Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker with Lindsay Doust

Protecting the fisheries

It was pleasing to read that the giant Irish trawler, Veronica, has been banned from fishing in Australian waters. This ship is longer than a football field and has vast freezer storage space. It was coming here to target our slimy mackerel and yellowtail. The Australian Fishing Management Authority (ATMA) has done a service to both commercial and recreational interests in Australia.

We have been through the tragedy of the southern blue-fin tuna, the orange roughy and jewfish. The government is also serious in its attempts to stop the illegal capture of the Patagonian tooth-fish.

Annual membership of the Richmond Valley Anglers Action Group (RVAAG) is now due. $2 per year gets you four newsletters and more importantly action on important recreational fishing issues. Other clubs can join for $20 per year. The RVAAG is a branch of a group that stretches across New South Wales and they are fully registered, incorporated and seen by NSW Fisheries as a legitimate body representing the anglers' position.

Please phone Bruce Mahony on 6624 8805 for more details or drop your membership in to Suffolks Sports Store. There has been a gradual erosion of recreational anglers rights and the purpose of the group is to counter this by keeping abreast of important issues and take them up with relevant authorities.

John Ski (pictured) caught this very nice bass on a recent outing to Hinze Dam in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Congratulations to Hans Jensen of Alstonville who has just won the final of a major bass competition at Hinze Dam.

Remember to keep the photos coming in, either to The Echo in Molesworth Street, Lismore, or to Suffolks Sports Store. They can be e-mailed to The Echo at sport@echonews.com.

Locally, the scene is not electric but there are a few nice fish being caught. More bass have being caught this week as the weather has warmed. Flathead are hanging in and will soon be the main species chased in the estuaries. A few nice whiting were caught recently and as the days warm up they will become more prevalent. On the beach the best baits will be beach worms and in the rivers, blood worms, closely followed by live yabbies.

Subject to the weather, this weekend the best times will be between 6.30am and 10am.

Remember, limit your catch and don't take any more than you need.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

The true believers

In his current TV series John Safran Vs God, Safran makes the ludicrous assertion that Australia is a predominately secular nation. What guff!

Australia is one of the most pious, devout and staunchly religious nations in the world. Our religion is sport.

When our cricketers returned with the holy 'Ashes' from England in 1989 we put on a 'holy prayer flag' parade larger than any visiting Pope has ever received. We throw these vast demonstrations of sporting devotion more regularly than Christians have Fellowship meetings. We will flock into the streets for just about any sporting hero in an open car. Last week it was the Olympic team, in a fortnight it will be the grand finals. During these ceremonies our devotees, like Indian sadhus, daub themselves in ochre and plunge into the river of colour to celebrate their unshakable love of everything athletic.

Sport, in Australia, possesses all the same observances and lip service to peaceful co-existence as any fanatical religious sect. There is the beer sacrament, the Guernsey robes, the intricately designed foot vestments, whole congregations of chanters... what have these other faiths got that we haven't?

We make pilgrimages to vast sporting temples where we cry out against the Demons and adore the Saints or visa versa. If we can't be there at the game we give our undivided attention to the central house altar, where the iconic spirits battle it out on the screen.

Ask any rugby player what game is played in Heaven? Faithfully they will answer 'Rugby is the game they play in heaven' but they would be wrong - heaven is just a suburb of Rugby.

When Aussies die and ascend to that great stadium in the sky, they run on in a game where they never get hurt, never tire and the crowd chants their name eternally as they literally play out of their skin. You can keep your 20 eternally frustrating virgins, you can keep your lyres and your little wings and enlightenment, when Aussies pop their clogs they go to glory!!!

Mr Safran knows the truth of this better than anyone for he has performed the rights of the streaker at Israel's Wailing Wall for his own beloved St Kilda. That's why he rose to prominence in the first place, for Safran is a true believer.

Concussion warning

Mild concussion takes at least three weeks to heal and even longer with children, neurological tests carried out jointly by the University of Pittsburg and the University of New England have found.

Dr Micky Collins (UP Medical Centre) and Professor Jim Donnelly (UNE) also concluded that concussions incurred during the healing period have a multiplier effect on the original injury.

"Simply put, when the brain is in a concussed state, it's just not ready to be hit again. It's not like adding one plus one when you have another concussion before the first has recovered. It's like adding one plus six,” Dr Collins said.

