Tom Andrews puts on a show while 100 cap veteran gets a win
A man of the match performance in the BBL, a win for a 100 gamer, national champs and ballkids headline this edition of sports shorts of 2025. Check out the wrap here.
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Check out some of the biggest stories from 2025 featuring cricket, tennis, and footy.
January 14th 2025
AUSTRALIAN OPEN HONOURS
While the NT might not have a local playing in the Australian Open, representation is still there with two ballkids on show. Territory junior player Hunter Watling took to the courts on Day 1 of the Open and has already shown off his skills with a slick one-handed catch off a 180km/h serve. Mya Priest is also down in Melbourne as one of the 428 ballkids working at the major.
TOM ANDREWS
The Darwin Eagles alum had a man of the match performance against the Perth Scorchers during Sydney Thunder’s Round 9 match. Andrews came in to bat at number 9 when his side was at 7/114, and in tandem with Chris Green put on a match defining partnership. He smacked 37* runs off 13 balls, hitting three sixes and three fours and followed it up in the field taking 1/20 off three overs. His efforts were a major catalyst in the Thunder recording a dominant 61 run victory, the side’s fourth win from its past five.
100 CAPS
Waratah Tarryn O’Hehir celebrated her 100th match for the club at the weekend in a resounding victory over the Southern Districts Crocs. Since making her debut for the club in 2018 she has kicked 30 goals, and received 11 best player votes. O’Hehir has played 95 matches of her of her Tah’s career in the WPL, one game in Reserves, three games in Division 1 and one in Division 2.
TEAM NT x2
The under 16 girls side recorded its first ever victory at a national championships. Up against Tasmania team NT pulled off a 7 wicket victory in a 3/131 (16.3) to 9/130 (20) result.
Elsewhere, Cricket NT recently announced its under 17s boy’s side to play at the national championships in Launceston, January 16-23. A side comprising of old and new faces, seven players have been recalled to the side. Just one non-Territory player has been selected for the tournament, a NSW ring-in who was called into the squad as a replacement for Southern Districts’ Sam Barker who withdrew from the competition due to a torn meniscus he suffered at training.
Squad:
Tye Beer –Tracy Village
Harry Dixon – Darwin
Arlo Everett – Waratah
Charlie Harragon – Darwin
Noah MacDonald – PINT
Cadell McMahon – Palmerston
Mithuru Perera – Waratah
Sam Rumpff – Federal
Dhruv Shandilya – Tracy Village
Matthew St Clair – Southern Districts
Ralph Stephens- Palmerston
Riley Suter – Nightcliff
Coach – Greg Turner
Match Schedule:
1) Thursday 16 vs. WA at 10am
2) Friday 17 vs. ACT at 10am
3) Sunday 19 vs. Victoria Metro at 10am
4) Monday 20 vs. South Australia at 10am
5) Wednesday 22 vs. TBC
6) Thursday 23 vs. TBC
January 8th 2025
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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