O'brien Cops One-year Sentence For Full-time Punch

Newcastle Herald

Friday August 26, 2005

Craig Kerry - Up the Valley

ABERDEEN reserve-grade prop Terry O'Brien has been dealt a 12-month ban for punching an opponent who was going to shake his hand after the Tigers' 30-10 major semi-final loss to Singleton on Saturday.

O'Brien, 30, pleaded guilty to a misconduct charge at the Group 21 rugby league judiciary on Wednesday night.

Referee Mark Bowditch and touch judge Adam Cook alleged that O'Brien walked onto Denman Oval after the full-time siren and punched Greyhounds prop Jason Moore in the mouth as he went to shake his hand. They said that the act was unprovoked.

But earlier the players were heavily involved in an all-in brawl which left both men bloodied and needing treatment.

Only a penalty was awarded at the time.

The post-match hit loosened some of Moore's teeth, which will require dental surgery.

Fortunately, Moore, who has played first grade most of the year, should be fit for the reserve-grade grand final.

Group 21 president Tony Goldman said the hefty penalty should serve as a warning to other players.

? Aberdeen captain-coach Dan Taylor will again ask his old heads to lead the way when they vie with Singleton on Sunday for a Group 21 grand final berth.

Taylor, who has taken the first-grade side from last in 2004 to a preliminary final this year, asked his experienced men to step up going into the final round, and they have responded.

Halfback Sean Tanner and big men Darryl Bowen, Greg Hamilton, Ben Hagan and Steve Smith have been standouts for the Tigers, who downed Scone in the final round and in last week's semi-final to stay alive in the premiership.

"I think when we beat them in the last round it set up last week's win, because it was the first time we'd beaten them in a comp game for three or four years," Taylor said.

He said Aberdeen did not produce their best against Singleton in their past two clashes, which the Tigers both lost narrowly, and they were keen to turn the tables.

Pivot Shannon Miller was the hero of last week's 18-14 win, breaking a 14-all deadlock with three minutes left by setting up a try after aborting a field-goal attempt.

? The Singleton soccer club will wind down in Tamworth after a frustrating Northern NSW State League season.

The Strikers, who finished well off the finals pace in all three grades, have picked Australia's country music capital as the place for their end-of-season trip on the October long weekend.

The top grade ended the season with mixed results, downing Belmont Tingira 2-0, drawing with University 2-2 and losing to Beresfield 2-0. The club's presentation night will be on Saturday, September 24 at Club Singleton.

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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