Sports News
 Hook, Line and Sinker
And the days go by
Days, weeks and months pass quickly as you get older. It's hard to believe it's April with the nights cooling down and some winter fish making their mark.
Flathead being caught on lures and plastics seem to have slowed in numbers but there are some big fish being taken on plastics. The weather for outside fishing (particularly "bottom bouncing") has not been good but last weekend it changed and catches of pearl perch, snapper, teraglin and morwong were very good.
Anglers travelling to Ebor have also had good times with the trout, particularly using "Celta" lures. One angler caught seven, up to 3kg, and had never caught a trout before.
Offshore at Evans Head, the mackerel have been on one day, off the next. Nice jewfish have been caught from the south wall at Ballina. At this stage it seems bait is preferred. A nice bag of three, all over 10kg, were all caught on fresh tailor fillets.
Many of the Queensland dams that have bass, saratoga and barramundi are within a day's drive of the North Coast. Many of these dams have the red-claw crayfish. One local angler caught 2,500 of them in 10 days. They are superb eating.
This weekend has a good time and tide for those who like fishing to be relaxing. From about 10.30am to 2pm should be a likely time to get a taste.
 Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens
Blowing the whistle on refs
No one who has ever played, officiated or avidly watched sport would disagree that poor refereeing or umpiring can ruin a game. A couple of dubious penalties strung together at the end of a game, a few questionable LBWs or a crushingly wrong line call can virtually reverse a result in a tight match. It's a precarious line of work being the man or woman in the middle.
No matter what people say, impartiality is hard to maintain in the midst of a partisan crowd. Most people are swayed by intimidation and it takes great courage to hold your nerve in the face of an angry crowd.
However, it is not always intimidation that affects an umpire's impartiality. Often it is simple presumptuousness. If they think one team is better than the other before the game begins, then they will tend to rule accordingly. This is in part is why winning teams, like the Australian cricket team, keep winning.
In fact, the moment an official becomes emotionally involved in a fixture then the result will inevitably become skewed. It's just human nature. This is why it's good practice being friendly and helpful to officials. So many subtle aspects can mar a refs impartiality; bigotry, personal history and even the cut of a players jib can turn a momentary decision for or against them. Not that you'll find any of our local whistleblowers admitting to it. Like top players, top officials are rare.
It's because of the struggle to remain impartial that few people take up the whistle - few truly honest people trust themselves to be fair to everyone. Sadly, it is these most humble of men and women who make the best refs. All too often people are inspired to umpire for all the wrong reasons; money, envy, and the desire to get their own back at others. And too little is done to weed them out.
The only way ahead is to flood the market with officials and to set up ongoing assessments of umpiring performances. It's not enough to wait till there is a formal complaint - we need to maintain a constant flow of information and assessment between players and officials after each game.
Much is made of the loss of umpires but little about the loss of players due to poor umpiring. Many players have lost faith in the game after feeling they've been unfairly treated. Form slumps can be converted into relegation and into early retirement on the basis of shoddy officiating.
The best umpires seem to blow the whistle or penalise players as little as possible. Good umpires know the first names of all the players they are controlling and they warn players on the run rather than penalise them. Their aim is always to pacify the situation and never to enflame. Former NRL referee Bill Harrigan was one of the best referees I ever watched because he controlled the match in this manner.
So if you're humble, cool headed and love your sport, sit the exam, pull on you're penguin clobber and join the fray - you are needed.
Helping people with a disability in the pool
Experienced Austswim presenter, Maureen Summerhayes, will deliver two workshops designed to support people who work with swimmers with a disability in the pool.
The workshops are on this Friday, April 8, at the Wilson Park Specific Purposes School at 9.30am and 1.30pm.
Each of the two-hour sessions will cover the importance and enjoyment of teaching swimming to people with a disability. Other topics will include water based activities involving entries, exits, support, movement, progressions and a teaching session with children from the school.
