Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker

Out fishing

Sweet Lip caught off Broome by Anthony Cougal. The fishing column will return next week.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Drugs are bad, okay?

I want to go on the public record. I've been using drugs to enhance my performance. In the hyper competitive environment of sports journalism I found the temptation to take stimulants too strong.

It's true, I've been taking coffee. Often two or three cups per day. Really strong coffee. It's got more active ingredient than any caffeine pill. We're talking 120 to 130 milligrams per cup. I know what I'm doing is wrong, I know what it's doing to me, I know that its badly effecting my liver, my kidneys and disturbing my nervous system.

But it's the thought that kids might see me as a role model and take up the bean that really troubles me the most. How could I live with myself?

Needless to say, it won't be long before our professional association, SPRAY (The SPorts wRiters Association for Yobos) reads of my confession and suspends me, or worse, expels me for bringing larrikin journalism into disrepute.

But I need coffee to do this job.

The rarefied atmosphere of sports journalist requires devotion to a seemingly unending stream of clichés and the adulation of the parochial and provincial - all in the unholy search of an actual salary with super, sick leave and a semblance of job security.

Sure, I had tasted caffeine before I took up this job, but I didn't swallow.

I'm hooked now, and if I don't get my fix, adjectives sneak in suffix-less where adverbs should be. So I start to perform brilliant rather than brilliantly, and sentences start to form without verbs. Bad Laurie's coffee needs. Then I start to get tense and my tenses begin to slip. O, I haven't be any good today without my coffee.

The pressures on us to perform just keep increasing - it's like we have to be super human Nazi monks without even a single foible or failing. Ubageese scribing our squawkings in a pure coffee-free state on the sidelines of the mega bucks melodrama of modern sport.

I'm cracking up, quite obviously. But I will never return to tea!!

As everybody knows, journalists have a tradition of sobriety and decorum and they would not welcome a drug cheat in their midst. I feel sure that the bureaucrats at SPRAY will be on the phone to me pretty soon. So, one way or another, this could well be my last column.

I'll be at Caddies if you need me.

It's footy - in anyone's language

AFL representative Cory Nichols hand passes to a belligerent rugby rep, Josh Suffolk, while soccer stars Reece Green and Luke McPherson look on with amusement.

All four take off for Sydney this week to take part in the Combined High Schools state trials for AFL, rugby and soccer. No matter what shape the ball is or the rules they play under, these fellas play footy. It is interesting to note that Josh also plays AFL for the Lismore Swans, while Cory plays league for Brothers and baseball for Redbirds. I wonder if they ever get time to do the washing up?

Emma's got rhythm

Lismore High School's champion gymnast, Emma Goodman (pictured) has won selection in the Combined High Schools state gymnastics squad after a stellar display in the state trials in Sydney in April.

Emma, who trains as part of the North Coast Academy of Gymnastics with Pam Behan and Sharon Williamson, specialises in rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics. In rhythmic gymnastics Emma dances to music while tossing and catching ribbons and performing stretches that make the rest of us wince. In acrobatic gymnastics Emma is the top of a trio of acrobats, where she is thrown around by the other two girls. Emma travels to Sydney for the national trials this week.

If you're willing, then you're able

North Coast children with an intellectual or physical disability are invited to participate in the 'Willing and Able' camp this Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, at Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre in Lennox Head

The residential camp offers archery, soccer, netball, basketball, cricket, tennis and many wheelchair sports in addition to the traditional canoeing, sailing and beach games.

Community carers and students from Southern Cross University will provide supervision and support for children throughout the weekend, allowing parents the opportunity for weekend respite.

The camp starts at 9.30am on the Saturday and continues until 3.30pm on Sunday.

For further information or to register, phone NSW Sport and Recreation on 6687 7168.

Flying saucers seen at The Channon

Wrists will be flicking and the frisbees will be flying this Saturday, May 28, out on the fabulously beautiful Coronation Park at The Channon.

The saucers will be taking off as part of the inaugural Channon Frisbee Golf Tournament, which will be held over three rounds of 10 holes. The challenging event has already drawn tossers from as far afield as Brisbane to meet the challenge chucked down by the newly formed Channon Disc Golf Club.

