his 2nd row partner, took the line on all game

Thompson goes over for his 2nd meat pie of the day

Waqa Blake goes up high to defuse a bomb

Jack de Belin, contract extension ... shows what he is worth with a powerful run to get over the line

Celebrations all around the try scorer de Belin, but he is no where to be seen

That's half time, the Dragons showing some enterprise with the ball and using it well to be ahead at half time 18 - 4. 2 tries to Joel Thompson and one to Jack de Belin. Rain has held off, let's hope the Dragons continue with their form in the 2nd half.

The less photos in the 2nd half will be a good sign as the Dragons run down Southern end of Kogarah oval and I don't have that angle.

Te Maire Martin tries to spark up his side. Running in to traffic close to the line

Waqa Blake on the charge... not looking good for the Dragons here

Cleary steps inside Frizell, heading towards the try line

The view Russell Packer has when heading into the Panther's defensive line

After Thompson scores his 3rd the right side back 3 give the crowd a well deserved applause to making it out to the oval as it was a wet Saturday before the game started

Hopefully not celebrating too soon, 10 to go and up by 32 points

Former Dragon trying to lift his Panthers late in the game, Trent Merrin takes the line on

Winners are grinners, Nene McDonald successful as a Dragon in his first NRL game in the Red V

A real positive result today 42-10 winners. Dragons go forward was excellent and they used all that domination in a positive manner to score some really nice tries and weren't always relying on putting the boot to the ball to cross the white line, which was pleasing to see.

It's the first game of the year, and it's a long season. If we see more of this then it can be a promising season ahead. Not getting ahead of myself but it's always a good week ahead if your footy team wins!

Dragons 42 (Joel Thompson 3, Gareth Widdop 2, Jack de Belin, Cameron McInnes tries; Gareth Widdop 7 goals) def. Panthers 10 (Waqa Blake, Tyrone Peachey tries; Nathan Cleary 1 goal) at UOW Jubilee Oval. Half-time: 18-4 Crowd: 7,283.

Dragons V Titans. I'd rather not talk about the game ...

July 15, 2016

It was a cold winter's evening. Two teams decided to play a game of rugby league in the suburban ground of Kogarah. One team's jersey colour was predominantly white with a red V, the other was a team in blue with the odd splash of gold.

Anyways the script does not always go to plan. Benji Marshall, had his hamstring issues that left him hamstrung, and well Josh Dugan in maroon eyes, deliberately ran into Greg Inglis' shoulder to break his jaw. I'm not saying those two guys would have made the difference but you need to give some hope they would.

The Dragons tried hard, it has not been a season where they can play a full 80 minutes. Unfortunately tonight they played in patches but their bad patches out lasted their good patches and were comprehensively beaten. Lucky the NSW Blues won on Wednesday or this would be a long depressing weekend in terms of footy luck.

Anyways back to shooting tonight and I'm back to using the 70-200mm, it lacks reach. Need to save for something longer as the 300mm f4 L IS i had last game. Again I'd rather not say anything.

Greg Bird warms up on Northern End of UOW Jubilee Oval

Russell Packer gets ready for the kick off

Luke Douglas charges forward for the TItans in good field position

Frizz is wondering what's happening after the high's of Wednesday night. TItans up 4 nil

Hoffman was a handful all night, playing for a new contract

Euan Aitken juggles and juggles but takes it

Gypsy fires up Packer after the Dragons score to make Titans 8 Dragons 6

Nose repaired after the early hit. Faifai Loa takes it up

DEFUSED! Nightingale soars above the pack

Well that was half time and it was Dragons 6 Titan 14. Hoping for some action on the Northern end so I can see some Dragon tries rather than the TItans barraging their way through our defence.

Some warm and comforting support from the St George Illawarra Flames. Thumbs up for braving the cold

Titans are off to a flying start in the 2nd half.

Widdop attempts another probing kick that comes up tryless. Got to keep persisting

Backing up after only 2 days, Frizell deserves to be allowed to pass

de Belin taken with out the ball? Penalty me thinks? but it was no play on

Kurt Mann can not go any wider, one on one here

Finally some positive action, Mann step back inside and carries a few to score just before full time

That's the wrap, a very unconvincing display by the Red V. Stick solid things will turn around, the question is when. There was a crowd of just over 8000 on this winter evening.

St George Illawarra Dragons 12. Tries: Mann (2). Goals: Widdop (2/2).

Golf Coast Titans 32. Tries: Macdonald (2), McQueen, Don, Peats, Mead. Goals: Tyrone Roberts (4/6), Ash Taylor (0/1).