The workshops are ideal for any parent, sibling, student, teacher or coach that needs some practical ideas for helping and motivating people with a disability in the water.
The workshops also provide re-registration points for current accredited Austswim instructors with all participants to receive valuable teaching resources and a certificate of participation.
The fee for each session is only $16.50 per person and enrolment is essential by contacting NSW Sport and Recreation, as limited places are available.
Over the weekend, April 9-10, Maureen will also be conducting the Austswim elective Teacher of Aquatics to People with a Disability.
This course will also be held at Wilson Park Specific Purposes School and participants must have completed the Austswim 'Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety' course as a pre-requisite.
The course enrolment fee is $180 and registration is essential.
For information and bookings for any of the above workshops or courses contact NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168.
A letter from a fan
Dear Loon,
The Bowyer vs Dyer stoush reminds me of the original State of Origin match during which Artie Beetson (QLD) punched his club team mate Mick Cronin (NSW) in the head.
Beetson was hailed as a hero and that punch continues to be glorified in 2005 (Fox Sports RL coverage) as the start of something special (State of Origin).
Bowyer, on the other hand, has done exactly the same - punched out a fellow club member on the field. He has been fined six weeks pay, been suspended by his club and the incident is being investigated by police. I also wouldn't want to be his manager when negotiating his contract terms with Newcastle at season's end.
The difference between the events was simply context.
Beetson assaulted Cronin and has never been held to account. Apparently that is the ugliness of rugby league in-perpetuity.
I have witnessed here in Lismore an on-field assault that happened three to four seconds after the targeted Marist Brothers player had scored a try. He was carried off unconscious on a stretcher and the perpetrator from South Grafton was sent off (as reported in an article on the last round of the 2003 RL home and away season in The Echo).
The perpetrator's actions were virtually ignored by the judiciary and he was eligible to go straight back out onto the field for the club's next game - a semi final against the same team.
The game suffers from a terminal illness. Those involved in the sport appear to think that assault is a legitimate part of the game. Former players (including Benny Elias) have been lamenting publicly the fact that matches no longer start with an almighty punch-up.
Put it down, where it lies.
'Machiavelli'
Name and address supplied
Be a bronzed Ozzie
NSW Sport and Recreation and Surf Life Saving NSW are offering a Bronze Medallion Accreditation Course in Lennox Head this May.
The course will run part time for three weeks at the Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre in Lennox Head.
Pre-enrolment is essential. Enrolments close on April 22. For further information or to make a booking, phone NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168.
NRRRL - Rugby League
The all-new Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL) competition began last weekend with the first of 18 rounds.
The NRRRL is the synthesis of the old Group 1 and the southern division of the old Group 18 competition. The rounds are divided into northern and southern divisional derby games and there are also long-distance travelling rounds. Teams earn more points by winning the travelling games and less in the local derby matches. Strange you might say? One local team trainer, who wished to remain nameless, told The Echo that he would run naked down Keen Street at midday if the competition as it stands now is running the same way in three years. We're going to hold him to that promise.
Whether or not the competition is perfectly structured or not, what is obvious is the quality of players going around.
Former Waratah Milton Thiaday, Penrith's Charles King, St George's Ricki Lang and Danny Wicks, Redcliffe's Luke Scott, Brisbane's Tim Stark, the Mercy brothers, Chris King and Shaun Laurie are just a few of the absolute stars doing the rounds. These players are game breakers and the 13 teams that make up this year's competition are full of players just like them.
Given the calibre of players it is hardly surprising that the first round of the NRRRL produced over 70 tries in six matches. That's more than 10 tries per game - talk about entertainment!
Lasts year's Group 1 finalists, Marist Brothers and Mullumbimby, had a mixed start to the new competition. Marist Brothers, who have only three players left from last year's starting line-up, absolutely mauled the Kyogle Turkeys, knocking up a fine half century replete with 11 tries. The cricket analogy didn't stop there with Graham Smallwood picking up a hat trick of tries.
