Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Plastics - the boom continues

Just to drive the point home about the barra' in Lake Awonga - just an eight-hour drive to the north of Lismore - this beauty, caught by Bob Martin, weighed in at a tasty 6.1 kilograms.

I hope that if you wet a line last weekend, you went home with a nice feed - there is nothing like a good feed of fresh fish. The week passed very quickly and I did not have the time to contact a club to give us their profile. However, this is going to happen and at least ten to fifteen clubs over the coming year will tell you what they can offer you if you like fishing in just a casual social way.

How did you go? If you caught a few, please let me know on 6621 3047. You sharing your catch may well encourage someone else to share theirs and an opportunity for you to take up another possibility in the future.

The explosion in fishing with soft plastics continues. If you are trying and having little success, then call in to Suffolks Sports Store and ask about the "How To..." DVD's and videos that can be either purchased or hired. It is worth taking the time to get the feel of this style of fishing. It is different from lures and a vastly different experience than bait but very effective. Many experienced anglers in this discipline who have watched the video have catches from the forties to the seventies, including bream and flathead mainly, but with the other odd species thrown in.

I am yet to do that well, as I tend to take on all disciplines of fishing and don't specialise in any one, but I am beginning to get the feel. The secret is in knowing the styles of plastic and the colours to use for different species in different situations, including water colour.

We live in an era when many of our traditional freedoms are being eroded. With the Local Government elections for our local areas, we need to encourage someone to stand on this issue. New gun laws have failed to stop an increase in criminal activity and all they seem to have done is inhibit the rights of the law abiding gun owner.

Fishing has been one of the great freedoms for Australians since settlement. Now we have all kinds of calls for restrictions of one kind or another. A person is needed to stand in every local government area that will represent these issues and I think that person would be surprised at the kind of support they would receive.

Triples to commence on Sunday - Lawn Bowls

The District Triples championships will commence on Sunday with first round matches to be played at Ballina and Lennox Head.

The 2003 District and Zone triples champion team, from Evans Head, led by John Lang, will be defending their title, but may find difficulties with Lang suffering from a knee complaint that will soon see him under the surgeon's knife. Lang, who also skipped the District and Zone Fours champion team in 2002, has just come off a victory in the prestigious Summerland Singles. The other half of the draw features David Ball's Casino RSM team. Ball, Gary Burt and Terry Knudson were the 2003 runners-up in the triples, with Ball earning victory a fortnight ago in the District fours.

Nominations for the District and Reserve pairs will close at 6pm on March 6.

In fourth round Pennant action Casino RSM continue to dominate Grade One following their 5-1 victory over East Lismore. Lismore Workers Heights had their fourth 5-1 victory out of four matches to hold top spot in Grade Two.

South Lismore leap-frogged Evans Head in Grade Three with a convincing 6-nil home victory over the seasiders. Lismore Workers Heights 6-nil loss to East Lismore has allowed Alstonville I to take top spot with Workers dropping to third.

The tightest Grade is without doubt Seven-A. Previous leaders Lismore RSL were shutout 6-nil by Casino RSM. This result, plus the 5-1 win by Evans Head over Kyogle, leaves Lismore RSL, Casino RSM and Evans head all tied on 17 points. In Seven-B Ballina have maintained their perfect record with 18 points from three matches and a bye.

Pennant

Grade One: Ballina 5 d South Lismore 1; Alstonville 5 d Lennox Head 1; Casino 5 d East Lismore 1. Leading team: Casino RSM 22.

Grade Two: Evans Head 6 d Ballina 0; Lismore City 5 d Ballina RSL 1; Lismore Workers Heights 5 d Casino 1. Leading team: Lismore Wks Heights 20.

Grade Three: South Lismore 6 d Evans Head 0; Lennox Head 6 d Ballina 0; Broadwater 5 d Kyogle 1. Leading team: South Lismore 18.5.

Grade Four: East Lismore 6 d Lismore Workers Heights 0; Alstonville 6 d Woodburn 0; Ballina RSL 5 d Alstonville 1. Leading team: Alstonville I 18.5.

Grade Five: Ballina RSL 5 d Alstonville 1; Lismore Workers Heights 5 1/2 d Lennox Head 1/2; Casino RSM 5 d Bonalbo 1. Leading team: Casino RSM 16.5.

Grade Six: Kyogle 5 d Nimbin 1; Ballina 5 d Ballina RSL 1; South Lismore 5 d Lismore City 1. Leading team: Kyogle 19.5.

Grade Seven-A: Casino RSM 6 d Lismore RSL 0; South Lismore 6 d Lismore Workers Heights 0; Evans head 5 d Kyogle 1. Leading teams: Lismore RSL, Evans Head and Casino RSM all on 17.