Sign on is at 9.30am for a 10am start, and people of all ages are most welcome. Entry is $10, or $5 for the under 18s division.

The gruelling space-age event will be accompanied by a family fun day and BBQ.

For more information phone Jason on 6689 0333 or Donovan on 0438 234 800.

Waratahs' flower

Northern Star half, Chris Gilmore, gets some synthetic turf burns in an attempt to keep control of the ball after a collision with East Lismore's Aaron Kelso at Hepburn Park on Saturday.

The Waratah Bobcats produced a beautiful performance on Sunday, when they belittled Burleigh 6-0 at Hunt Park in Labrador. The win pushes the Waratahs into the outright lead in the regional competition after fellow high flyers, Ballina, copped a caning at the hands of United Vipers in Murwillumbah on Saturday.

Consequently, Ballina has slid to second, sitting on nine points along with the Murwillumbah Taipans and Mudgeeraba, who both posted wins over the weekend. East Lismore's seemingly solid defence were on holiday, metaphorically speaking, on Saturday, when they capitulated to Northern Star 5-1. Easts and the Vipers now both sit on six points and with Labrador, who crushed the Allstars 5-1.

Powerful Coraki failed to make headway, only managing a 2-all draw against Alstonville.

This weekend the competition moves into round five, with the Taipans taking on Labrabor at Labrador's Hunt Park from 2pm. Allstars will then battle it out with Burleigh from 3.30pm.

In Murwillumbah, Ballina play the lowly placed Redbacks at 2.25pm, while Waratahs match it with Mudgeeraba at 3.50pm in what will be the match of the round.

At Lismore's Hepburn Park, Alstonville will be looking for their first win when they play cellar dwellers Capri at 12.50pm. United Vipers will then play Easts at 4.20pm. The final match in at Hepburn Park between Coraki and Northern Star gets underway at 5.45pm. It promises to be an entertaining encounter.

League legends in Ballina

You can meet league legend Andrew Ettinghausen at the Legends of League Sportmans' Night at Ballina RSL Club next Monday.

The National Rugby League is celebrating 25 years of State of Origin rugby league with a 37-day relay from Cairns to Sydney during the hotly contested Origin series.

The 37-day Legends of Origin relay is one of the largest community events ever undertaken in Australian sport, covering over 3597kms - and it's coming to Ballina.

The Legends of Origin Sportsmans' Night will be held next Monday, May 30, at the Ballina RSL Club, where people can meet the relay team of league legends including Andrew Ettingshausen, Mario Fenech, Gary Belcher and Billy Moore.

The night includes an auction and raffles, with items provided by the NRL in support of the Make a Wish Foundation, as well as video footage and humorous anecdotes from the former stars.

The night will be hosted by former Australian cricketing great Dean Jones.

Tickets are $50, with $5 from each ticket purchased going to the Make a Wish Foundation. To secure your exclusive ticket to have dinner with the legends, phone Ballina RSL on 6686 2544. The night kicks off at 6.45pm.

The very best of country rugby in Lismore - FNC Rugby Union

Referee Graham Cook politely recites the riot act to one of the University Gold Rat back rowers in the match between Uni and Casino at Southern Cross University on Saturday afternoon. Graham will be the third referee in the big game between NSW Country Cockatoos and Perth Gold on Oakes Oval this Saturday. Local junior referees Joseph Cales and Jack Quigley have also been selected as number four and five referees for the match.

The NSW Country Cockatoos are looking forward to the support of a boisterous and parochial Lismore crowd when they take on Perth Gold in the crucial 4th round of the Australian Rugby Shield at Oakes Oval this Saturday, May 28, at 3pm.

The Cockatoos drew with the Queensland Heelers in the last round and need a win to seal a position in the final of the competition.

Meanwhile, the Perth Gold men have already booked their spot in the final after putting the Darwin Mosquitoes to the sword 43-10 last Saturday. That means this is a make or break game for the Cockatoos, who could lose their finals berth to Queensland Heelers if they don't beat Perth this Saturday.

