Saturday, April 28, 2007

Cowboys topple the league leaders

An abolutely stunning performance by fullback Matt Bowen saw the Cowboys knock over league leaders Manly 30-26 at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight. Matt scored two tries and foiled a few Manly attempts in a man-of-the-match performance. Debutants Ben Farrar and Scott Minto put in solid performances which should see them hold their positions for their away clash with the Titans Monday week. Well done boys!

See my pics from the game at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2572467/4/147206723#147547659

Friday, April 27, 2007

Minto to debut Saturday night

Scott Minto will debut Saturday night against the Sea-Eagles after playing a patient waiting game with the Guns. The lanky centre has been in excellent form over the early part of the season and I'm hoping it will continue for this genuinely nice guy of the game.

See pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2572467#147206723

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Farrar ready for first grade debut

Exciting centre Ben Farrar will make his first grade debut on Saturday night against league leaders Manly following a hamstring injury to Ashley Graham. Scott Minto and Rob Jensen have also been included in the new look line up. Let's hope for a better show than the Monday night drubbing by the Rabbitohs!

See my pics of Farrar at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2572467#146924553

Monday, April 23, 2007

HMAS Townsville comes home

It was a nice sight to see HMAS Townsville steam into port for the last time. It is to be decommissioned, hoisted out of the water and placed on public display next to the Maritime Museum on Palmer St, South Townsville. What a super attraction for years to come!


See my pics of HMAS Townsville at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2771953

Saturday, April 21, 2007

The plot thickens...

The catamaran at the centre of a major search off the North Queensland coast was towed into Townsville port overnight and was searched by forensic police officers during the day today. Still no sign of the missing three men from Perth who were sailing their newly purchased yacht from Airlie Beach to Perth counter-clockwise.

See todays pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2737238#145461536

Ghost ship mystery off North Qld

I flew out yesterday to photograph a 'ghost ship', a 9.8m catamaran "Kaz II" that was found drifting 80 nautical miles off the coast, minus its three crew.
Emergency Management Queensland spokesman Jon Hall said rescuers were puzzled. "They got on board and said the engine was running, the computers were running, there was a laptop set up on the table which was running, the radio was working, the GPS was working and there was food and utensils set on the table ready to eat, but no sign of the crew," he said.
I was very lucky to find the yacht as the co-ordinates the pilot and I had were very vague, and could have varied by up to 30 nautical miles. Thankfully I spotted it about 10 miles off the left wing of our 172RG and it made a good set of pictures. The pics ran today in The Courier-Mail, The Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph and The Townsville Bulletin.

See my pics of the yacht at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2737238

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Towering Tronc signs 'til 09

Today the NQ Toyota Cowboys announced that front rower Shane Tronc had extended his agreement with the club until the end of season 2009.
The rampaging 25 year old commenced his time at the club at the start of season 2004 and has steadily put his mark on the National Rugby League competition, providing good go forward mixed with quality offloads.
Toyota Cowboys CEO Peter Parr is pleased to have retained the props services, “Shane has been a great contributor to the club over the last few years. There is no doubt that his best football is in front of him and we are delighted that he has extended his contract with us.” Peter Parr said.
With 71 first grade appearances for the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys in his career Tronc is now one of the seniors in the playing ranks, representative player of the future and will feature heavily in the further success of the Cowboys.

See my pics relating to this announcement at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2572467#144660223

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

O'Donnell out for the season

Luke O'Donnell has just been ruled out for the entire 2007 NRL season after having his hamstring muscle torn from his pelvis on Saturday night. It occurred during this 'wishbone' tackle which I witnessed and photographed first-hand. I saw it happening in a 'pseudo' slow-motion and I knew instantly that it was VERY bad. To be honest I was truly surprised that Tigers forward Bronson Harrison wasn't placed on report at the time. The Cowboys, NSW Blues and Kangaroos teams will miss Luke immensely. This back page of The Courier-Mail (with my 2006 photo of Luke) describes his opinion of the tackle.

See my pics of the aftermath of the tackle at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2572467#142592609

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Heart stopper at home but Matt had a point to prove

What a finish to a great game in Townsville tonight. An act of rugby league brilliance saw Matt Bowen score under the posts in the 75th minute and then land a field goal with 53 seconds remaining in the match to give the Cowboys a 25-24 comeback win. Sheer brilliance by Bowen, Thurston, Smith and the boys!

See my pics from the game at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2572467#142593426