SPORT DIGEST: First grand final for 10 years, a state final, four huge trophies and a minor premiership
Around grounds
The first Mossman Sharks junior league team to make a grand final in a decade is aiming to go one better this Saturday in Cairns against Edmonton Storm.
The Sharks Under-14 boys beat the Kangaroos 22-10 in the Preliminary Final on the weekend to secure their place in the premiership playoff match, scheduled for 10.20am this Saturday, September 5, at Barlow Park in Cairns.
Junior club secretary Chantel Barnes said making the Grand Final is a huge achievement for the small club.
“It is a special moment for these young players,” Ms Barnes said.
“And for everyone who has supported junior rugby league in Mossman over the years.”
Under-14 Rainin recently represented Peninsula in the district championships, while the Mossman Junior Sharks were also awarded the Club Spirit Award for the Far North Queensland Rugby League this year.
“(This is) an achievement we are incredibly proud of and one that reflects the dedication of our players, families, coaches, volunteers and wider community,” she said of the club award.
Lawn bowls
Mossman’s Malachy McTaggart has qualified as one of the top eight lawn bowlers by region in the state after winning the Zone 8 Champion of Club Champion singles on Friday at South Townsville.
McTaggart beat Mt Isa’s Thomas Hynes 25-18 and Ben Cribbin from Jubilee Townsville 25-20 to qualify for the state finals.
“I'm now into the final eight players in Queensland and play at Mackay for the state play-offs on November 20 and 21,” McTaggart said on Sunday.
Mossman Bowls Club officials congratulated McTaggart for winning through to the state play-offs.
Other Mossman results: Alistair Douglas, John Arnold and Barry Baker W+1, Daryl Cunningham, Col Widdows and Ranald Edwards W+6, Bob Gordon, Warren McCoist and Steve Fuller W+13 and winners on the day were the competition Triples team of Nev Fletcher (sub), SAS Brian Williams and Steve Cue W+22.
Gaelic football
The Four Mile Gaelic football teams were celebrating in Macrossan Street on Sunday and Monday after snaring some big trophies at the Carpenter Cup championships in Cairns on Saturday.
Our women’s teams won the Ladies Gaelic Football and the Ladies Intermediate Football trophies at the championships, while the men won the Mens Intermediate Football title.
The club sent six teams to the tournament in the sports of camogie, hurling and Gaelic football.
AFL Cairns
The Port Douglas Crocs lost their first game of the season in the final minor round on the weekend, going down to second-placed South Cairns by six points at South Cairns following a goal after the siren.
After a slow start, the Crocs trailed by two goals at quarter time, but hit back in the second quarter to lead by 19 points at the main break.
But the Cutters wrestled back the lead in the third quarter and was one point up with less than a minute to go when Liam Bartels kicked a point to level the score.
The Cutters. however, rushed the ball up the other end and took a mark just before the siren sounded, posting a set shot from about 40m out on a 45 degree angle.
The Crocs still finished top by two games and percentage, and will face the Cutters again in the first round of finals at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns from 5.15pm Saturday, while Trinity will face the Saints in the Elimination Final before the Crocs game.
Port Douglas finished top in the reserves competition after a win against South Cairns on Saturday, and will face Trinity this Saturday at 12.15pm at Cazalys in the first finals round.
In the women’s competition, the Crocs went down to the Cutters by 17 points on Saturday, and face Trinity this Friday night from 6pm at Cazalys in the Elimination Final after finishing fourth.
Soccer
Douglas United will play Innisfail in the first round of the finals on Friday night at 8.30pm at Endeavour Park in Cairns.
The Dragons finished the season in third place below Southside Comets on top and Atherton in second place.
The winner of the Douglas/Innisfail game will play the loser of the Southside/Atherton game for the right to play off in the Grand Final on Friday, September 18.
Horse racing
The $150,000 Cairns Cup on Saturday was won by a horse owned by a host of mostly Port Douglas locals.
Choir Boy was in fine form coming into the race, with the eight-year-old gelding gunning for his third win in a row after taking out the Banana Cup in Innisfail the week before and the Archer’s handicap in Cairns prior to that.
Trained in Atherton, Choir Boy has made a successful recovery from a leg injury last year, with a few lucky Port Douglas punters cashing in on his 26/1 odds on the weekend in one of Far North Queensland's premier horse races.