Perth arrives in Lismore today (May 26) and will train on Friday at 3pm at Oakes Oval, or Crozier Field if it's wet. The Cockatoos will train at Ballina Rugby Ground.

The curtain raisers for the shield encounter will be between three grades of Lismore City and Southern Cross University Gold Rats.

Under 19s get underway at 10.45am, reserve grade at 12 noon and first grade at 1.15pm.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $20 for a family or $5 for children under 16 from the ground.

Far North Coast Rugby

Grafton's Redmen beat hard on the door of premiership contention on Saturday when they monstered last year's premiers Lismore City 20-15 at Lismore Rugby Ground.

The Redmen's tight five is possibly the toughest in the competition and they have been opening up ground for their backs to put on a show.

At Southern Cross University's Maurie Ryan Oval, Casino ground out a late win against a determined Gold Rat pack. The game provided two goals apiece and in the end it was the lopsided penalty count that gave the beefy visitors victory, with Tory Gilmore kicking four penalty goals for the Bulls.

The Gold Rats' ill-discipline in and around the rucks was brought about in their endeavours to disturb the Bulls' rucks and mauls. The Bulls expected to dominate in those areas but the students stymied their flow of possession. In the end, the beef capital boys were lucky to come away with the points.

Penalty goals again proved the difference between the teams in the match at Ballina between the Ballina Seahorses and Wollongbar Alstonville Pioneers. Andrew Gordon kicked three penalties to give Ballina a 30-21 win.

Point Score:

Casino 26, Lismore 25, Ballina 22, Grafton 19, Southern Cross University 11, Wollongbar Alstonville 10, Yamba 1.

Golf

with Stan Bendall

Northern Rivers pennants commence at various venues this Sunday, May 29, with further rounds on June 5 and June 19, and the finals on June 26.

Maclean Golf Club will hold the Northern Rivers Championships this year, over 36 holes on Sunday and Monday, June 12-13, where current titleholder Rhys McGovern from Tweed will be trying to win back-to-back titles.

Club News

Kyogle

Kyogle Golf Club completed their club championships last Saturday with my choice, Paul Hurley (club president), retaining the club title by two shots in a tight tussle from Rob Lyon on 322. John McNaughton took out the B grade title, with Scott Tob winning C grade.

The A grade nett champion is young club talent Ash Brosnan, who won by six from club legend Vic Worth. Paul Manning took out B grade nett by seven from Dumpy Hogg, with consistent John Gibson winning C grade nett.

Coraki

The gross winner in the inaugural Mid Richmond Plumbers Open Day at Coraki was Maclean legend Geoff Grayson, who recorded a three over 75, while Eagles plumbing boss Kim Keane won the nett section.

Three horse race of another colour - Baseball

In years gone by the Far North Coast Baseball competition has been a three horse race with Easts Redbirds perennially languishing in fourth place. Now, thanks to the prodigious pitching talents of Easts' Nick Shailes and the unconquerable might of Workers, the competition is still a three horse race... a three horse race for second.

On Saturday the Workers era continued unabated as the tricolour locked out Marist Brothers 11-nil. Workers' pitcher Troy Pruess combined well with his infield to close down Brothers' traditionally powerful offensive line-up. Meanwhile Workers clobbered 10 hits from Lucas Myres and Mark Newstead in the one-sided encounter.

In the other match on Baxter Field, Shailes continued his form on the mound for Easts, mystifying Norths' once-feared batting line-up to come away with a 9-5 win. The win maintains Redbirds standing at second, behind Workers.

This weekend in the Interleague competition, Runaway Bay will make the journey to Lismore to cop a hiding from Workers, Brothers will travel to Mudgeeraba where they will struggle to contain the Redsox and Norths go up the coast to Robina where they should be able to get the better of bottom of the comp Robina. Redbirds get the bye. All games are played this Saturday, May 28, from 2.45pm.

For a thorough roundup of games visit the Far North Coast Baseball website at www. fnc.baseball.com.au.

