Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Quiet freshwater stocks - but whiting are biting

The NSW Recreational Saltwater Fishing Guide and Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide for 2003-2004, published by NSW Fisheries, are now available from all good fishing supply shops and from offices of NSW Fisheries. The guides are both free of charge and are full of useful information for all anglers. Importantly they outline the latest rules and regulations concerning NSW fisheries as well as providing information on the best fishing practices, species identification, the principals of habitat protection and the low down on the best fishing areas in the state. A copy of these booklets should adorn the library of every serious angler.

The holidays are over; things return to some sort of normality and this will probably be true of fishing also. The tourists are great for the economy and many of the visiting anglers will rarely see fish or waterways like they can experience here on the North Coast.

Some angling has been quite good during the holidays, such as whiting in the river and flathead, even if not in great numbers. And when deep-sea boats have been able to get out, the fishing outside has been reasonable.

Freshwater seems to have gone a little quiet. Clarrie Hall Dam seems to always produce a few fish, even if fairly small. Hopefully Toonumbar Dam will be slowly filling since the recent rains and we understand it will be open to boating once the level reaches 50%. Of interest here is that a grant has been made from the recreational fishing licence fund to assist the Kyogle Club in the upgrade of the boat ramp and wharf at Bells Bay.

A reminder that the taking of mud crabs in the Richmond River allows each licensed angler (or those exempt) to use five dillies (witches hats) and one trap above the Burns Point Ferry. Below the Ferry, the use of traps is prohibited. The recent rains have certainly helped with the catches of crabs, particularly a little upstream around Rileys Hill, Woodburn and Swan Bay. Similarly, the rain has done great things for those who like to venture a little further afield with the trout making an appearance at Ebor for the first time in a while.

A question was also asked if one needs a licence to catch bait such as beach worms, pump yabbies and dig pippies. The answer is "Yes".

Many coastal anglers headed west during the Australia Day week-end and hopefully next week I'll have some reports about what is happening with the yellowbelly and cod, around such places as Pindari Dam.

Happy fishing,
Lindsay Doust

Sun sets for Suns final hopes

The North Coast Suns have finished the Summer Youth League on a high after a disappointing 5-1 loss to Pool A victors, the Palm Beach Sharks, on Saturday night.

Their chance for atonement came on Monday night when they travelled to Redlands to take on the Rovers in a rescheduled match from the washed-out Round 9.

After losing their chance of finishing on top of the ladder by losing to Palm Beach on Saturday the team could well have suffered a let-down against their lower-ranked opponents on Monday, but this was far from the case.

With a constant flow of ball from a dominant midfield the Suns were always in control of the match, running out 6-1 victors.

Sam Murdoch slotted home two goals, adding to singles by Adam Bostock, Matthew Gordon, James Hirst and Jed Wright.

The Saturday night match was a close affair for the first half, with a strike by the Suns Jordy Campbell cancelling out an early Sharks goal. The Sharks soon regained the lead, scoring off the head of Neil Munro from a corner just before the break.

The Suns only chance of playing in the final of the Summer Youth League was to defeat the Sharks and then go on to take the points from the lowly ranked Redlands.

The Suns were able to close down the Sharks fro the majority of the second half and the blow-out in the scoreline only resulted from the Suns taking risks to force a score during the final quarter of an hour. The Sharks took advantage of the Suns desperate need to score. The Suns started to push their manpower forward, in search of an equaliser and then the go-ahead goal. This opened up holes in their defensive structure allowing the Palm Beach forwards the room that had been denied earlier in the game. The final 5-1 scoreline was not a fair reflection of the flow of the game, but the better team on the day did come away with the points.

Palm Beach will now host the Summer Youth League Grand final against Pool B winners, the Peninsular Dolphins on Saturday night.

Flames burn-out

The outstanding season of friendly matches played by the North Coast Flames, Far North Coast Soccer's under 21 representative team, came to an end on Saturday at Italo Stars ground. Facing Mt Gravatt for the second time they finally lost their undefeated record by succumbing 2-1.

