Gun Coast cricketer Ashley Noffke and his Australian A team-mates have endured a typically harsh introduction to their tour of the sub-continent, arriving in Pakistan to temperatures nearing 40 degrees with 90% humidity.

Travelling with guards carrying machine guns, the Aussies were beaten in their opening match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday night, with the Pakistanis reeling in the A team’s 7-232 with eight wickets and nine overs to spare.

Noffke returned 0-44 from his six overs with the new ball and said they’ll quickly need to adapt to the conditions for game two.

The Coast product has an extra reason to be excited about returning home.

He’s staging his first junior clinic at Maroochydore Cricket Club on Friday, October 5, for any interested players from 15 to 18 years of age.

Star Bulls batsman Clinton Perren will also appear at the full-day clinic which is limited to the first 60 to register.

Anyone interested in spending a day learning from Noffers should call 0417 196 600.

Still fired up over Joey saga

The NRL Snipe is still fired up over the Andrew Johns saga, in particular the comments of a former high-profile player who let Joey have it in the press with a holier-than-thou statement.

The Snipe reported: “That former legend must be kidding, giving Joey a spray. Every time I have met him, which is on about five occasions, he has been as full as the last bus.

“How different is that than what Joey has done? Sure, the drugs are illegal, but as far as setting an example there is not much difference between being blind drunk and taking any other sort of recreational drug.”

It’s do or die for the Toads

This afternoon will be an emotional one for Nambour Toads coach Kevin Macaulay, who will be hoping he isn’t in charge for his last match.

The Toads play Noosa in the preliminary final, with the winner up against University next weekend.

The Toads have some key players injured and are in danger of being bundled out of the finals without winning a game after finishing the season as minor premiers.

But with a wet track at Toad Hall and the emotion of an outgoing coach, I would think the home team will give a good crack.

Just on Noosa, I see flamboyant league winger Nathan Robinson (no relation, he can run fast) has been playing a few games of union with the Dolphins.

Apparently his name has turned up on the team sheets often enough to qualify him for the finals.

Unfortunately, his league coach, Noel Goldthorpe, must have got wind of it this weekend as I don’t think it is a coincidence that the Pirates are training at Noosa the same time the union final is on at Nambour.

Triple treat at Noosa

I was up at Noosa last weekend watching the local league and witnessed three great games of football.

The reserve grade win by Noosa was a bit of an upset, with the Caloundra Sharks putting in one of their worst performances of the year at the most inopportune time.

The star-studded Sharks side didn’t hit their straps but it was still an entertaining game with a couple of laughs along the way.

The Pirates’ Dale Shearer, at over 40, showed a clean pair of heals on the way to the tryline only to be ambushed by Ben Roberts before he could get the ball down, which got a few laughs.

But not as many as Sharks star Brad Ibbs, who commented to Rowdy about how much pace the former Origin star had lost, but then said: “But how I am going, I was the one doing the chasing and couldn’t catch you?”

Apparently that got a laugh out of Rowdy as well. Nice touch.

Grey power in the pool

The Kawana Pool has some former legends, albeit a little on the grey side, pounding up and down the lanes. So if you are getting lapped by someone who looks like your grandfather, don’t be depressed, as he may be a former state or national champion swimmer with the name Munro or Rigby.

They tell me that Barrie Munro and his mates may be making a charge on the master swimming events in the future, which would be no surprise to long-time residents, as Barrie was famous for representing Queensland in a number of sports.

I always wondered where he got his talent from until the other day, when I ran across someone that told me that his mother, who’s 86, still plays tennis every week and has been dirty on the wet weather for missing a week.