Boundary Rider By MATT NICHOLLS
THEY say absence makes the heart grow fonder and I reckon that’s the case with a large group of Armidale men and their horse Brave Ali.
The last three times the gelding has raced without their presence on track, he has won.
Brave Ali, who is now being trained in Brisbane by Tony Gollan, made it two wins in a row at Doomben on Saturday.
He had to do it much tougher this time in front, but was strong to the line for a narrow victory.
Word is he’s being entered in a listed race there on Saturday week. The Armidale lads are tempted to go up, but are always wary of keeping a good thing going.
Coach tight-lipped
THERE have been a few comments directed this way regarding the absence of comments from Armidale Rams captain/coach Clarrie Moran in pre and post-game interviews.
If you’re wondering why we haven’t spoken to the half-back, it’s because he “doesn’t do media”.
This correspondent waited for almost 30 minutes outside the Rams rooms following the round one victory hoping to get a quick chat with Moran, but was denied.
I won’t give up!
A road too far?
STAYING with rugby league, and it seems the prospect of three and four-hour trips has taken its toll on the junior ranks in Group 19.
Of the nine clubs, six have under-18s teams, with Uralla, Glen Innes, Inverell, Tingha, Goondiwindi and the Moree Boars putting sides on the park in 2014.
Armidale president Terry Carson believes firmly that travel, and not a lack of interest, prevented the Rams from fielding a team.
It took four hours for Armidale to get to Goondiwindi on the bus on Saturday and the players didn’t get back home until midnight.
The bubble could be about to burst in Group 19.
Budding talent in town
SOME of the best under-14 football players will be in Armidale today and tomorrow for the 2014 University of New England Shield.
Hosted by Northern Inland Football, the tournament is attended by NNSWF Zone’s representative teams and is used for talent identification.
Players from the UNE Shield will be invited into the NNSWF under-14 country squad to attend the FFA National Championships in September/October.
