The Gold Coast Bulletin

Baird an ageless wonder

- TERRY WILSON terry.wilson@news.com.au

IN his long time at the club veteran Paul Baird has done almost every job available with the Helensvale Pacific Pines Hawks.

So much so that youngsters at the club have dubbed him Jackie Moon, the character in the movie titled Semi Pro who was owner, coach, captain, almost everything, of a basketball team.

Now 49, Baird shows no sign of slackening off, as evidenced by a vital knock for the Hawks in their Kookaburra Cup win over neighbours Runaway Bay at Hession Oval.

Coming in with the Hawks two down for not many, Baird produced the goods with a knock of 66 from 73 deliveries which set the home side up for a score of 167 from their 40 overs.

In reply the Bay made it to 143 after being seven down for 50 early.

It was Baird who stole the show in just his fourth game of an injury-interrupte­d season and in just his third since the festive-season break.

“I played the first round in the firsts, then had until Christmas off because I injured my shoulder,” Baird said.

“I played in the first two games in seconds back after the break.”

The win could prove vital to the chances of Helensvale ending a long finals drought because they held on to fourth spot on the ladder, two points behind Burleigh, who lost to premiers Queens.

“We’ve got Surfers Paradise on Swanny’s (Demons playing coach Chris Swan) patch next round and that will be interestin­g,” Baird said.

Queens surrendere­d top spot on standings to Broadbeach Robina (6-70), who took two bonus points from their easy win against Palm Beach Currumbin (69) at Voice Print Data Oval.

The Cats snuck two clear of the Centaurs despite the latter’s

win against Burleigh at Avid Concrete Oval.

Batting first Queens made 9-166 from their 40 overs before keeping the Bullsharks to 147 in their innings.

Individual­ly Burleigh did well with middle order bat Nick Burton hitting 61 from as many deliveries and Tom Oxley grabbing impressive stats of 7-40 from eight overs.

Elsewhere, Mudgeeraba Nerang (4-135) downed Southport Labrador (132) at Nerang RSL Club Oval and Surfers Paradise (5-192) were too good for home side Alberton (168)

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