Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

John Bryant with 54cm Bass from the Clarence River

The Evans Head Classic got off to a bad start, weather wise. No boats were able to get to sea until Tuesday and the beach was fairly rough to fish. However there are some nice size fish swimming around in the tanks and hopefully they will live to see another day. Despite the weather, everyone seems to be having a good time.

I have never seen the water clearer in the Richmond River at Ballina and it is affecting both the size of the fish being caught and the numbers. Bream are not plentiful and what are there are very small. Blackfish numbers have improved and they are generally of a good size.

Some people say blackfish are a terrible fish to eat. To me they are one of the best, if eaten fresh. Catch them, bleed them while still alive for 15 minutes, fillet and skin. Cook them after leaving the fillets in the fridge for at least two hours. They are beautiful lightly fried or battered. Blackfish have a very small head and unlike a bream, you get two nice size fillets off each fish.

Friendship series - Baseball

Coach Nick Johnson briefs his team before the next match.

Jason Britt's error-less display at third base, plus colossal batting, helped the Far North Coast Under 18 Timberjack's representative squad to second place in the Friendship Series at Albert Park over the weekend.

"He won the game for us on Friday," coach Geoff Baxter said of Britt's performance. "He turned a double to get us out of trouble then knocked in two runs to finish the game."

The Under 18s fell just short of taking the title when they lost to the Country NSW Red team 11-5 on Sunday.

"Country NSW select their squad from 21 separate regions," Geoff said "It's not an excuse but we've only got one region to select from."

The Far North Coast Under 18's squad also boasted two first year under 16s, Jamie Linger and Shane Davis, and this can only mean that the visiting teams will be in for more punishment when they travel here next year.

Nathan Daley also performed well and Matt Linger hit his way onto base at almost ever opportunity for the Timberjacks.

The Under 12s didn't fair quite so well as they didn't make the final, however, Chris Doyle and Andrew Kelly both pitched a high percentage of strikes. An enthusiastic Fletcher Paterson, Nathan Lacey and Lachlan Myres all hit stand up home runs. They travel to Tamworth this weekend.

Major League

Despite the heroics of veteran Scott Elliott, East Redbirds inevitably fell to the batting might of the league leaders, Workers 18-8.

Elliott clubbed three hits from five at bats, but it was never going to be enough to stop Workers' Josh Daley, Mick Lewis, Troy Pruess and Mick McClelland who all succeeded in knocking the ball out of the park.

The other match up between Norths and Marist Brothers was washed out.

Australian team to visit

The Australian AAA Under 19's squad will be visiting Lismore on July26 and 27 to play a two game series against the Far North Coast Senior side. Far North Coast have a host of ex-state and Australian players and will be out to give the Under 19s a run for their money. Baseball lovers - this series is not to be missed.

End of the line for Turkeys - Rugby League

Kyogle Bush Turkeys' will be sorely tested when they travel to Les Donnelly Field to play competition leaders the Mullumbimby Giants in the Westlawn Group One Rugby League this Saturday. The Turkeys are attempting to stretch their winning streak to an unprecedented five in a row, but they will come under severe pressure from the Giants to maintain their run. The Giants' kicking game and disciplined control of possession has them four points clear at the head of the table.

Suspension of Lower Clarence enforcer Jason Hebbard and the return of Brad Purtel gave Kyogle the edge in a hard fought win against the Magpies 26-24 last weekend, but Mullum should prove a bridge to far for the hill men.

The Ballina Seagulls were upset by a lop-sided penalty count last week against the Giants. They will need to focus their attention back on the basics and show some discipline at the play the ball if they hope to quiet the South Grafton Rebels. Half-back Dallas Walters is beginning to add creative flair to the solid South Grafton outfit after a long absence. In an ugly win in round five the Seagulls toppled the rebels 50-22. Both teams are now tied for third and this game promises to be a cracker for the crowd at McKittrick Park.

By all rights Marist Brothers should account for an injury-riddled Casino Cougars, but they would be unwise to see the game as a training run as any injury could be disastrous for the Brethren as the season begins to wind up with just four rounds remaining.

Lower Clarence will still be stinging after their loss to the Turkeys last week. They'll come out breathing fire when the Grafton Ghosts head down the river to do battle at the Maclean Show Ground. Ghosts second-rower Danny Wicks was injured in last Saturday's victory over Byron Bay and without his defensive savvy and ground coverage the Ghosts will struggle to contain the elusive centre pairing of Ray and Ken Mercy. In round five, Lower Clarence struggled hard to finish off the Ghosts 42-20 and this round will probably produce a similar score-line if the Magpies put in.