Conversely, last year's premiers, Mullumbimby, who lost five of their best players in the off-season, came badly unstuck against Murwillumbah 32-16. There is no doubt they will miss the likes of Hogan and Godbee this year.
Across the board, Ballina Seagulls look the team to beat with a backline bristling with speed and skill. They routed Byron Bay's Red Devils 50-15 last weekend and will be more than a handful for the Grafton Ghosts this weekend in Grafton.
Round 2 draw
- Tweed Seagulls host Murwillumbah;
- Cudgen hosts Byron Bay;
- Marist Brothers hosts Mullumbimby;
- Grafton Ghosts hosts Ballina;
- Casino hosts Kyogle;
- Lower Clarence hosts South Grafton;
- South Tweed Heads bye.
City scare
Defending premiers, Lismore City, were given a scare in the first round of this year's Far North Coast rugby union when last year's cellar dwellers, Grafton, had them down 20-19 with 10 minutes remaining.
The game, played in Grafton on Saturday afternoon, took a sharp turn in favour of the Redmen after the half time break as they piled on three unanswered tries - two to Spurway and one to Flatherty.
City had gone to the break with a comfortable 14-3 lead but it soon evaporated under the tireless work of the Grafton pack.
As it turned out City escaped with a six point win when Oliveri crossed under the posts and Sloane converted in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Ballina overcame a determined Wollongbar 20-15 in the Lyle Park game thanks to the enterprising play of Andrew Gordon.
Gordon, a late inclusion in the Seahorse's line-up, scored 12 of the 20 points, crossing twice and converting once.
In a game of two halves, Ballina led going to the break 12-5 but conceded 10 points in the second as the Wollongbar forwards woke from their slumbers.
Apart from Gordon, Kane Scott and Liam Preston were instrumental in the victory. Wollongbar's second rower Roman Lakomy worked hard around the ruck and did a lot to keep the Pioneers in the match.
The Casino Bulls pack is once again a force to be reckoned with this year, and the beefy blokes made light work of the students in Casino 29-10.
The forward battery started early with a push over try and continued throughout as the Bulls turned over possession regularly through the set pieces. Batson, Llewellyn, Mohammed and Bowen broke the hearts and sprained the backs of their opposition on their way to the easy victory.
This weekend the Wollongbar Pioneers will travel to Lismore, while Ballina will make their way to Yamba for Yamba's first game of the season. Casino will host Grafton and SCU get the bye.
Premiers Cup - Soccer FNC
 Matthew Olley, who played for Rovers in last year's grand final against Workers, has transferred to Goonellabah Hornets. Thanks to his striking skills Goonellabah has made the cut for this year's Anzac Cup semis. Despite the loss of Olley, Rovers still took out the Northern Division Premiers Cup over the weekend.
Local minor premiers Richmond Rovers walked away with a cool $1000 from Coffs Harbour International Stadium after defeating the Port Macquarie Panthers in the final of the Premiers Cup on Sunday.
The Premiers Cup is played between the minor premiers of the four northern division competitions. The 8-7 victory came at the end of a harrowing sudden death penalty shoot out.
Ian McGregor scored both goals during regular time, but Rovers conceded goals in the first and last minutes of the game to trigger the shoot out.
Rovers were impeccable from the spot during the shoot out, netting each of their dot shots.
Stand in keeper Scott Coster performed excellently, while Russell Dent, Brett Lane, Ian McGregor and Andrew Gray also stood out.
Anzac Cup
At the end of the pool games the Anzac Cup semi finalists have been determined. Ballina, Bangalow, Workers and Goonellabah (on goal difference) will vie for the prestigious pre-season silverware.
Reigning champs, Byron Bay, looked set to take the last spot in the semi-final series when Workers super mature striker, John Wraight, slotted a late goal to spoil Byron's 3-1 win.
