Two young Canberra cricketers were among the 52 players from around Australia picked for the inaugural Cricket Australia Pathways Rookies squad. Wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes, 15, was selected under the silver level and right-arm fast bowler Sam Skelly, 16, was selected as a bronze level player. Both play for the Western District and University of Canberra Cricket Club. The squad has been created with bronze, silver and gold levels that represent current and future playing and training opportunity, and was created under initiatives as part of the new Australian Cricket Pathway. Gilkes was pleased with being selected in the squad. "I was really stoked to be part of that," he said. "It is the first year that they have done it so it was really cool to be named in the squad. There is a heap to be gained from a program like this. What they are going to do is basically make us more available for coaches and that could result in better things for my cricket and help with my development." The coach for the ACT/NSW Country under-17s side, Kyle Piper, coached both boys at that level and was unsurprised with their selection. "I think it is a good reward for the work that those two boys have been doing over the last 12-24 months," Piper said. "It's probably not a surprise that they have achieved that but it is also no guarantee of anything going forward. It is simple a reflection that they have been going OK." It is up to them now to use the extra resources and access to facilities and coaches that they will get from being a part of the Rookie program to make sure they continue to improve." Piper praised Wests-UC for the impact it's had on the two players. "The boys' development would not have been possible without their assistance," he said. — Liam Warren
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Austin raises awareness for charity
He boasts the NRL's most outrageous beard, but Canberra Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin is also one of the game's leaders in devoting time to charities, particularly those which help children. The 24-year-old last week attended the Save Our Sons gala ball, an organisation which raises money to try and find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which affects one in 3500 boys before the age of five. After scoring his individual try in last week's loss to Manly, Austin joined the likes of Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins and former Souths forward Sam Burgess in linking his two index fingers together in celebration. It's designed to prompt people to ask, "What is that?", and therefore create awareness for the cause. After the ball, Austin posted on Instagram: "These are real people searching for real results. Blown away by the support they receive. What a worthy cause, and to be a part of it in a very small way." After games it's not unusual for a host of junior players to be invited into the sheds and follow Austin around like the Pied Piper, including the Doonside under-10 team after Canberra's win at Penrith. The Doonside team is managed by Austin's mum.
Shillington aiming to avoid nudie run
David Shillington only has three games left in his Canberra Raiders career and he'll be hoping to sign off with his first try in two years to avoid the game's most dreaded tradition. Shillington is the highest-profile Raider still in line to compete in the end of season 'nudie run', where players who fail to score a try all season have to streak. Shillington hasn't scored a try since his double in the final round of 2013 against Cronulla. Other players looking to get themselves off the list include rookie Mitchell Barnett, who may struggle after he was replaced by Luke Bateman for Sunday's clash with the Gold Coast. Glen Buttriss, Newcastle recruit Joey Leilua, Josh McCrone and Mark Nicholls also have a donut beside their name this season. Fortunately for fellow duck eggs Bill Tupou and Dane Tilse, they will avoid the nudie run given they've moved to the English Super League.
Shot clock to speed up junior Raiders
The Queensland heat always takes some adapting to for the Canberra Raiders, and their under-20s team may find it even tougher given the NRL will trial its shot clock during Sunday's clash with Gold Coast. The teams will have 35 seconds to pack a scrum and 30 seconds to kick dropouts as the NRL test drives the rules changes it will introduce next year in order to reduce time-wasting and create more player fatigue. The NRL has used the under-20s to test drive rule changes in the past, including the captain's challenge. The shot clock was also trialled in Saturday's Cronulla v Wests Tigers under-20s game.
Haddin gives cricketing workshop at ANU
Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will be back in Canberra next week to give back to the club where he learnt his craft. Haddin, who is likely to have played his last Test after being dropped midway through the Ashes series, will host a cricketing workshop with five lucky people as part of the ANU Open Day next Saturday, August 29. The 68-Test veteran has earned praise for how he handled his axing to Peter Nevill. Nevill played well when Haddin ruled himself out of the second Test after his five-year-old daughter Mia was hospitalised.
Rogic provides food for thought for Mariners
Canberra Olympic's Adam Rogic cheekily told the Central Coast Mariners before their mid-week friendly that he would score and show they had signed the wrong brother. Rogic's younger brother is of course none other than Socceroos young gun Tom Rogic, who burst on to the scene with the Mariners in the A-League before signing with Scottish giants Celtic. Adam didn't score in the 3-2 loss to the Mariners, but has shown previously he's capable of the outrageous, lobbing the keeper from 40 metres out a couple of years ago in an ACT National Premier League game.
Brumbies mates go in different Wallabies directions
There would have been mixed emotions for Matt Giteau and Christian Lealiifano when the former Brumbies teammates caught up for lunch in the Canberra CBD on Wednesday. Two days later, Giteau was named in the Wallabies' 31-man World Cup squad, while Lealiifano was one of the surprising omissions. Giteau was one of the senior players at the Brumbies when was Lealiifano first coming into the team.
Referee dislocates elbow in junior rugby game
Canberra Junior Rugby Union referee Owen Keane got more then he bargained for when he was stretchered from the field during the under-18s semi-final between St Edmunds College and Canberra Grammar on Saturday. Around 15 minutes into the game, Keane was caught in traffic near a ruck and was bumped from behind, falling over and dislocating his elbow. Play had to be stopped for a number of minutes as medical staff attended to him. Assistant referee Brad Dale took charge for the remainder of the match. — Bill Yole
