Division 5 served up the closest results as the annual Sydney MetrO League began under warm skies at Mt Annan on Sunday.
With large tracts of bush deemed out of bounds by The Australian Botanic Gardens, Stephan Wagner had course lengths spot on with most times in the 30-45-minute bracket. There was much long grass and farmland to traverse. An accurate cross country bearing and stable footing were needed to ensure fast times.
While there were some predictable outcomes, it was at the more social (but still refreshingly competitive) end of proceedings that had necks craning toward the results board.
In the all-Garingal battle, the Geckos pipped the Blue Tongues 28-27. It was the same scoreline when Bennelong - last year's runners up - edged out WHO. And in the third match, our hosts SHOO downed Uringa-Central Coast 29-26. Classic match racing indeed.
At the pointy end, Big Foot - gunning for the sixth straight title - accounted for an understrength Garingal 33-22. Newly promoted UR-CC enjoyed immediate success 29-25 over a Unis team consisting of three ring-ins but still short one runner. Bennelong, also promoted after winning Division 2 last year, put up a good showing but could not hold off WHO (32-23).
In Division 2, Garingal had a win over Bennelong and a loss to Big Foot, with SHOO having the bye.
The Feet made it a clean sweep with a 28-27 win over the GO Skinks in Division 3. IKO easily downed UR-CC 34-21 and WHO beat the GO Molochs 35-20.
In Division 4, Bennelong and UR-CC had easy wins while the promoted GO Legless kids beat stablemates the Monitors 28-24.
Thanks to SHOO for a smooth event, and a huge thank you must go to the clubs who kindly lent eight surplus runners to clubs who were short, particularly Garingal and the Unis in Division 1 who were affected by the clash with NOL round 2 in Victoria. Links to results are on the ML page.
Round 2 is at Manly Dam on April 13.