Wraight's goal allowed Goonellabah to sneak past the Rams on goal difference and take a spot in the semis.
The heated game produced two send offs, with Workers speedster Liam MacPherson and the Rams veteran Bruce Morhaus both given their marching orders.
Of the competing teams only Ballina and Bangalow made it through undefeated. Bangalow did their level best to be knocked out however, allowing Stars a 2-0 lead before they came surging home with goals to Iko Yamaguchi and two to Sathis Sthapit.
Ballina's Dave Betterridge, Adam Izzard and Phil Emery all found the back of the net in Ballina's win over Maclean. Maclean played a well-structured game but couldn't put the finishing touches and only managed one goal to Christian Potappel.
In the other game Thistles finally secured its first win on Friday night, with a 2-1 away win over Casino. Casino lost all three of its pool games and is now faced with a long hard season if pre-season form is anything to go by.
Fees still frozen
The Lismore District Sports Association (LDSA) has made a recommendation to Lismore City Council (LCC) to continue the freeze on increases in sports fees.
A freeze on increases in fees has been in place for the last two years and on Monday night the LDSA decided it should stay this way for at least the next 12 months.
Councillor Jenny Dowell had instigated a review of sporting fees and a draft report is presently before Council. The report, which has been put together by LCC's roads and parks manager, Garry Hemsworth, outlines a number of fee anomalies. Turf cricket, winter cricket, athletics and touch football all pay a smaller proportion of costs than other sports.
The LDSA has also asked Council to further investigate these anomalies and go into discussions with those groups.
A new LDSA
Reform of the LDSA continues apace with positions on the new advisory board to be advertised as early as next month, according to LCC general manager Paul O'Sullivan.
It is hoped that the new board will contain two or three councillors, eight sport's club delegates, one Sport's Academy delegate and one delegate from the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation.
Three bags full
Three Lismore sporting organisations will benefit from $38,347 worth of government grants under the 2004/2005 Capital Assistance Program.
Federal Community Centre Park will receive $8,210 for the construction of a tennis shed. Wadeville Reserve Trust will receive $4,468 for a basketball/netball half court and playground area, while $17,000 will go towards the improvement of access, safety and security at the clubhouse at the Newpark Football Grounds in Kyogle.
In addition, Lismore City Council has been granted $8,669 for playground equipment at Peace Park.
All new Brothers a title chance - Baseball
 Under 15 Shane Davis chases a low breaking pitch in the top flight against Workers at Baxter Field on Saturday.Mark Newstead, a starting pitcher for Alstonville in the first division last year, opened the season for his new club, Marist Brothers, with four hits against a hapless Norths at Thew Field on Saturday.
Newstead had little trouble wielding the new wooden bats, which is hardly surprising considering he is a cricketer of note. The 10-3 win against last year's finalists included three hits to youngster, Lucas Myers, and two each to Anthony Gahan and Mick Youngberry. It was a good start to the season for the Brethren but whether they are contenders for the premiership is yet to be tested. The first of these tests will be this weekend when the men in blue run on against last year's premiers, Workers, at Baxter Field.
The Workers line-up, which is basically unchanged, polished off a very youthful Easts Redbirds side last Saturday within seven innings, 12-0.
Despite the lopsided result the Redbirds look like they could mature into a tough outfit this season with the return of young Nick Shailes to the game. The former Australian junior team member kept the Workers powerful batting line-up reasonably quiet during the opening innings and it was more Workers' base running nous than their strength in the box that built the scoreline.
At Thew Field this weekend Redbirds will take on Norths, who will still be smarting from their loss to Brothers. Norths put in an error-free performance in the field against Brothers but were a little ill-disciplined in the box against the accurate off- speed pitching of Lucas Myres. If Shailes starts on the mound for Easts it could be an interesting battle.
Golf with Stan Bendall
 Winner of the overall nett championship at Lismore's Easter Golf Carnival, Craig Hurley.
