Sport

Back-to-back for Cam and Soph

By Robert Muir

Oct 11, 2022

For the second consecutive season, Cameron Wilson and Sophie Hanrahan won Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club’s best and fairest awards. It was a packed room in the club’s major sponsor club – the Corowa RSL Club – at last Friday’s presentation dinner where many awards for players and volunteers were presented.

Dynamic midfielder Cameron Wilson and highly talented Sophie Hanrahan won Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club’s best and fairest awards for season 2022, both claiming the highest individual awards for the second consecutive season.

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Outgoing coach Peter German described Wilson’s season as “outstanding”. “Anyone who can win back-to-back best and fairest awards at a club like this is certainly a very good player,” German said.

Ovens and Murray Football Netball League Chairman David Sinclair, Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club President Stuart Lingham and football manager Craig Spencer, senior netball coach Georgie Bruce, senior football coach Peter German and secretary/treasurer Rowena Black at the presentation dinner.

Wilson received the award, the Jim Sandral Medal, from Jim’s son Dennis, who was described as “a pretty good temporary replacement” by the evening’s Master of Ceremonies Craig Prescott. Indeed!

C Grade award winners were Grace O’Brien (best and fairest), Rebecca Kuschert (runner-up), Jemma Smith (most consistent) and Lily Hanrahan (coach’s award and best in finals).

Jim Sandral, who turns 90-years-of-age in November, had to take it easy Friday night. “Well done, mate, congratulations,” Dennis, 62, told Wilson on his second medal.

“If you keep winning these they’ll name the award after you! Dad loves watching you guys play.”

Wilson, the 21-year-old, third-year apprentice plumber with Hetherington Plumbing Corowa, was honoured to receive the award for the second time. “There’s a good buzz around the club,” he said. “Unfortunately we got hit with injuries which affected us, sadly. I thank ‘Germo’ – he taught me a lot.”

Sophie, who has won the Ovens and Murray league’s Toni Wilson Medal twice for the league’s best player, won her fourth club best and fairest award.

Cameron Wilson with 69 votes won from Jarred Lane, 63 and captain Joe Hansen 55.

B Grade award winners were Grace Kennedy (most consistent), Lisa Tobin (best and fairest; best in finals) and Imogen Taylor (runner-up). Lucy McInnes was best but won coach’s award).

The 24-year-old marketing co-ordinator at Rivalea has had another remarkable year of netball. In August, representing the Falcons in the Victorian Netball League, she won the Most Valuable Player and Division 1’s Team of the Year awards, which resulted in Corowa’s senior super coach Georgie Bruce describing Sophie as “a bloody jet!”. Sophie finished just one vote shy of the O and M’s Toni Wilson Medal and bolted away with the Roos’ top award.

Reserves award winners were equal most consistent Matt Wilson, coach’s award Mak Lavis, best and fairest Jamie Seymour, runner-up Luke Backhouse and equal most consistent Kade Kuschert. (Absent: most determined, Bailey Minogue).

In presenting the club award last Friday, Georgie said Sophie’s had a great season and that the club is very fortunate she comes home every week after all the travelling to Melbourne playing state league. “We could see Soph on TV playing netball,” the coach predicted.

“I love Corowa and the people,” Sophie said. “We have a fantastic culture with the people we have at our club. I thank ‘Ro’ (secretary/treasurer Rowena Black) who does an amazing job – I just thank everybody.”

It was a sell-out 145 crowd at Corowa RSL Club last Thursday, with diners welcomed by club president Stuart Lingham and enjoying a delicious two-course meal.

Madison O’Keefe (most consistent A and B squad), Jenni Barrett (coach’s award), Sophie Hanrahan (best and fairest), Grace Senior (runner-up) and Emily Laracy (most consistent) were A Grade trophy recipients.

“It’s the first full season since 2019,” he said. “I thank our sponsors over the difficult times we’ve had with Covid and a special mention to our major sponsor, the Corowa RSL Club. We thank the Ovens and Murray management of the 2022 season, ending in a magnificent grand-final at Lavington. “

Netball 17s and under award winners, Eloise Black (coach’s award), Taleaka Dickins (runner-up), Riley Shanahan (best and fairest) and Stephanie Sutcliffe (most consistent).

O and M Chairman David Sinclair enjoyed the night and said it was a night of celebration for the Corowa Football Netball Club. Despite a falling away by the senior football team after a great pre season and first two months, the thirds were magnificent in reaching the grand-final and, for the first time, all four netball sides played finals. As an overall result, the Roos were placed third in the league’s club championship for season 2022, so there was plenty to celebrate.

And the club is keen to build on this year’s momentum, starting with the appointment of a new senior football coach, “hopefully within the next few days or weeks”.

Neil Charty received the Mick Houlihan Club Volunteer of the Year, Reg Moloney the Thank You Award for loyal service and volunteer trainer, Kiara Corkett and Jamie (Scooter) Seymour (second from right) received the Trevor Kuschert Trainer awards, and head trainer Garry Cook and trainer Darrel Bush were also formally recognised. Said 79-year-old in November Reg: “I’ve had many wonderful years. I’ve enjoyed the journey. The club is going in the right direction.”

Jesse Johnston (coach’s award), Justin Lewis (runner-up best and fairest), Riley Allan (best and fairest), Ethan Hanrahan (most consistent), Ryan Beveridge (most valued) and Ned Taylor most determined) were award winners in a very good team.

Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club’s best for season 2022 wasn’t solely the footballers and netballers. A significant way in helping with the sound running of the club, which is in a sound financial position, is because of the wonderful work of so many volunteers.

Before the announcement of the A Grade awards, special awards were presented to many volunteers, and mention was made of other star volunteers, such as youngster, senior team manager Trent White by Peter German.