Grade Seven-B: Ballina 6 d Casino RSM 0; Alstonville 5.5 d East Lismore 0.5. Evans Head - bye. Leading team: Ballina 18.

Early birds (just) beat the heat

Last weekend saw golfers dealing with one of the hottest days play in living memory. Those players who were fortunate enough to secure early tee-off times had the advantage as the temperature reached as high as 44 at Evans Head, 41 in Lismore, and points in between at the other clubs.

By Tuesday conditions had changed considerably with Lismore cancelling its veterans event due to the heavy overnight rain that continued throughout the day.

On Sunday, March 21, Lismore will hold its first charity golf day of the year, hosted by Bunnings Home Hardware, to benefit the Rescue Helicopter service. The event costs $25 with nominations to be made through the club or on the day.

It was sad to hear of the passing of long serving Lismore member and Sunday golf organiser, Jim O'Brien, who was to have turned 71 on Saturday.

Ballina

Wed 18 Feb

Overall - Noel Boyce

2BBB - Noel Boyce and Val Suarez

Fri 20 Feb - Peter Sobels

Sat 21 Feb

Overall - Stuart Thomas

A Grade - Brendan Pollock

B Grade - Maxwell Mulcahy

C Grade - Michael Kelly

Mon 23 Feb

Veterans - G Norberry

Casino

Thurs 19 Feb

Ian Halliday

Sat 21 Feb

Tom Jones and Peter Leeson

Kyogle

Thurs 19 Feb

Vets medley - Steve Beaumont

Sat 21 Feb

A Grade - Ashley Brosnan

B Grade - Jack Huxley

Summer Cup - Jack Adams

Summer Comp - Roy Crotty

Lismore

Sat 21 Feb

Overall - Jeff and Michael Little

A Grade - Wayne McGuinness

B Grade - Aiden Richards

C grade - Bruce Nobbs

Woodburn Evans Head

Wed 18 Feb

Ladies - Debbie McPhie, Betty O'Grady and Val Forster

Thurs 19 Feb

Veterans - Jim Haynes and John Campbell

Sat 21 Feb

Overall - Paul Welch and Tim Hawkins

Ladies - Betty O'Grady

Sun 22 Feb

RSL - Erin Moorhouse

Eddie Jones to coach in Lismore

Far North Coast Rugby has secured Australian Wallaby coach Eddie Jones for its 2004 Rugby Union Development Camp for junior players, to be held at St John's College, Woodlawn, from April 14-16.

Jones, who took Australia to the final of the World Cup last year, will be on-hand to offer individual advice and oversee the program, which concentrates on skill development, but with an emphasis on participation and enjoyment.

The camp, for boys and girls, is broken down into two streams, each catering for a specific age range.

The eight to ten year old program is non-residential and will run for the first two days of the camp. The 11-16 year old program, including the option to live-in, will last the full three days.

Bookings for the camp must be made by April 1. Registrations can be made on-line at nsw.rugby.com.au or through local clubs.

Casino wilts in the heat - Cricket

On a weekend that was so hot that it was only suitable for motionless reptiles, Casino struggled to put runs on the board after a season of superb team performances. The ladder-leading Casino Cavaliers won the toss against Alstonville at Hill View Park and elected to bat rather than bake in the field under the century-topping heat of the sun.

The tactic backfired with wickets tumbling at regular intervals throughout the afternoon. But for a superb undefeated 50 by Mick Woods the Cavaliers would have already lost first innings points. The destroyers for Alstonville were Mark Newstead (6-20) and Jake Campbell (3-17). In reply Alstonville moved to 1-44 by stumps.

Lennox Head spinner Sean Bucket's first five-wicket haul was not enough to stop Norths Goonellabah RSL from reaching 192, the highest Hooker League score for the day. Bucket finished with 5-50 off 14 overs. The Norths score could have been a lot lower but for a rear-guard action by tailenders Daniel Hughes (54), John Bryant (32) and Steve Lockhart (22), rescuing them from a precarious 7-76.

Alstonville and Norths strong positions in their games bode poorly for fifth and sixth placed Souths and Marist Brothers, who are playing at Oakes Oval. Before the round started it appeared that the winner of their match would have the inside running on a place in the finals at the expense of either Norths (3rd) or Alstonville (4th). One round remains after the completion of the current fixtures. Marist Brothers elected to bat at Oakes Oval and were soon in desperate trouble at 3-4. Corey Bodley (44) and Craig Ferguson (40) held the middle order together and scored all but 50 of Brothers total of 134. Souths Paul McLean took 4-38 from almost 19 overs. Souths were immediately in trouble and went to stumps on 1-4.

Tintenbar put in a solid, if unspectacular, effort to reach 175 against Ballina. Opening bowler Shane Jacobs had the astonishing return of 6-43 off 23 overs. The astonishing aspect being that he was not on a drip after bowling for so long on a day that the National Climate Centre indicated was more than 12 degrees hotter than the late February average.