He said parents should resist the temptation to allow children back onto the field after a head knock. "Its time to change the tough it out philosophy,” he said. "The most important point that parents and athletes and everyone needs to know is that you do not return athletes who are experiencing symptoms [giddiness, confusion or vision impairment] back to play. It's very simple.”

Repeat bouts of concussion have the effect of undermining memory and significantly slowing mental processing. Coaches and club officials need to be aware that children who are allowed to play on after suffering a solid head impact and who incur further injury could be with in their rights to sue for the damage incurred.

For further information visit http://newsburea.upmc.com/Bios/BiosCollins.htm.

Woodlawn mow 'em down in Newcastle

The victorious Woodlawn Under 14s rugby league team.

The Woodlawn Under 14s rugby league team snatched victory in the fading moments of the Cochran Knockout in Newcastle last week. The victory over Clare Catholic College, 18-16, is the first win by a local side in the statewide Catholic College competition.

The game began with a fearsome softening up period, but the Woodlawners withstood the early hit ups without buckling. Early in the second half, the locals unleashed their flashy backline as Blake Northfield, Codie Austen and Beven Cuthbertson all crossed for tries during the gripping encounter.

Although the backs scored all the tries, they only did so because of the determination and work rate of the young forwards. Luke Porter and Robert Kelly, in the front row, put in stand out performances for Woodlawn, as did young Tom Sandral and Jessie McEwen.

Holiday fun

There's no excuse for kids to be cooped up inside these school holidays as NSW Sport and Recreation has a range of new and exciting activities on offer guaranteed to entertain the most discerning young adventurer.

NSW Sport and Recreation regional manager Mr Paul Hernage said, "We've got mountain biking, abseiling, snorkelling, dance, bushwalking and surf sessions these holidays, just to name a few,” he said.

"All activities are run by accredited, experienced instructors and provide great opportunities for kids to have fun and develop new skills and self confidence.”

Kids aged 8-16 can sign up for the following sessions:

Mountain biking - Saturday, Sept 25;

Bushwalking - Monday, Sept 27;

Abseiling - Tuesday, Sept 28;

Snorkelling - Wednesday, Sept 29, and Thursday, Oct 7;

The dance experience - Wednesday, Oct 6;

Surf clinics - Saturday and Sunday, Oct 9-10.

Numbers are strictly limited, so book in early to secure your place.

Phone NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168 for further information and bookings.

Coached by Wallabies

Registrations are now open for the Telstra rugby coaching clinic, which is open to people aged 12 to 17 and will run from 9.30am to 11.30am on Sunday, October 10, at the Coffs Harbour International Sports Stadium.

For the chance to be involved players should log onto www.telstra.com/countrywide and click on the Telstra rugby coaching clinic link, fill out the entry form and write in 25 words or less why they would like to train with the Wallabies.

After being coached by the Wallabies, the 50 budding rugby players will join them at a sausage sizzle where they will have the chance to get autographs etc.

Entries close on September 30.

For further information, phone Greg Campbell at Javelin Australia on 9959 3010 or 0418 239 139.

Direr Daley's win decider

The return of Daleys' dynamo Maria Durheim to the starting line up was integral to Daleys' success in the Lismore Netball Grand final against Breakaways on Saturday. Durheim's determination and drive was inspirational for the greater part of the match and her strength when contesting for the ball in the circle was unrivalled.

The game began much like the major semi had ended, with the Breakaways firmly in control and Daleys' error count on the rise. Rachelle Watson was reading play well and it looked like the Breakaways would dominate in the chill, blustery conditions. By quarter time Breakaways had already drawn away to a 10-6 lead.

This was quite enough to boil Durheim's blood, if her performance is anything to go by, as she lifted Daleys in the second quarter. Her team eliminated the errors and quickened the speed of match, scoring four unanswered goals.

Daleys came to the break 17-16 up. It was a sensational turn-around in an intriguing and thoroughly entertaining game.

Errors started to creep back into Daleys' game in the third, as the battle between Silvana Wilson and Durheim intensified. They both took a tumble onto the concrete court at one stage. As the siren called an end to the third quarter, the teams were locked at 23-all.

Breakaways scored first in the final quarter, but it was quickly countered as the scoring rate quickened. In the end, it was Holly Archibald's control of the mid court that made the difference for Daleys, as they drew away to secure the title 33-31.

Return of the Masters

Proud couple Jack and Maureen Taylor display their gold medals from the Pan Pacific Masters Games 2002.

