Cricket, football, karting, dancing and water polo in Bulletin sport’s Fast Five

UNDERPERFORMING Dolphins backing current crop, Knights ready for FFA Cup clash and young guns shine on the big stage … this and more in Bulletin sport’s Fast Five.

UNDERPERFORMING Dolphins backing current crop, Knights ready for FFA Cup clash and young guns shine on the big stage … this and more in Bulletin sport’s Fast Five.

DOLPHINS PUT FAITH IN CURRENT CROP

NEW Gold Coast Dolphins coach Jerry Cassell says the club is putting its faith in the current crop of talent as it looks to climb the Queensland Premier Grade ladder.

The Dolphins finished second from bottom on first grade’s two-day ladder last season, but Cassell said there were no plans to chase players from other clubs at this stage.

IS THIS THE NEXT BERNARD TOMIC?

The new season starts in September, with former Queensland Bulls batsman Cassell taking over from Damian Wallis as head coach.

Gold Coast Dolphins coach Jerry Cassell. Picture: Scott Fletcher

BEATEN COACH SLAMS RIVAL AFTER LOSS

CUP CLASH LOOMS FOR KNIGHTS

TICKETS are on sale for the Gold Coast Knights’ looming FFA Cup showdown with A-League runners up Newcastle Jets at Robina’s Cbus Super Stadium.

The Knights set up the Round of 32 clash, which will kick off at 7.30pm on August 7, with a remarkable 3-2 extra-time win over Sunshine Coast Fire last month.

It is the fourth time in five years a local team has made the Round of 32.

Tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for children. Visit gcknightsfc.com.au.

Gold Coast Knights’ Eoghan Murphy.

LIAM ON FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS

COOMERA Waters’ Liam Hydes is chasing further international opportunities after holding his own at last month’s Sodi World Finals in Italy.

The first Australian junior to qualify for the event following victory in last year’s Slideways Junior Race Series, Liam, 14, finished ninth, 15th and 13th in the heats before his Super Final race (17th) was ruined when another driver forced him off track.

He is now hoping to join international racing academies or exchange programs to build his skills.

Coomera Waters kart racer Liam Hydes.

TROUPE FINDS THE POSITIVES

PODIUM misses could not take the gloss off the performances of eight Helensvale Calisthenic Dance Academy young guns at this month’s National Championships in Canberra.

While the Helensvale team of Sasha and Natasha Thompson, Atalia Manton, Jenna and Olivia Stumbles, Tiarnie Barker, Katie Lanigan and Kiara Shaw did not finish among the medals, coach Sarah Chalmers was full of praise for her charges.

“They performed beautifully (and got) some PBs … very proud,” she said.

The Helensvale Calisthenic Dance Academy troupe.

WANDERERS DEBACLE ‘EMBARRASSING FOR THE CITY’

JUNIOR BOOM ON THE COAST

GOLD Coast Water Polo is experiencing a boom in player numbers, with 40 new juniors to take part in Round 1 of the winter competition on Tuesday night.

About 80 juniors have signed up for the season, played at Ashmore’s Trinity Lutheran College.

The launch of the competition follows the selection of five Queenslanders in the Born 2000 Aussie Stingers team to compete at the Women’s Youth World Championships in Serbia from August 27.