The Anzac Cup goes to Ballina

Leading Golden Boot Award contender, Peter O'Neil, takes control of the ball despite the efforts of Ballina firebrand Clint Colless on Wednesday night.

Ballina play with great speed and efficiency, but it was their game plan more than anything that bought them victory in the Anzac Cup final against the Goonellabah Hornets at Oakes Oval last Wednesday night.

Ballina usually play a long ball game but on Wednesday they also played a heavily packed zone defence, leaving the mid-field virtually empty for Goonellabah to dominate. Goonellabah did just that, passing crisply despite the slippery conditions and holding the ball up for organised assaults on the Ballina goal. However, Ballina's compact defence proved almost impenetrable, and going wide and delivering crosses also played into Ballina hands as they had a height and strength advantage with the ball in the air.

Of course plans need to be executed and Ballina's keeper, Wade Spencer, was brilliant throughout, as were Clint Colless and Christian Watson, whose defensive efforts were as ferocious as they were constant. In the end Ballina fended off the Hornets' best efforts to take the game 2-1. Congratulations to the men in sky blue.

Men's Tursa premier league

Despite the exhausting nature of the Anzac Cup final, both Ballina and Goonellabah took out their weekend games in their own stylistic fashion.

The Hornets are a highly skilled and well-structured side that win by dominating possession and peppering the opponent's 18-yard box with well-weighted through-balls for their speedy striking trio. This worked a treat on Saturday against Byron Bay as they ran away with the game 3-1. Ballina's commitment to challenge for the ball is second to none and that's how they fought out a no-nonsense 1-nil win against Thistles.

This weekend Ballina will take on bottom of the comp Bangalow, who play with the same dogged determination. It will be interesting to see who lures whom out of their safety zone in this encounter.

Interestingly, Goonellabah will also play a team with a high skill level and a similar game plan - Italo Stars. This game will probably be determined in the mid-field as the sides scuffle over possession.

In other games, Workers came away with a long awaited 3-nil win against relegation candidates Casino thanks to changes up front. This weekend they will play Byron Bay, who looked good against Goonellabah despite the scoreline. Rovers, who humbled Maclean 6-1 over the weekend, will probably dismember lowly Casino. This game could have a big effect on the Golden Boot Award standings.

Meanwhile, Thistles will travel down to Maclean and no one enjoys doing that.

Women's premier league

Richmond Rovers' Renee McIntosh went on a scoring rampage in round five of the Southern Cross Credit Union women's premier league, scoring four goals as Rovers smashed Ballina 9-1.

Italo Stars continued their winning ways with a 2-nil win over an improving Casino. In the mid table battle between Byron Bay and Goonellabah the spoils were shared 1-all. Women's premier league leaders Lismore Workers were untroubled by Lennox Head, running out 3-nil winners.

Round six of the Southern Cross Credit Union women's premier league should see Byron Bay return to the winners' circle as they meet Lennox Head. Stars will expect to have a tough battle against Rovers, as will Ballina when they travel to Workers. However, Ballina and Workers will both back up on Sunday to play Goonellabah and Casino respectively, so an upset could be on the cards.

Ballina's successful Anzac Cup squad after taking out the pre-season trophy on Oakes Oval in the replayed match last Wednesday night against Goonellabah Hornets.

Men's premier division ladder

Goonellabah 13, Ballina 13, Rovers 10, Workers 10, Italo Stars 10, Byron Bay 6, Thistles 6, Maclean 5, Casino 1, Bangalow 0.

SCCU Women's first division table

Lismore Workers 13, Italo Stars 10, Richmond Rovers 9, Ballina 6, Goonellabah 5, Byron Bay 5, Lennox Head 3, Casino 0.

The Constellation Hotel (www.constellationhotels.com) Golden Boot Award standings:

Men's premier division

11 - Peter O'Neil

6 - Ben Andrews

4 - Adam Bostock, Grant Nielson, Wayne Mortimer

Women's premier division

8 - Renee McIntosh

6 - Lisa Kelly, Arlena Swientek

5 - Vanessa Tyler