North Coast wins Rugby Academy title

The North Coast Academy rugby union squad, after winning the state rugby academy championship with coaches Tony Montgomery (left), Gervase Bertus (right) and North Coast Academy Rugby manager Murray Archibald (squatting at left with football).

The North Coast Academy of Sport Rugby Union squad has returned as NSW Regional Academy Champions following their emphatic victory at the NSWRU Regional Academies tournament in Sydney recently.

Sponsored by Warringah Rugby Club, the North Coast squad, made up of the cream of the region's under-16 rugby talent, defeated neighbouring Northern Inland 19-7 in the final to take the title.

North Coast started the tournament slowly losing their first game to Illawarra 10-5. However from that point they never looked back.

In the final against Northern Inland the North Coast team opened their account with a try to Coffs Harbour's Josh Morton. He followed this up minutes later with a second touch down before Lennox Head's Damien Buckley put the result beyond doubt with another try. Northern Inland made the score respectable with a try on fulltime.

North Coast Academy of Sport coaches Tony Montgomery from Lismore and Gervase Bertus from Grafton were ecstatic with the win, which proved the North Coast is now a force in junior rugby ranks.

"The testing results achieved by the squad on the first day was way ahead of all other Academies. Their fitness was first class and was really the difference in the end," said Montgomery.

Alstonville top-order enjoys run-feast

Len McGuire looks all at odds with this Dale Ledger delivery, swinging lustily, only for it to pass through to the keeper. Although this ball was a stalemate Ledger was able to snare McGuire's fellow opener, Ben Peterson, later in the over.

Alstonville celebrated reaching the Hooker League one-day series by putting Brunswick Valley's bowlers to the sword on Saturday at Thompson Oval as the two-day competition resumed. This was Alstonville's first match since making the one-day final a fortnight ago. Their one-day match (also against Brunswick) set down for Saturday, January 17 wasn't played as Brunswick

Batting first after winning the toss Alstonville settled in for a long stay at the crease. Opener Gary Boyd (52) and number-three Greg Potter (43) combined for an 84-run second-wicket stand that set the tone for the day. Once that partnership was broken Nathan Crane waked to the centre to take block. If Alstonville don't declare on their overnight score Nathan will again be taking block on Saturday, as he remains unbeaten on 78. Alstonville reached 5-239 before rain halted play for the day eight overs early.

Lennox Head may not have built a winning score at Oakes Oval against Eastern Districts, but they did show a level of fight that indicates the future is not all that bleak for the lowly raked club. After winning the toss they opted to bat and were building a solid score with the openers taking the totals to 41 before Dale Ledger was brought on from the southern end, taking the wicket of Ben Peterson for ten. Fellow opener Les McGuire went on to make 38. The innings was in danger of collapse as Lennox teetered at 7-101 before former Easts player Mark Denmeade (39) put on a half-century stand with fellow tail-ender Phil Dreise (27 n.o.) to help them reach 179. Denmeade then came on to open the bowling for Lennox, taking two quick wickets. Easts will resume on 2-12.

Southern Districts are in a strong position against Norths Goonellabah RSL having restricted them to 6-142 in a rain-shortened day at Nielson Park. It will be up to Nathan Bonamy (32 n.o.) to ensure that Norths end up with as defendable total against a Souths team packed with batting talent.

Marist Brothers face a daunting task this Saturday with Tintenbar East Ballina already having 206 on the board with another wicket still to fall. Captain Brett Crawford (67) was in masterful form allowing the 'Bar to pass the century mark with only one wicket down.

The match between Casino and Ballina at QE II Park will be played on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, with all other teams to play the second-day of their matches on Saturday.

Calling all paddlers

Paddlers gather at Broadwater during a rest break in the 2003 Paddle For Life marathon.

The 100-kilometre 'Paddle for Life' canoe marathon returns this year after its successful launch in 2003. Held in association with the Far North Coast Canoe Club, the event is a fund-raiser for the Buttery Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Programme and the Summerland Early Intervention Programme.

