Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
The sporting talent of Yamba was on show on the international stage over the weekend with former Buccaneer’s junior Jed Holloway earning his first Wallabies cap, plus Cameron Pilley and cousin Donna Lobban playing for bronze in the mixed doubles squash.
For 29 year-old Holloway, being named Wallaby player number 954 and starting at blindside flanker for the game against Argentina, in Mendoza on Sunday was something he had always hoped for, but he didn’t know if he would achieve.
“It’s pretty surreal, to be honest, it’s something I thought would never really come probably a couple of years ago or even last year, so to get this opportunity is huge,” Holloway said after his selection announcement.
In 2020, Holloway was cut by the NSW Waratahs and went on to play for Toyota Verblitz in Japan, before he moved to Florida. Never one to give up, Holloway has impressed this season at lock for the Waratahs, earning him a long-awaited debut for Australia.
What made the former McAuley Catholic College student’s debut even more special was the selection of his good mate, Alstonville’s Matt Gibbon on the bench.
Holloway said his family was friends with the Gibbon’s, growing up playing junior rugby on the Northern Rivers.
It was a dream debut for both Holloway and Gibbon as the Wallabies came from behind to defeat the Pumas 41 – 26. Down 19 -10 at half-time, Holloway showed his experience and grit, playing a crucial role in the Wallabies victory.
The number 6 used his skill to help ignite the attack in the second half, before all but carrying Fraser McReight over the line to score, which sparked the Wallabies comeback.
Reflecting on his debut, Holloway choked back tears as he spoke to Stan Sport.
“It’s unreal, I knew this was going to happen, I told my missus I knew it was going to come out at some stage,” Holloway said.
“There’s been a lot of hard work and sacrifice that has gone into this.
“Although I wasn’t perfect tonight, I enjoyed the moment and very stoked I got to run out there and share it with a good mate Matt Gibbon.”
Defending Commonwealth Games Mixed Doubles Champions, Yamba cousins Cameron Pilley and Donna Lobban were looking good after defeating Donna’s husband Greg, and his Scottish teammate Lisa Aitken in the quarter- finals.
On Sunday morning they lost against the English pairing of Alison Waters and Adrian Waller, relegating them to the bronze medal playoff against India.
In what was a rematch of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games final, Pilley and Lobban fought hard against the Indian pairing of Dipka Pallikal Karthik and Saurav Ghosal, eventually losing what was a close match.
Knowing they had missed out on a medal, Pilley reflected on what might have been.
“It was tough out there,” said Pilley.
“I think we went on with a good mindset…trying to bring back that feeling and that positivity we had on the Gold Coast four years ago, but we just couldn’t quite sink our teeth into it.”
Ultimately, both Pilley and Lobban said they were immensely proud of what they had achieved.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” Lobban said.
“It’s what we love more than anything else is putting on the green and gold and trying to do your best for your country.”
In the men’s doubles, Pilley and his partner Rhys Dowling reached the quarter finals, while in the women’s doubles, Lobban and her partner Rachael Grinham also lost in the quarter finals.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 20 August 2022.
