Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Easter was spent relaxing away from the bustle of retailing but it was also a chance to return to an old stamping ground and see how South West Rocks has changed over the years.

As a young person, we spent family holidays there and at Yamba or Harrington. So we set off for South West Rocks to find that it has dramatically changed in the last thirty years, although the fishing would still seem to present some of the best possibilities on the coast.

Outside fishing has so much to offer as there are lots of close in reefs, rocky islands and a huge rocky coastline to troll for pelagic species. The bar is also a fair bar to cross and certainly is a lot better than many of our North Coast bars but still has to be watched in rough weather.

Most of the boats were catching their live slimey mackerel at the old oil tanker anchoring spots, which means you can get your live bait just a few hundred metres offshore. On the Sunday, there were over 200 boats that went offshore through the Macleay River entrance or at the little creek right at the corner at South West Rocks.

South West Rocks is also famous for what is known as the New Cut, a manmade channel linking the Macleay to Stuarts Point. Here from May to July is bream time and this spot is probably rivalled only by the middle wall at Yamba.

Around from the Trial Bay Gaol is truly good rock fishing, producing bream, drummer, tailor and jew. Another top spot is the southern end of the Smoky Cape Lighthouse Headland. This spot very rarely does not produce bream. When you see this water you know that it is a good spot. Take the road to the lighthouse and turn off to the right about 1.5 kms back and it will take you through a rainforest/National Park camping area and you'll find a small parking spot to leave your vehicle if you do not have a beach access permit. The walk from here is only 400-500 metres to the Headland.

South West Rocks is a good place to visit, only 320 Kms from Lismore and you should find good fish in the coming Winter months and as I know from past experience, during the Summer months it is a great river for flathead and whiting.

Title returns to Lismore

Rhein Gibson, The 2004 Richmond River Amateur Golf Champion. Photo: Stan Bendall

Lismore junior Rhein Gibson placed his name on the illustrious Richmond River Amateur Championship Roll of Honour over the weekend. He took out the 54-hole championship title, the feature of the Lismore Workers Golf Club Easter Golf Carnival, finishing three strokes ahead of defending champion Ian Noble of Keperra. Gibson becomes the first Lismore-based winner of the Easter classic since Kane Webber in 1999.

It was also a three-stroke victory margin for Murwillumbah's Chris Dean in the Les Mancell Memorial Cup for juniors, also over 54 holes. Chris finished the three-day tournament on 232, to take the title ahead of Lismore's Brett Forrester.

Gibson, a member of the NSW junior state squad, has been in outstanding form over the past five months, winning or placing in the top ten in almost every junior tournament he has entered. Later this year he will take up a golf scholarship at the highly-ranked Oklahoma Christian College.

Easter club round up

The feature of the long-weekend, apart from the big tournament in Lismore, was a pair of holes-in-one at the same hole by players in successive groups on the par-3 eighth hole by J Wilson and then P Dakin.

This is the final week for nominations for the Streckfuss Knockout at Coraki. While on Coraki, everyone in golf sends their best wishes to Coraki greenkeeper Steve Cannings on his upcoming marriage.

Weekly Honour Roll

Mullum in game of the week

It has been a long time since Mullumbimby could lay claim to being a combatant in the match of the round in the Group One competition.

However, after their impressive dismissal of South Grafton away from home in the first round they are looming as a potential force in 2004. This will be put to the test as early as this Sunday when they line up against South Grafton's 2003 grand final opponents, and reigning premiers, Marist Brothers at Mullum's Les Donnelly Field. In another fixture that bring together two first round winners Byron Bay will host Ballina. The Bay had a poor 2003 after putting together a promising player list and support team. This year it is not so much about what's on paper for Byron, but what happens out on the field.

Lower Clarence will be looking to get their season back on track when they face an undermanned Casino RSM.

Kyogle have been successful at schoolboy level this season but facing up to Grafton Ghosts is likely to offer a far more difficult assignment. South Grafton are having another week off to lick their wounds from their round one loss to Mullum. The gashes are that deep they need the extra time.

Round 2, Sunday 18 April: Mullumbimby v Marist Brothers (Les Donnelley Field); Lower Clarence v Casino RSM (Maclean Showground); Byron Bay v Ballina (Byron RL Grounds); Grafton Ghosts v Kyogle (McGauren Park); South Grafton - bye.

Oakes double-header opens season

Lismore Thistles will be looking to put a disappointing 2003 behind them when they open their 2004 campaign against Maclean in the first game of a double-header at Oakes Oval on Saturday.

Thistles missed the finals and were in danger of relegation last year after losing competition points for running a player that did not have the appropriate international clearance. Maclean have had another decent run in the Anzac Cup and their younger players now have the benefit of a season under their belts so they should prove a stern test for Thistles. The second game will be a local derby between Lismore workers and Richmond Rovers. Both teams boast potent forward lines so this could turn into a goal feast.

Alstonville will open their campaign on home soil against Casino. Crawford Park wasn't exactly a happy hunting ground for 'Villa so they will be looking to start off this season on a winning note. Casino may find it difficult against 'Villa's depth, although the return of Wayne Mortimer will add to their scoring potential considerably.

Bangalow will have a stern test in their return to the top grade when they travel to Saunders Park to take on Ballina. Ballina were a potent force throughout last season and deserved their place in the grand final.

Reigning premiers Italo Stars will travel to the coast to meet Byron Bay on Sunday. Stars numbers have been seriously depleted since last season and they may find a first-up win beyond them for want of strike-power.

FNC Soccer Women's competition gets underway this weekend with the announcement of its first major sponsor in over three years.

Intershape Fitness Studio is to sponsor the expanded eight-team competition over the next twelve months in a move that reinforces the growing strength of the women's game in the region. The announcement follows an outstanding summer season by the FNC Women's 'North Coast Flames" team.