Nominations please
Organisers of the Northern Rivers District Golf Association (NRDGA) are disappointed at the number of nominations for this year's Junior and Colts Classic, which will be held at the Murwillumbah Golf Course from April 12-15.
The Northern Rivers is bristling with talented young golfers but as yet few have chosen to take up the cudgels for this prestigious event. The Classic will be played over 72 holes. To nominate call Ray Brims on 6672 3429.
Talented!
The NRDGA has selected young Mullumbimby golfer, Daniel Morgan, to attend the Talented Athletes Camp to be held in Narrabeen in May and August. The Association will also put their money where there mouth is by funding Daniel's involvement.
Upcoming events
Ballina Golf Club will host the Macdonald's Junior Golf Classic on Sunday, April 24.
Coraki will be the venue for this year's Keno NSW mixed 4-ball championship final. Three teams from each of the Northern Rivers Clubs will contest the event on Sunday, May 1, with the winner earning a spot in the state final in Sydney later in the year.
The quarterly
The NRDGA will meet for their quarterly dinner meeting at the Lismore Workers Golf Club on Tuesday, April 26. Association executives are asked to arrive at 6pm and club delegates at 6.30pm.
Welcome back
Alstonville's Daniel Lidbetter closes in to challenge Coraki's David Brown as he turns to flick at goal. The game at Hepburn Park was a celebration of Alstonville's return to the top flight after at least a decade in the wilderness. However, Coraki spoilt the party by winning 3-0.
East Lismore's Demi Schaefer loses the ball after a perfectly timed tackle in their match against A Grade Northern Star on the weekend on the synthetic turf at Hepburn Park.
Despite going down to Coraki 3-0, Alstonville gave a tremendous performance in their return to A Grade at Hepburn Park on Saturday.
The Red Soilers lacked some connection in the first half, with their new team line-up only having played a few games together. The team is made up of players from a number of clubs. Ben Moss opened for Coraki and Mitchell Dunstan was on the end of a few slick moves to post the other two goals for the men in blue.
Adrian Crispo and Daniel Lidbetter were live wires in the midfield for Alstonville and the newcomers look like they will hold their own against the more traditional teams.
Easts began their Far North Coast season with a 4-2 dismissal of Northern Star. Easts got away to an early lead through the stick of Nathan Cadderton before Stars could find their feet in the mid field. The setback didn't dampen Stars' spirit however, and thanks to the constant counter attack of Thomas Vantaggiatto, Chris McGuiness and Chris Gilmore, Stars forced a short corner in the 20th minute. Phil Kelly promptly converted to even the scores.
Moments later Easts hit back through the skills of Dave Willis and then Chris Clark as the men in gold and blue took a 3-1 half-time lead.
Stars came out hard after the break but were well countered by Easts determined defence. Easts put the game out of reach in the 59th minute when Clark scored again. Stars scored a late goal through Kelly but the game was long gone.
Sam tops junior rankings
Workers Red Under 12 Sam Black scored the highest overall point score in the Lismore District Junior Cricket Association over the last year with a score of 51.7. Sam accumulated the score on the back of 157 runs, 35 wickets and a catch. The next most prolific point scorer was Casino Under 14 Trent Bennett, who scored 50.8. Trent's total came from 248 runs, 23 wickets and 3 catches. Next in the list is Eureka's Under 16A master blaster Mat Irwin, who scored 48.9 after putting together 299 runs, taking 15 wickets and making 4 catches. In the Under 16B competition, Marist Brother's Ben Layton totalled 44.9 from his 249 runs, 15 wickets and 5 catches.
Cooper continues his climb
Tom Cooper got the second highest score in the second innings for NSW University in the final of the Sydney first grade competition with a well put together 55 last week. Sadly for Tom, Sydney University managed to sneak past their total to take out the title. Former local and regular state representative, Matthew Phelps, though not as successful with the willow, was part of the winning Sydney University side.
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