Veteran Ballina archers Jack and Maureen Taylor, will represent Northern NSW at the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast, November 6-14.

The eagle-eyed couple will compete in both field and target archery, two disciplines in a Games program boasting a record 47 sports.

The Taylors have amassed a swag of gold medals in a decade of Masters competition and both say they are looking forward to competing.

The 2004 Pan Pacific Masters Games will be the biggest in Australia with a record 10,000 competitors expected.

Entry forms, sports information and social program are available online at www.mastersgames.com.au or phone 07 5564 8733. Entries for most sports close on Friday October 1.

I see red, I see red, I see red

The sweetest victory

Lismore Workers withstood the howling personal abuse of the mob and a stirring comeback by Rovers' star-studded lineup to take out this years TNR Premier Division grand final on Saturday night at Oakes Oval.

Workers coach Kevin Keevers called it 'sweet revenge' and considering the base personal taunts and ribald chanting of an entire bay of the Rovers followers, it must have been sweet indeed.

Perhaps the Rovers mob should look up the word supporter and realise that it isn't synonymous with derision. The repeated chanting of filthy beer hall abuse brought low a fantastic game well worthy of a final.

Workers dominated for the first 40 minutes with crisp passing and well worked plays, particularly down Luke McPherson's side of the park. In fact, if it wasn't for the woodwork the scoreline could easily have blown out in Workers' favour. That's not to say that Rovers weren't in the hunt. Indeed only the spectacular work of Workers keeper, Rhys Evans, the flying Welsh dragon, kept the black and whites scoreless.

Workers two first-half goals were supplied by Luke McPherson and John Wraight, with the assistance of master striker Steve Morrissey.

The second half was a different story. Rovers' desperation was evident from the outset as pressure began to build on the Workers' goal. Workers compacted their defence and defended in numbers. Tom Guttormsen and Anthony Alvos seemed to be everywhere as Workers scrambled. Midway through the pressure finally told as Olley pounced on an error to slot one in. Lifted by this, Rovers flooded forward and looked a real chance of taking the game to extra time, until the matchless Evan's stunned them with a magical late reflex save in the dying moments. Rovers' heads sank.

The game was a match up of individualistic brilliance and gritty resolve against collective structured team play. It's a lesson some supporters would do well to learn.

Condon corners the cup

It soon became evident during Friday night's women's grand final that Workers' coach, David Condon, had drilled his young team in the art of the corner.

Two of the goals that Workers finished off at Oakes Oval were from the set piece. It helped them earn the major title 3-1 against Byron Bay.

For the benefit of opposing teams next year, the patented 'Condon' corner technique is as follows: the corner is taken by a player with a hefty boot, notably Kym Wraight. Before the kick comes in, the Workers forward line and mid field gather as a group at the corner of the 18-yard box. Then, as the corner is taken, the whole strike force rush toward the goalmouth. The whole procedure is very unnerving to the opposition and earned Workers two goals in the first half - one to Nicole Feletti and the other to Renee Campbell.

The Condon technique is easy enough to counter, markers need only stay with their opposite numbers, but Byron did not seem to be aware of that and with all those players in motion it was hardly surprising that it created goal mouth confusion.

In the second half, Byron came back as Workers conceded an own goal from a deflection, but it only spurred on the physically dominant Workers players as they marched forward across the increasingly dispirited Byron outfit.

Kym Wraight sealed the occasion for Workers with an excellent goal as she curled a long shot in from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Lawton leaps for glory

Local Southern Cross University student Daniel Lawton is off to Perth this month to compete at the Australian University Games in the high jump. Daniel trains with the Lismore Athletics Club and came to the region to study at SCU. Hewill compete from September 26 to October 1. Daniel's personal best jump of 2.1m should see him in with a good chance to add to the silver medal he won at the Northern University Athletics Championships in March. The Australian University high jump record is currently 2.19 metres.

Daniel will also be competing in the triple jump competition with a personal best of over 13 metres.

The bodyboard beautiful

The seventh round of the Headlanders Bodyboard Club will be held on Sunday September 26. All competitors are to meet at Lighthouse Carpark, Ballina at 6.30am.

This is the second-last comp for the year and there's still time for many riders to finish in the top four in each division. There are heaps of prizes to be won and the end of year presentation has been moved forward to late-November. For more information on the Headlanders Club contact Simon Bruncke on 0421 789 758.