The new season sees the introduction of Lennox Head and Woodburn to the top flight while Thistles will also be in the mix, if they can work out the player number problems that undermined them last season.

The match of the round should be that of major-title winning Rovers up against Byron Bay at Byron on Friday night. Minor title-holders, Workers Club, should be too strong for Woodburn, particularly as they are playing at home, also on Friday night.

Sunday action will see Southern Cross University host Lennox Head's first ever game in the top flight in a 10am game. The SCU squad is always a bit of an unknown at the start of the season so this could be an entertaining match-up.

Ballina should start the season off with a victory when they meet Thistles at Saunders Oval at 11am.

Round One: Friday: Byron Bay v Richmond Rovers (BB, 7.30pm); Lismore Workers v Woodburn (Rec12 8pm). Sunday: S.C.U. v Lennox Head (SCU 10am), Ballina v Lismore Thistles (S1 11am).

Village rah-rahs get a place in the sun

The local rugby competition will be breaking new ground by starting a competition that is exclusively set aside for the village communities. This will allow clubs like Bangalow, Iluka, Kyogle, Lennox Head, Richmond Range and the newly formed Evans River to play in a competition against communities with a similar population-base.

Thirty teams will take the field as the Far North Coast Bangalow Hotel senior Rugby Union competition kicks-off on Saturday afternoon.

The match of the round in 1st Grade is likely to be the Ballina v Casino clash at Ballina.

Both teams have shown good pre-season form although both have lost players from last year.

Casino performed well at the SCU 10's a fortnight ago and Ballina has been on a rebuilding program after having failed to reach the Grand Final in 2003.

Reports out of Ballina suggest they will have to rely on youth this year after losing the services of many of their stalwarts over the summer.

Casino has a core of veterans who will keep them competitive throughout the season with a few youngsters to give them added pace out wide. The return of Dane Gilmour and Glen Shimanski who both missed part of last season is a bonus for the Bulls.

Surprise 2003 grand finalists, SCU have picked up some handy talent and will give Grafton a good workout at Maurie Ryan Oval. The Rats new crop of players includes NSW Country Under 19 back rower Daniel Doyle.

Grafton, as always, will be strong in the forwards with half their pack having turned out for the FNC Zone rep team in March. SCU's President Tim Breen believes the home game will be a great way to open the season. "Taking on Grafton's forwards isn't always an easy feat," Tim explained. "This will be a typical case of their forwards versus our backs game."

Byron Bay take on the Wollongbar-Alstonville Pioneers at Byron Bay- provided they can find some prop forwards. The Pioneers from Wollongbar have lost their League converts from last season- some to "permanent" retirement and some back to League such as Damien Bryant and Tim Bermingham, Both are big losses for the Pioneers and they are looking for new recruits to replace them.

Last year's Premiers, Lismore City have a bye and will play Mullumbimby in Reserve grade. Mullumbimby has dropped out of the 1st Grade competition for 2004.

Ballina plays Casino in the only Under 19 game.

In Thirds, Ballina plays Grafton while Lismore takes on Mullumbimby.

Telstra 'ollies-up' onto local board comp

The FairGo skateboarding competition has been given a big shot in the arm for this year's competition. They have attracted a major sponsorship with Telstra Countrywide to complement strong local sponsorship and the support of the skateboard industry.

This year's competition, the Telstra Countrywide 'Fair Go' Skate Event 2004, will be held at the Missingham Bridge Skate Park in Ballina on May 23.

FairGo 2004, the biggest skateboarding event on the Far North Coast is being presented by the Ballina Youth Service and the Far North Coast Skateboarding Association.

Sue Passmore, the Regional Manager of Telstra Countrywide sees the sponsorship as recognition of the development of the event over the years. "This is a class skateboarding facility, and a quality event that has huge potential, with a good field of local and interstate contestants,"

Sponsored riders will go be attempting to take home the $1 000 Lennox Point Hotel winner take all prize. Over $1500 in prizes is up for grabs in the other senior and junior events.. Entry forms are out now. For further details contact the Ballina Youth Service on 6686 7776.

Team pull off Cup success

The proud team from Success Martial Arts in South Lismore show off their medals from the Brisbane Cup tournament. Back row: Matthew Pearce, Liam Huxter, Chloe Allen, Melanie Sharpe, Front Row, Joshua Russell, Rhiannan Beardow, Josephine Gardner-Marlin

A team of seven martial artists from Richard Marlin's Success Martial Arts Academy in South Lismore contested the Brisbane Cup tournament earlier this month and came away with two gold medals and a swag of minor placings.

Liam Hunter, competing in his first tournament, took out the Boys 14/15 years Black Belt Kumite (sparring) and came third in the Kata (patterns)

Up against over 100 other competitors the local troupe made little of their inexperience in competition to showcase the Success Martial Arts on a national stage.

Also winning gold was Rhiannan Beardow who took out the Girls 8/9 years Kata.

Josephine Gardner-Marlin and Chloe Allen both placed second, in the Girls 10/11 Years Kumite and Girls Open 14/15 years Kumite, respectively

Matthew Pearce won the bronze in the Boys 12/13 years Black Belt Kumite.

Weather doesn't hamper All Girls

The All Girl Surfriders Campout and March club round at Evans Head started under clear skies with the waves rolling in at 1 to 1.5 metres. But the weather had deteriorated by the time the club competition rounds got underway.

The contestants were hampered by moderate winds and intermittent rain. Despite the outgoing tide and the deteriorating conditions many of the girls achieved personal bests.

The winners were Junior Beginners: Cara Nobbs; Senior Beginners: Laura O'Donnell; Intermediate; Alyssa Barbary; Advanced: Sophie Shelton and Longboard: Deb Tinker.