Byron Bay gets the bye.

Honour Roll

A model champion

Scott Johnson's 'Magic' hovers metres from the ground as part of manoeuvres called fun flying or 3D flying.

The efforts of enthusiast Gary Watson have played a key part in the Lismore Model Flying Club winning the right to host the 2004 NSW Model Helicopter Championships at Wade Park on September 4-5.

"Watson is equal first in the national standings," club secretary, Garry Henderson-Smith, said. "We expect he will do well enough to the earn the right to represent Australia at the 2005 World Championships."

Watson is an extremely talented model helicopter flier capable of putting his 'copter through the most daring spiral stunts. Recently, he won a trip to Bali to contest the Indonesian Championships, where he figured amongst the best.

Model aircraft flying is a training ground for serious pilots and the Lismore club has spawned a number of full time aviators.

In addition to its important role as a simulator for pilots, model aircraft flying is staking a claim to serious sports status. Considering the entertainment value of watching the events and high level of skill involved in the sport, it's only a matter of time before it is accepted as such.

Lismore Model Flying Club have been based at Wade Park for over 30 years and any Sunday you can go down to watch a majestic model Tiger Moth cruise the skies or a helicopter perform aerobics of mind boggling complexity.

For a very small cost, prospective members can book a 'flight' using the shared club plane. In this way they can try out model plane flying before they purchase their own machine. Planes can cost as little as $90, but an enthusiast can spend as much as their wallet allows. One local member has spent $20,000 building a model jet with a turbine engine that can travel at up to 300km/h.

Interested people can contact Garry Henderson-Smith on 6628 3632.

Running the tide

Ballina Little Athletics winter schedule continues on Sunday, July 19. Three events are programmed for the day - 1km, 3km and 6 km cross-country runs. Runners are requested to gather at Shelly Beach at 9.30am. Contestants are required to join the club and pay a gold coin entry.

Table tennis

Jiggi defeated East Lismore 7-4 in the 2nd division winter competition held at the Goonellabah RSL table tennis centre during the week. Geoff Simes and Jim Armstrong played out a close match with Armstrong eventually winning 13-11 in the 5th game.

Bruce Thomas continued his excellent form of late, winning all three singles matches, however, it was not enough to prevent Byron Bay defeating RSL 7-4.

In the last match of the night the Lismore City team of Geoff Simes, Eric Davison and Ulli Ebert trounced previously undefeated Goonellabah. Eric Davison appears to be hitting peak form heading into the semi finals. Once again Geoff Simes played well winning all three singles matches.

Dogs drag down Cobras - Soccer FNC

Mullumbimby's Bella Sweeney and Hollie Johnston from Richmon Rovers sprint after possession down the wing in their Under 14 first division match up.

Alex Pratt's inspirational keeping, combined with the mesmerising effect of the home ground advantage to bring about a seismic shift in the Soccer far north coast premier division. Competition high fliers Casino fell from grace to third at the hands of the Bangalow Blue Dogs 2-0 in the upset of the round as the Blue Dogs scramble out of the relegation zone. To make matters worse for Casino, they will face new competition leaders Rovers in the coming round.

Rovers', Mathew Olley found the back of the net twice as the new premiership favourites made short work of Alstonville. Alstonville are increasingly looking like they might slip a grade. Needless to say they will be hard pressed to hold a resurgent Stars at home this weekend.

Paul Rosolen, and Jamie Austen are all finding form for Stars as the competition gets down to the business end of the year, both scored against a hapless Ballina at Barrow Lane on Saturday. The poise and calmness that Rosolen showed in front of goal as he curled his shot past a flailing Lucas Wagland bodes very well for Stars as they strive to secure a position in the top five.

In possibly the match of the round Workers will host Byron Bay at Rec 12. Workers will still be smarting from the 4-1 drubbing that the Bobcats dished up to them in Maclean on the weekend. Workers have been playing well in recent days and they will be hoping that the loss to Maclean was just a passing glitch in proceedings. Byron Bay Rams, who are sitting in equal third with Workers and Italo Stars, had no difficulty dispatching Thistles on Sunday. Thistles are in free fall and could well end up snatching the wooden spoon and a season in first division from Alstonville.

Ballina wasted a number of shots in the failing minutes of their game against Stars and had they kept their heads might have even rescued a draw. This Saturday Maclean will travel up the coast to engage Ballina in round ball combat. Expect a fast moving, frenetic and flanking game from both these teams where possession will be turned over just a little bit too easily.

