Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker

Licence fees to increase

Phil Randle with one of the best mangrove jacks you will ever see coming out of a local river.

One had to be amused at the opening paragraph of a press release from NSW Fisheries announcing an increase in the fishing licence.

The release said - "Fisheries will continue to benefit from a range of important projects thanks to a boost from the state's two independent recreational fishing funds."

The report then goes on to say that these increased funds will come from an increase in the fishing licence fee. Although the press statement says this is not a government raising its income, NSW Fisheries does get 10 per cent of the licence fee and so will automatically take extra money. From July 1 licences will cost $75 for three years, $30 for one year, $12 for a month and $6 for three days. I firmly believe that what is needed is a family licence and a weekly one. Last year the recreational licence raised $10 million and since its inception the total amount collected is more than $36 million. This means that over the four years some $32.4 million should have been spent on improving fishing and fishing facilities in NSW. We also believe some form of plastic waterproof licence will be available in the coming year.

The estimated number of people who fish occasionally or regularly in NSW is 1,000,000. If you would like a full list of the recreational fishing trust projects you can ring (02) 9228 3344.

Locally fishing is turning on for the winter months. The Richmond seems full of bream at present, even if they are not that large in size, and some very nice flathead are still around. This weekend is a long weekend and the tides are nearly perfect for early morning and late afternoons for both the river and the beach, where bream and tailor should provide good meals. The keen blackfish angler will also be eyeing off the tides.

Golf

with Stan Bendall

Well, two rounds of the Men's Northern Rivers Pennant Golf Competition have concluded with only one round to be played on Sunday, June 10, and the finals on Sunday, June 19, and Sunday, June 26. The Division 1 Flag looks like being between Coolangatta/Tweed Heads I and Ballina.

Only one Lismore team has come out of the pennant race smelling roses and that is Geoff Sheaffe's Lismore Team 4 in division four. They have won two from two so far and look odds on to win a flag.

There will be no pennant play this long weekend due to the prestigious Northern Rivers Championships hosted by Maclean (over 36 holes of stroke play on Sunday and Monday). This popular event attracts many gun players from all over our association with Rhys McGovern, from Coolongatta/Tweed Heads set to defend his Northern Rivers and colt title. Other top golfers on show will be Mullum's current club champion Peter Schweitzer, Murwillumbah's Keith Dean and Ballina's Neil Bullen.

Academy news

Softballers take on the world

Three local Academy softballers - Bexhill's Jon Hudson and Michael Munroe and Goonellabah's Garon Clough - have been selected in the 17-member Australia junior squad to fly to Canada in June to take part in the International Softball Federation Junior Men's World Softball Championships.

The event is being held from June 24 to July 3 at Summerside, on Prince Edward Island. The nine other countries competing are Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United States and Venezuela.

The World Championships are held every four years, and Australia has won the event on the last two occasions.

Sailing

The North Coast Academy of Sport is on the lookout for athletes turning 10-17 years this year who are interested in being selected for the 2005-06 sailing squad.

Applicants need to be residents of the North Coast, between Laurieton in the south and the Queensland border to the north, and be a member of a local sailing club.

Selections will be based on state and national performances over the past summer, and on an assessment of skills during the 2005 Regional Youth Sail being held at Harwood on the Clarence River on July 9-10.

As well as the coach-specific training, athletes also receive an ancillary education program that covers topics including nutrition, sports medicine, sports psychology and media relations.

Applications for the 2005 Regional Youth Sail close on June 16. For more information and application forms visit the Academy website at www.ncas.org.au.

The Height of bowling The winners of this year's Northern Rivers District No. 2 grade pennant were the Lismore Workers Heights team (l-r) Mary Kinsella, Annette O'Connor, Mavis Johnston, Monnie Loader, Kath McDermott, Norma King, Iris Grebert and Caterina Danelon. They received their prize at the South Lismore Bowling Club in front of crowd of over 220 bowlers.

Making the cut

Kylie Kennedy and Ben Skennar go through their paces earlier in the year at the Italo Club in North Lismore.

A contingent of highly recognised students from the Northern Rivers Association of Japan Karate will travel to Childers, Queensland, to take part in the Widebay Titles next weekend. These titles double as a selection trial for the Queensland Youth Development Squad and locals Ben Skennar (senior black belt), Kylie Kennedy (senior black belt), Thomas Ross and Mitchell Parmiter (both junior black belt) are all in contention for a spot in the squad. Entry into the development squad means assistance in reaching this year's National Titles, which are in Perth, so the local fighters are keen to make the cut.

The four local competitors have been training hard under the guidance of Ian Harris (5th Dan), who is confident that all four will make the Queensland squad.

