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Wildcats sneak past Newcastle Hunters men but not women / Newcastle Football / Kids Camps / Register for Sydney’s Masters Games

Wildcats sneak past Newcastle Hunters men but not women

The Parramatta Wildcats senior men's and women's teams both headed north to Newcastle on Saturday afternoon, to meet the Hunters, and returned home with the expected result of one win and one loss in round fourteen of the Waratah Basketball League (WBL) competition.

The men's game was expected to be a total rout in favour of the Wildcats, in spite of the loss of former Sydney Spirit and 'soon-to-be-Perth Wildcats' point guard Damian Martin, but the Wildcats eventually finished with a surprisingly close 103-93 win. The outstanding Martin has been a revelation with the Wildcats, impressing everyone with his engaging personality and commitment to the local team.

Unfortunately, his dual selection in the Australian Boomers squad and also the Perth Wildcats NBL roster has seen Damian effectively finish his commitments with the Wildcats but he has left everyone in the association with some wonderful and undoubtedly lingering memories of his immense talent and strength of character.

Head coach Dave Riemer has been left with a skinny playing roster at various times this season but the squad is now playing with such confidence, the inclusion of several Youth League players did not cause any ripples of concern. Having said that, the Wildcats new recruits were given a baptism of fire in the final quarter of Saturday's game against the Hunters, as the home team whittled away a 25-point lead to draw within single figures.

Hunters diminutive guard Matt McGovern was scintillating in the second half as he led the home team's resurgence but Wildcats coach Riemer steadfastly kept his starting five 'in wraps' on the bench, during the drama, allowing his rookies to weather the storm and guide the Wildcats to a 10-point victory.

The women’s game was won easily by the Hunters 99 – 51 with Katie-Rae Ebsery (20), Dimity Stewart (18) and Susannah Walmsley (16) top scoring. The Hunters women are in play-off contention in 6th spot while the men are struggling at the bottom of the ladder.

Next weekend the Hunter women have a bye while the men travel to the Maitland Federation Centre to take on the Mustangs at 6pm on Saturday June 27.

MEN: Parramatta Wildcats 103 (Goran Veg 22 points, 13 boards; Adi Causevic 17 points; Kristian Blaszczynski 13 points, 16 boards) defeated Newcastle Hunters 93 (Matt McGovern (18 points,15 boards,11 assists)

WOMEN: Newcastle Hunters 99 (Katie-Rae Ebsery 20, Dimity Stewart 18, Susannah Walmsley 16) defeated Parramatta Wildcats 51 (Amanda Ford 23, Donna Amery 12)

For more on WABL basketball including the Maitland Mustangs go to: http://www.waratah.basketball.net.au/fs_home.asp

For other basketball stories on representative and wheelchair basketball as well as other districts go to: http://sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=288

Newcastle Football (Soccer)

For links to clubs and information on Newcastle soccer competitions go to: http://www.isport.com.au/soccer/npssa/. Newcastle Football is one of six associations under the umbrella of Northern NSW Football. The other Associations are Football Far North Coast; Football Mid North Coast; Hunter Valley Football; Macquarie Football; North Coast Football; Northern Inland Football.

To find out more details and latest news for Northern NSW Football including inter-district competitions go to: http://www.northernnswfootball.com.au

What's on around NSW with Sport and Recreation

NSW Sport and Recreation runs programs that will help you get active, improve your fitness or try a new sport. For more details of what’s on in the region go to: http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/active/whatson.asp

Register for Sydney’s World Masters Games in October

There is still time for Newcastle sportsmen and women to register for Sydney’s World Masters Games in Sydney. Over 6700 people have registered for the World Masters games in Sydney on October 10 -18, 2009. Over 28 sports will cater for participants of varying standards and ages.

For example, tennis has singles, doubles and mixed doubles in ten year age brackets from 30+ to 80+ with A grade for competition players and B grade for social players and beginners. Basketball will cater for social to elite teams from 30+ to 70+ in 5 year ranges.

Other sports include archery, basketball, football (soccer), netball, swimming and touch football

Registrations close on July 31. For more details go to the World Games web site: http://www.2009worldmasters.com/default.aspx

NSW Sport & Recreation’s July Camps

To see what’s on offer in the July School holidays go to: http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/kidscamps/