Under the towering new lights at Skennars Head sporting fields, 2003 Golden Boot winner Alison Parr scored twice to help Lennox Head White Pointers upset top of the comp Workers in the Intershape Women's premier division.

Renee McIntosh broke free twice and nodded in a well placed corner, past an exhausted and over stretched Thistles defence. The hat trick helped Rovers to a 4-0 victory, lifting them to first place on the table. Lennox avenged themselves on Thistles 4-1 on Friday night turning the tables and the score line from two weeks earlier.

Wollongbar snatch victory - FNC Rugby Union

Ballina steal possession from Lismore City in one of the many lineout dwells during Saturdays match up in Lismore. Lismore won 11-3.

A hush settled over the partisan crowd at Lyall Park, Wollongbar, in the last seconds of Saturday's game between the Pioneers and Southern Cross University, as Benny Johnson carefully placed the ball for his penalty goal attempt. Moments later bedlam erupted as the ball sailed majestically through the posts for Wollongbar to snatch victory from the Gold Rats 10-9.

"Sure, our blokes were a bit cut about losing last weekend " Leonard Blok, Wollongbar's assistant coach admitted of the 80-10 loss to Grafton "but we had a host of juniors in the team last week. This week the blokes stuck to the game plan."

"Conditions suited them," universities coach Mathew Want said, "we pushed the pass and chose wrong options. We were only getting slow ball and their defence enjoyed the slow going."

Damien Thom's performance for the students cannot go unsung, as he was everywhere in defence and attack.

Wollongbar will host Lismore City this weekend and with the weather clearing and Lismore's flankers James Oliveri and Heath Conlan at their marauding best the Alstonville team might find the score line blowing out as it did in round eight where City knocked them over 30-0.

Lismore City, during a bruising and inconclusive first half, looked the better of the two teams as they went toe to toe with Ballina on Saturday afternoon. Charged down kicks and a few promising back line moves put pressure on the Seahorses line but it all came to naught before the break. In the second half debutant half Ben Sloane touched down for City and that was all that was necessary to take the match 11-3 on the slimy pug of Lismore's floodplain.

This weekend the Seahorses will make the journey inland to take on the might of Casino who will still be smarting from their loss to Grafton. The Casino Bulls are always awkward customers at home and the battered Seahorses will still be nursing their wounds after conceding to Lismore City when they jog onto the field. Casino has won both their previous encounters this year and the seasiders will need to strike early and often if they are going to turn the tables on the Bulls.

Grafton's Redmen have been in astonishing form of late, humiliating Wollongbar 80-10 two weeks ago and dispatching the more favoured Casino Bulls 25-14 last weekend. On Saturday they take on the universities Gold Rats who are still struggling to get a full strength team on the paddock due to university holidays. Honours are shared in the two previous games this year and despite the Rats being higher on the table they must go into this one as underdogs.

Back on track

Professional rider Guy Dundas leads the pack around the corner at Numulgi School in the last major road race held in the Lismore district in 1996.

Newly formed Northern Rivers Cycling Club has recently received approval to run road races from the New South Wales Police force and local councils. The two new road circuits under the clubs control are on Bagotville Road circuit between Bungawalbyn Road and Wardell Road and the Rous Road circuit near Rous Public School.

The inaugural Bagotville race took place on Sunday, July 4, and was well attended. The competition is scheduled to continue on the first Sunday of the every month from now till October with the next race to start on the 50 km Rous Rd circuit on August 1 at 7am.

The membership of the new Northern Rivers Cycling Club has already swollen to 31 since its first meeting in January.

"The main reason we formed the club is to cater for local riders. There are many local cyclists and they all have to be affiliated to a local club to apply for a licence to race competitively," Darryl Pursey from Harris Cycles said. "All of our local riders had to join clubs from out of the district so they could race."

The old Lismore Cycling Club folded five years ago due to lack of numbers. "People from Ballina and Alstonville weren't to keen to join the Lismore Cycling Club so by naming the new club after the region we could cater to a wider group," Darryl said.

There is only a very minimal charge to join and this provides insurance cover for each member.

For further information check out the website www.nrcc.org.au or call Darryl on 6621 4152.

Results of the inaugural Bagotville Road Race held on July 4:

A grade - Brendon Egan

B grade - Mark Harder

C grade - David Hobson and Kabir Antoniak

D grade - Wayne Fisher.