Lismore's Judo on the grow

Local judo club junior Russel Aldcroft picked up gold in his first competition in Brisbane recently when he nailed his opponent with a classic o-soto-gari (the outer-leg reap) in the Under 13 Under 60kg division of the juniors only club event in Brisbane.

Of the other local participants, Twoey Jones (gold), Joel Parer (silver) and Nichlas Casey-Sams (silver) also picked up medals in their divisions.

In other news Alan Foley, Takashi Watanabe, Ashley Foley and Jasmine Parer will be off to the 2005 Australian Judo National Titles next week in Launceston, Tasmania. The four local fighters are all part of the NSW judo team.

Leaders stuck in logjam

Norths Hockey Club president Christian Booker and club secretary Adrian Scooth model their new uniforms. The uniforms sport all the sponsor's logos and the name and number of each of the players. According to Booker, the 41-member club was "gone for all money until we started a concerted effort to get sponsorship." Now the local club has eight sponsors and looks like picking up more next year. Norths sponsors, which are mostly North Lismore businesses, include Horseland, Kleenheat Gas, Aussie Digger, the Italo Club, CT Custom Tint, AJ Magnay, Lismore KTM Gentle Giants and Berkinsales.

Men's premier league

The logjam at the top of the regional men's premier league hockey only got worse on the weekend when Ballina only managed a 1-all draw against well placed Kingscliff.

The draw brings Ballina level with the Waratahs at the top of the competition, with a host of teams baying at their heels. Draws seemed to be the order of the day as Coraki and United shared the points with a 1-all draw and Burleigh fought out an enthralling 3-all draw with the Murwillumbah Taipans.

East Lismore kicked the tawdry trend by tearing the Redbacks apart 7-0. The Allstars also managed a win by upsetting Mudgeeraba 2-1. Northern Star turned the tables on Capri with a 3-1 win and Labrador belted Alstonville 9-0 after they led 4-0 at half time.

There is no play this Queen's birthday weekend.

Pointscore

Waratahs 13, Ballina 13, Labrador 12, Vipers 10, Mudgeeraba 10, Mullumbimby 10, East Lismore 9, Coraki 8, Allstars 7, Northern Star 6, Capri 4, Kingscliff 4, Redbacks 3, Burleigh 1, Alstonville 1.

Women's premier league

In the women's league last week's culture of draws was overturned by some big wins by the major protagonists. Glee set their season back on track when they mauled Capri 7-1. Kingscliff extracted revenge for last year's grand final loss by clobbering Mudgee 4-0. The Waratah Falcons continued their winning way as they whacked East Lismore 6-1. United got the better of Labrador 3-1.

Boggis back in action

Picture: Andrew Shields

Former professional surfer Jenny Boggis performs a serious cut back on the waves. Jenny is returning from semi-retirement to contest the open division of the Australian All Girls Surf Showdown this long weekend, June 11-13.

The showdown will be held at the most contestable break between Lennox beach and the North Wall in Ballina from 7am every morning.

For more details check out the website at www.allgirlssurf.com.au.

Sporting grants closing soon

Local organisations wishing to apply for the 2005-06 Capital Assistance Program (CAP) grants for sporting and recreational facilities must submit their applications prior to the close of business on July 31.

Capital Assistance Grants are designed to help local sporting organisations and local governments with construction costs.

Guidance notes and application forms are available at www.dsr.nsw.gov.au or from your local state member's office.

Soccer in the roar

Lucas McPherson lays off then turns to make a run into the Goonellabah box during the match at Oakes Oval on Saturday evening. Lucas and team-mate Joel Gosper were selected in the combined high school state sides during the week - Joel in the first side and Lucas in the second. Apart from being selected in the State squad McPherson and Gosper also made the 67-man squad for the big game against Queensland Roar in late June.

Soccer Far North Coast has named its 67 member squad for the A-league challenge match against Queensland Roar at Oakes Oval on June 26.

Players were selected through polls done by all TURSA premier league team coaches as well as an additional trial training session.

In total 67 invitations have been distributed to leading players, giving them the chance of representing the region in the highest profile game to hit the North Coast in a number of years.

Eventually only 20 players will be selected in the final team for the main game, so the All Stars coaching team of Jonathon Harlen (head coach) and Wayne Sutton (assistant coach) will face a few major selection dilemmas.

Premier league

Three catch up games will be played today (Thursday, June 9) and the pick of them is probably the Goonellabah verses Richmond Rovers match on Weston Park at 8pm.

The Hornets are coming off a miraculous 3-2 victory over Workers and Rovers managed a fortunate draw against Byron Bay 2-2. Goonellabah look brittle at the back but their strike force up front is the best in the competition. Rovers have a big solid defence and if they play a condensed format they could easily upset the flashy Hornets.