Paddlers will leave Lismore at 8am, Saturday April 24 to (hopefully) finish at Riverview Park, Ballina on Monday April 26.

Lat year's inaugural event, was so successful, according to organiser Tim Limbert, that it was decided to make it an annual event.

'We are now looking for paddlers to come forth and register for this year's event. We are ensuring a safe and fun event with well co-ordinated logistical support and catering. To maximise the safety and enjoyment of the event we have only allowed for a line up of 50 canoes to be a part of the event at any one time. Entry is just $25 per single-person canoe and $50 for a two-person canoe, plus $12 insurance for each person. There will be a prize for the most amount of money raised by individuals and teams.'

This year the recipients of funds raised from the event will once again be the The Buttery Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation programme and the Summerland Early Intervention program.

Over an eight-month period The Buttery programme helps residents overcome their addiction/s and realise their sense of self worth, nurture living skills and finally assist them to take their place in the community. The Summerland Early Intervention Programme provides therapy and educational support for children from birth to age five with development delays and disabilities.

To register your interest in The 2004 Paddle for Life or for more information contact Tim Limbert on 6622 1174 or 0427 286 774.

Local lads climb hockey ladder

The future keeps looking up for Raymond Rodda. The 2003 NSW under 17 hockey captain has just been selected for the 2004 under 18 state side.

The local hockey scene has just been given a huge vote of confidence by the state selectors with three players and the coach of the under 18 state squad all coming from the Far North Coast competition.

After having been selected as the captain of the NSW State under 17 hockey team last year, East Lismore's Raymond Rodda has now been given the nod to join the NSW Under 18 team.

Raymond is one of three FNC Hockey players to graduate from the 2003 NSW under 17 team through to the under 18's. He is joined by 'keeper Josh Hanley and Peter Forshaw, while Graham Baxter has also been recognised by being selected as the team coach.

Josh is a multi-disciplinary sportsman, representing Goonellabah Norths RSL in the regional LJ Hooker Cricket League, although he will be setting aside his cricket career for the time being as he concentrates on his state hockey duties.

The foursome will be travelling to Sydney (by road)twice a month to attend two-hour state training sessions in the lead up to the national championships, to be held during March.

The foursome will also attend a four day training camp at Coffs Harbour to fine tune team tactics prior to the championships.

Long day's cricket journey's into night

This Sunday will see the holding of Lismore's first "Day of Cricket", in which cricketers from Lismore and Ballina will face off in senior, reserve and junior representative matches at Oakes Oval. The feature match will be a day-nighter between the association's senior representative teams.

The first match will commence at 10am. The Lismore Reserve Grade rep. team will be taking on Ballina's 2nd grade side in a 40 over per side clash.

Between 3pm and 4pm two squads of Lismore and Ballina juniors will grace the field to play concurrent games of Kanga cricket.

The feature event of the day will be a day-nighter between the senior representative teams from the two associations for the Walsh, McMahon and Thompson Shield, a perpetual trophy that was donated by Suncorp Metway, who also donated the player of the match trophy and are footing the bill for the lights on the night. To ensure the success of the venture the Lismore City Council has donated the ground and the use of the Gordon Pavilion facilities.

One of the big drawcards for the day-nighter will be the appearance of Tom Cooper, Easts sensational top order batsman, who was the leading run-scorer in the Under 19 national championships held earlier this month.

An under 19 match between Lismore and Casino was planned for Heaps Oval on the same day but had to be postponed due to the Hooker League commitments of at least five of their squad on the day. Casino will be hosting the second day of their match against the Ballina Bears on that day. The game has been rescheduled for February 22. Ballina under 19's will host the Tweed under 19's on the same day.

Lismore day-nighter squad for Feb 1 at Oakes Oval: Craig Bateman, Nathan Bell, Tom Cooper, Ian Gregory, Bruce Jobson, Steve Lockhart, Brad Loft, Michael Nind, Adam Osborne; Rex Parrish, Tony Shaw, Daniel Wells and Rodney Wells.