A MAJOR shake-up may impact the way football competitions are delivered in the Hunter region. Newcastle Football has advised the neighbouring zones of Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football that it will not enter its clubs in Inter-District competitions in 2025. A three-zone competition featuring teams from across the region has existed for decades. “Our […]

ONE of Port Stephens’ best young netballers is bracing herself for an agonising twelve month sabbatical on the sidelines. Boat Harbour resident Chelsea Johnson, a skilful midcourter and goal attack with Nelson Bay Netball Association, has undergone surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will miss the entire 2026 season. Sixteen-year-old Chelsea is […]

IT was a case of instant success for the All Stars Junior Girls team at this year’s Port Stephens Oz Tag Grand Finals at Fingal Bay Oval. Suiting up for their rookie season of Oz Tag, the talented bunch of all round athletes combined to capture the Junior Girls title at their first crack. The […]

SWELTERING conditions greeted Port Stephens Dragon Boat Club’s new wave of paddlers at their Soldiers Point Marina base last weekend. The progressive club celebrated the culmination of its inaugural Learn to Paddle program with a scenic graduation ceremony for its 16 rookie paddlers. New recruits Robyn Clayton, Grace Madden, Julie Bennett, Lauren Higgins, David Irwin, […]

FINGAL Bay rugby league identity Neil Parfitt has stumbled on an interesting concept to help raise funds for the Family of League Foundation charity. The evergreen historian is chasing up names of former rugby league players from any era now residing in the Bay to form a hypothetical “Fingal Bay Residents United Rugby League” team. […]

Nelson Bay Neptunes proved a force to be reckoned with at last weekend’s Junior State Cup touch football championships in Dubbo – reaching the finals in nine of the ten age categories. Nelson Bay Neptunes’ representative touch football boys teams clinched quarter final berths in the Junior State Cup Under 12s and Under 16s plus […]

NELSON Bay Gropers women’s rugby team have been crowned Crescent Head Rugby Sevens champions for a fifth consecutive time. In a perfect tune up for the 2026 Hunter Suburban Rugby Women’s series, the enterprising Gropers toppled Hamilton Hawks 17-10 in the tournament final to preserve their imposing Sevens record at the famous surf haven. The […]

NELSON Bay Gropers have acquired the services of international rugby coach Pete Sullivan for the 2026 Hunter Suburban Men’s Rugby campaign. After an extensive coaching stint in the US in the high school rugby system, the well-credentialed mentor has relocated to Anna Bay and is keen to assist Head Coach Michael Squires with the top […]

PORT Stephens sprint queen Elara Barnes is the athlete to watch after her record-breaking feats at the Region 2 Athletics Championships last weekend at Maitland Regional Athletics Centre. The emerging golden girl capped a memorable meet by claiming the 14yrs Girls 100m and 200m sprint double in brilliant style, earning herself instant qualification to the […]

Ashlyn Wall clinched gold medals in three events at the Region 2 Athletics Championships in Maitland. Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre juniors at the Region 2 Athletics Championships in Maitland. RAYMOND Terrace golden girl Ashlyn Wall has stamped herself the queen of the track.  The 18-year-old middle distance runner again showed her class and race smarts […]