Wednesday 6 April 2011

by Nick Gibson

I’m loving the sport right now! The footy codes are up and away, the cricket begins a new era and the basketball – oh yes the basketball – is totally mouth watering!

As expected the Townsville Crocs helped shape the final four to their advantage by losing to the Taipans on Friday night. If you think for one second that the Crocs were trying to win that game you are living in a dream world!

I don’t think i’ve ever before seen a scenario like that where losing a game is so much in the best interests of the club. It has set up a local derby with Cairns in a semi final best of three series and should the Taipans win it the Crocs will sport egg on their faces for dropping that game.

That won’t happen! Townsville will get that series in three games and once again the home court will be the factor!

With Townsville losing that game they have set up an intriguing other semi with the very hot NZ Breakers and reigning champs Perth to beat the crap out of each other for a spot in the Granny. I’m gonna stick with NZ – also in three games – to take on the Crocs in the big dance.

It’s going to be hard to win this thing from third or fourth but it can happen. Go Snakes!
 
The Taipans had their awards night on Saturday night and Ayinde Ubaka deserved his MVP award. The timing of this night makes me a little nervous as the season is not done. Had they not made the playoffs (finished third – their most successful season ever) then great but the big job is now in front of them and award nights are a distraction.

I hope coach Fearney has the tools to not let the boys rest on their laurels and be satisfied to just ‘make it’! Do your awards night after the playoffs and then everyone can relax and seriously get on the sauce. Factor? Time will tell....
 
In the AFL Brisbane copped an 80 point flogging which makes me not want to talk footy. When Collingwood are whipping everyone and it all of a sudden becomes a good bet to wager on who will finish higher – Lions or Suns?

I feel too ill to talk footy! I hope Fev gets the free spins on the pokies to win the $650 jackpot at Crown Casino!
 
This week's winners: India (world cup cricket), Sydney Swans (great comeback against the Bombers), Trev Gleeson (coach of Townsville, we played to win – nudge nudge wink wink), Steve Kernahan ( Carlton president who sacked Fevola), Ponting, Clarke (Pup) and the Taipans.
 
This week's losers: Michael Voss (traded Bradshaw for Fevola and put others up for trade bait).
 
And for the first time ever Fevola didn’t make the losers list.... 

To some local footy and the Crocs opened the season with two wins against South Cairns last weekend.

The reserves had 10 goal win with new recruit Campbell Wurramarrba kicking five goals and also a couple of other new players in Scott Roberts and Justin White proving that they are more than capable with both good games for the club.. All three will be pushing for senior selection this week.

The seniors scraped in with a nine point win after leading by five goals at half time. While the team was happy to get a win on the board first up for the year, a hard week on the track is expected this week after nearly letting the win slip away with South Cairns mounting a fight back in the second half..

Best on ground was the ever reliable Luke Bloom, with Daniel Smith, Evan Hocking and young gun Michael Doust performing well.

This week the Crocs play Manunda Hawks at the Croc Pit. The tipsters have the Hawks and the Crocs fighting out for second spot this year.