Marrara Sports Complex ‘Master Plan’ headline this week’s shorts
A poached Cat, a ‘master plan’, national championships update and the return of Top End rugby headline our second sports shorts of 2025. Check out our wrap here.
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Carrying on from our coverage since the beginning of the Wet Season, the NT News sports team is highlighting the achievements of the Territory’s unsung athletes and adjacent sports news you might have missed each week.
Check out our second recap of the new year which features cricket, rugby, gymnastics and planning.
MASTER PLAN
The NT Government is holding a community consultation next week to discuss the Marrara upgrades. The ‘Master Plan’ is set to improve infrastructure and in turn deliver health, social and economic benefits. The plan will include:
“Considerations for the entire Precinct addressing drainage, utilities, way-finding, public amenities, shade, landscaping, outdoor active recreation, pedestrian and vehicular access. “Incorporation of individual sporting venues and active recreation facilities into the broader Precinct, with considerations to existing facility masterplans.
“An assessment of existing infrastructure and building/asset conditions to inform planning and costing decisions.
“Recommendations for possible land governance models for assets and the Precinct
“Planning requirements for additional facilities to manage overlapping sporting activities and events.”
NATIONALS UPDATE
The under 16 NT cricket side got their campaign underway earlier in the week against Tasmania and the ACT. In a rain-affected match team NT lost in a DLS 4/127 (Tas) to 4/122 (NT) scoreline. The side then went down swinging against the ACT having been bowled out cheaply. In a 7/104 (ACT) to 10/103 (NT) result it was Ekham Dillion (Tracy Village) who top scored with the bat hitting 23 runs from 82 deliveries. Captain Skylah Henwood was the pick of the bowlers snagging 1/17 off six overs.
POACHED CAT
Gymnastics NT has welcomed a new staff member to the team, Eliza Burge. Formally working for the Geelong Cats Football Club, Burge has accepted the role of Remote and Schools Gymnastics Coach. Burge has the packed CV that boasts sport management and business degrees, nine years as a coach, and accreditation in GFA, WAG, Kindergym and GA Presenter/Assessor.
RUGBY’S BACK
Top End senior rugby is back this weekend following the extended holidays break. Round 10 of the DRU A-grade competition gets underway this Saturday, January 11, and will see the Crocs vs. Cougars (7pm) at Moulden, and the Rabbitohs vs. Darwin (7pm) at Warren Park.
January 2nd 2025
DARWIN EAGLE EARNS TEST CALL-UP
Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster has earned a call-up to the national side for the Pink Test in Sydney. The 2m tall batting-all-rounder spent some time in the Top End during the 2021 season, albeit brief. Webster played a total of three matches for the Eagles scoring 142 runs with the bat averaging 71. Webster’s first stint for the Eagles back in 2019 proved much more fruitful in which he recorded 402 runs at an average of 67 from seven matches as well as taking 28 wickets at a 19.54 average.
LONG-COURSE GUN
Teenage swimmer James Smith from the Darwin Buffaloes SC had the opportunity of a lifetime last month. The 19-year-old spent a week at the AIS in Canberra, one of eight swimmers from across the nation selected to join a Next Gen Middle and Long Distance Freestyle Training Camp. Having initially dipped his toes into the discipline of long distance as a ‘punishment’ for his lack of attention during swim classes as a kid, Smith quickly blossomed into a fully fledged distance gun who has his sights set on LA and Brisbane.
TOP TEENS HEAD TO BALLARAT
The inaugural team to represent the NT at the under-16s national championship, the Territory outfit, comprising of eight Territorians is headed to test its mettle in Ballarat, Victoria next week. Coached by Alice Springs’ Bronte Stray the teenagers will face-off against the country’s best in a week long tournament that will run from January 6-15, 2025.
Squad:
Skylah Henwood (c) – Federal
Naomi McMahon – Palmerston
Joanna Pickett – Tracy Village
Ekam Dhillon – Tracy Village
Jordi O’Toole – PINT
Eimi Smith – PINT
Abbey Warton – Waratah
Maisie Johnson – West
Bronte Stray – Coach
Match Schedule:
1) Monday 6 vs. TAS at 10am
2) Tuesday 7 vs. ACT at 10am
3) Thursday 9 vs. WA at 10am
4) Thursday 9 vs. Victoria Country at 2.30pm
5) Friday 10 vs. NSW Country at 10am
6) Friday 10 vs. Queensland at 2.30pm
7) Sunday 12 vs. SA at 10am
SWIM NT TURNS 50
Swimming Northern Territory turns half a century old this year and has a chocka-block schedule for season 2025 on the cards. The sporting body posted to its Facebook page January 1 saying: “2025 is going to be an awesome year for Swimming Northern Territory. We have some incredible activities in the works, with more development, more clinics, better events and activities and an exciting few visitors to coincide with our 50th Birthday Celebrations and what promises to be the best Country Championships yet. We are doing more for our swimmers than ever – so buckle up for an exciting, busy and incredible year.”
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