Brunswick Valleys' difficulties continued on Saturday. Hosting second-placed Easts at Thompson Oval they won the toss and batted first. But not for long. They were dismissed for a miserable 65 giving Easts enough time to gain first innings points. Easts will start the second day of the match with a first innings lead of 65 and four wickets in hand. An outright victory for Easts may see them edge ahead of Casino to take the inside running on the minor premiership.

Another Cooper rises to top of barrel

Ben Cooper sends down one of his medium-pacers for Lismore against Ballina in the final of the inter-district Under 13 final on Sunday. All junior inter-district finals were reduced from 50 to 30 overs due to the extreme heat on the weekend.

Cooper, an all-rounder, scored 70 for Workers Club Under 14A against Norths on Saturday. His brother, Tom, playing for Lismore against Casino in the inter-district semis on Sunday, scored 103 n.o., his eighth century of the summer.

Winter sports vie for players

South Lismore Rugby League Club stalwart Tony Ciccinelli with the framed and signed 2003 Penrith Panthers jersey given to the club by the premiers' assistant coach, Brian Mulholland.

While the north coast has sweltered under the hottest February sun for 100 years, the rains have arrived just in time to remind us it's winter sport sign-on.

Clubs are looking for every advantage in attracting players to their fold. Some are holding BBQs, others are running raffles while some are combining their sign-on with the first training session of the season.

Soccer clubs have just held their sign-on days, with latecomers able to contact Soccer FNC on 6621 5593 for club contact details.

Hockey clubs are also getting busy with East Lismore's sign-on (and training) being held this Saturday from 3-5pm at Hepburn Park, Goonellabah.

The Summerland League AFL competition is currently looking for umpires. They are after men and women aged 14 or over for the 2004 season. Contact Anton Eldridge on 6689 0099 or log on to summerlandafl.com for further details.

The South Lismore Rugby League Club, one of the most historic in the code in Australia, marked its Under 14 sign-on with the unveiling of a framed 2003 Penrith Panthers jumper, signed by all of the premiership team, its major prize for its first 2004 fundraiser raffle. The club, which has been reformed after a few years hiatus, has attracted support from the bottom through to the top of the NRL. Both South Sydney and Penrith have thrown their support behind the club, which will field an Under 14 side this season and look to expand in following years. The long-term objective is to have South Lismore competing at Group One level as the third rugby league team playing out of Lismore. Prospective players can call Tony on 6621 3096 or Wayne on 6689 0069.

Junior rugby union clubs across the zone will be conducting sign-ons for their Friday evening competition this Friday night at their respective home grounds.

Lismore Netball, which gets underway on March 13, requires all of its clubs to have players registered with the association by Saturday, March 6. If you need further information regarding registration or contact details for any of the local clubs call Dean on 0412 265 315. New players are always welcome. The Dunoon competition is also seeking intermediate and senior players. If you are in the Dunoon area and would like to play netball contact Mark Wheeler on 6689 5036.

And for all of you (and there are hundreds, no doubt) who have a world-class yearling running around the paddock you had better sign-on for the National Yearling Sales in the next fortnight.

Wood floats to the top

Lennox Head surfer James Wood in action on Monday on his way to a convincing victory in the final of the Billabong Pro Teen series at Avoca. Photo: Surfing Australia. Lennox Head surfer James Wood has won the Avoca round of the Billabong Pro Teen series after having reached his first final and placing fourth in the previous event at Duranbah Beach on the Gold Coast.

According to Surfing Australia, 17-year-old Wood was the form surfer throughout the event, revelling in the small conditions. Once the final came around on Monday the waves were a consistent three metres, allowing Wood the freedom for full expression. He delivered his victory with rides of 6.75 and then 8.25 during the 25-minute final.

Filling the placings in the final were current Australian junior champion Ben Dunn (Old Bar), Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana) and Blake Thornton (Maroubra).

Wood, a former World Grommet Champion, is using the Billabong series to prepare for a future surfing on the World Championship Tour alongside the likes of Kelly Slater, Mark Occilupo and Danny Mills.

Netball gets house in order

The Lismore netball competition is gearing up for 2004 with junior representative teams already selected, while nominations for 17 and 19 year-olds for the state championships must be made by March 13.

This season will offer a full Nettas program. Nettas is netball for youngsters, and is open to all from first grade at school, till they reach the age of ten. It is a modified version of netball, so the children can learn and have fun together.

Coaching and umpires courses will be held in early March. All coaches must have their OT Certificate before the start of the season, with an OTC course running on Saturday, March 6.

A Level 1 umpiring course, the minimum required to umpire, will be held on the evenings of March 9 and 16.