Stitch In Time Rescues Soper

Newcastle Herald

Monday March 21, 2005

Sidelines EDITED BY MICHAEL PARRIS

THOSE with a keen eye may have noticed a hole in Rhys Soper's cricket pants in a photo on The Leading Edge page last week.

Several of Soper's friends had a great time firing jokes his way, but it came as a surprise to his mother, Sue Soper, who asked if he could stitch up the "crotchless" strides before the final.

Rhys had to explain to his mum that the photo was a file shot taken last season and the hole was no longer there.

? Cricket fans with an ever keener eye would have noticed a change in the spelling of Jody Whitehead's name in The Herald this week.

For 15 years Whitehead has had his name spelt Jodie, and never once bothered to tell anyone until his mother reached boiling point recently.

A typically casual Whitehead told Sidelines: "Mate, I couldn't care less what you put, but Mum is starting to get a bit cranky after 15 years."

? The Hunter Pirates celebrated a sensational season with a presentation ball at Newcastle International Paceway on Saturday night.

Things went smoothly on the court this season for the Pirates, who made the play-offs under Coach of the Year Adrian Hurley.

But things did not go as swimmingly on Saturday as they battled a lack of sound and working monitors to show off their season highlights.

Coach Hurley was reduced to talking without the aid of a microphone during his "five minute" speech and there were no winners to accept the awards. Only Brad Davidson, who won clubman of the year, and Larry Davidson, who was voted most improved, were on hand to accept their trophies.

Brian Wethers won MVP but has returned to America, Russell Hinder got best defensive player but is playing in New Zealand and Kavossy Franklin, who won the fans' award, is in Germany.

? Surfing's mutual admiration society was in full swing at the launch of the 20th EnergyAustralia Surfest at Noahs on the Beach last Friday.

Multiple world champions Mark Richards and Tom Curren, who share seven world crowns, were the main attractions at the launch.

"Tom has had this incredible career," Richards said. "He has won so many events and I think if you asked just about any surfer if they believed in God, they would say they do and his name is Tom Curren."

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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