In the other two matches tonight, Italo Stars should be too fast and furious for Casino and Thistles will be keen to upset Workers after losing to cellar dwellers Casino last weekend.

This Saturday, June 11, the bright and expansive game of the Byron Bay Rams should be too good for the Maclean Bobcats in Byron. However, the Rams will be required to back up against the Bangalow Bluedogs on Tuesday night in Bangalow. This local derby is always a harrowing affair for both sides and Byron will be keen not to pick up any injuries on the Saturday.

The only other match is between top of the table Ballina and lowly Maclean in Maclean on Monday at 3pm. Although Maclean Bobcats are deadly at home, they will still be suffering from the aches and pains of the game against Byron on Saturday.

Pointscore ladder

Men's premier division

Ballina 17, Goonellabah 16, Richmond Rovers 14, Italo Stars 14, Lismore Workers 11, Byron Bay 8, Lismore Thistles 7, Maclean 6, Casino 4, Bangalow 3.

Women's premier league

Lennox Head pulled off the upset of the season with a convincing 3-1 defeat of 2004 pointscore champions, Richmond Rovers.

Ballina continued their good form with a solid 3-nil win over high flyers Italo Stars.

Byron Bay continues to struggle and have dropped into the bottom two following their 1-nil loss to Lismore Workers.

Goonellabah's 4-nil win over luckless Casino means they jump over Byron Bay on the ladder and keep themselves in the hunt for a top five place.

This weekend the girls will have a well-earned rest and the chance for some soul searching before resuming hostilities in Round 8 of the Southern Cross Credit Union WPL.

Pointscore ladder

Women's premier division

Lismore Workers 19, Ballina 15, Italo Stars 11, Richmond Rovers 10, Lennox Head 9, Goonellabah 8, Byron Bay 5, Casino 0.

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

Men's premier division

14 - Peter O'Neil

6 - Ben Andrews, Wayne Mortimer

5 - Grant Nielson

Women's premier division

12 - Renee McIntosh

10 - Lisa Kelly

8 - Emma Turner

AusKick kicks on

Lismore Swans' AusKick Under 10's No 4, Malcolm Saunderson, contests this mark against his opposite number from Byron Magpies late last month at Bangalow. Arriving late at the contest is Bailey Moncrieff (left).

In AusKick, all players, which includes boys and girls, rotate through all field positions throughout the game and no scores are kept.

Most sides still have room for more kids interested in playing this highly inclusive form of the game. Lismore Swans can be contacted by phoning Ronny Meldrum on 6622 5024.

A great Britton

10-year-old Hannah Britton from the Lismore Indoor Swim Team has been selected to compete at the 7th Pacific Nations School Games in Melbourne later this year.

Despite being born deaf, the inspirational Hannah has had a brilliant year in the pool. At the Northern Rivers Regional Carnival held in Coffs Harbour, Hannah won the Melanie Currie Trophy and Shield and was named North Coast Public Schools Swimmer of the Meet.

The Pacific Nations School Games are held every four years in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games. The games draw approximately 3000 elite swimmers, ranging in age from 10 to 19, with a large contingent from Canada.

Hannah will be fundraising in the near future to assist in achieving her dream of being the Pacific Nations Games Champion.

If any business or individual would like to help Hannah enquiries can be made at the Summit Sports and Fitness Centre, Goonellabah, or phone 6625 2025.

Timberjacks slug it out in Tamworth - Baseball

This weekend there are no games in the local competition, however, four teams will travel to Tamworth for the annual Invitational Carnival.

The Far North Coast squad will contest this top class competition again teams from Sydney, Tamworth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Having won the $ 4000 prize money in 2003, the team is again serious about the opportunity to take their game to their opponents.

Coach Paul Simes has assembled a team made up of youth and experience from within the major league competition. Josh Daley and Michael McClelland provide a strong foundation to guide the team on and off the park. Youngsters Trent Clark, Jason Britt and Matt Linger have been serving their apprenticeship for some years in the local competition and should find themselves with the opportunity to shine in this type of game. Also enjoying debuts in the top grade will be Redbirds regulars, Reece Smith and Grant McPherson. Both players have been standouts for Easts this year and will bring with them the confidence and ability required to give the Timberjacks the edge.

The three-day tournament will also feature teams such as Norths, Workers and Casino in the lower grades, providing Far North Coast with their largest contingent to travel to Tamworth in three years.

Last weekend Easts Redbirds administered a mercy killing to the Runaway Bay Dolphins 11-1. Norths A's threw their season into doubt when they were squeezed out by the Mudgeeraba Redsox 8-4. In the remaining game of the weekend, Brothers came from behind to win over Robina 11-6.

For more information on baseball, visit Far North Coast Baseball on line at www.fnc.baseball.com.au.