Sports News

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Let loose the lice of litigation

A plague is ravaging the western world - a plague of litigation. It seems everyone, from voluntary associations to trans-national corporations, lives in fear of lawyers and their vexatious clients. The social disease has reached such appalling proportions lawsuits are now satirised in hoax awards named after a woman who sued McDonalds for spilling coffee on herself.

But while it's always easy to blame the lawyers for inciting this massively debilitating social disease, it's actually the selfish individuals who, by shifting responsibility for their actions onto others, create an atmosphere of fear - and a world of restrictions - for the rest of us.

This insidious social malaise threatened to infect the local Soccer Association last week when players threatened to sue a referee for any injuries if he allowed a game to continue under lights they claimed were poor. Perhaps bad light might also explain why the team had fallen behind on the scoreboard when this concern suddenly appeared. The referee blew the final whistle at half time. Since then, two other Premier Division night games have been cancelled because the referee determined that the lighting was inadequate.

Is it simply a lack of carrots in the modern diet? To be fair, some flood lighting does need some updating, but it's curious that games have been played under the lights concerned for more than 15 years and no previous formal complaints were ever raised with Soccer Far North Coast

The game cancellations create a sad precedent that could leave two cash-strapped clubs forced to outlay large sums to upgrade their lights.

In my opinion - it's not a legal one, so don't sue me for having a different point of view - it's a player's choice whether they play or not. If your eyes can't cope with the level of lumens then rather than raging against the dying of the light, simply don't play. But don't stop everyone else by threatening the referee with litigation. That's lame.

By all means make a formal complaint to the association, open up a discourse regarding rescheduling games for teams who have vision-impaired members, but don't spread the plague. It's a matter of process, rather than outcome.

To threaten an individual with legal action is a personal attack on their economic security and stability. You're a tort law terrorist and those threats should be considered a crime. Anyone who threatens litigation as their first course of action should be charged with verbal assault and cop a restraining order. That's what I reckon: turn the law back on the litigants.

At The Net - with Ken Wray

Last weekend most of the region's top young tennis players travelled to Inverell for the annual Champion of Champions tournament. This event combines the top juniors from Tweed to Taree, with players from the central and north west.

While the conditions were brisk in the mornings and evenings, the days were just perfect for tennis. Three local girls came away winners in their age groups: Georgia Redmayne in the Under 12s, Rosie McWilliam 16 girls and Sarah Wray in the Under 21s. Amanda Way was runner up in the 14 girls and Kristy Jones, Mihaila Day, Katy Patterson, Alexander Pirlo, Daniel Baxter-Wright, Mick Sherry and Nathan Moore have all qualified to progress to the state finals in Gosford in October.

Final placings for some age groups are still undecided and I'm hopeful that several more of our local juniors will also get the chance to go to Gosford. I will advise you if this opportunity arises.

Barbers Cup

This coming weekend Lismore juniors host 30 players from Taree in the Barbers Cup. The cup is played between Lismore and Taree twice a year on a home and away basis and after our Lismore juniors won the cup in Taree in May the Taree team will be fired up to revenge that lost.

Local barber Greg Jones who is the sponsor of the Barbers Cup is always keen to keep his cup here in Lismore and unlike his favourite Bulldogs football team we will not be letting him down this weekend.

Adult Group Coaching

Adult group lessons at Lismore Tennis Club start again on Tuesday nights from 6.00pm.These lessons are ideal for beginners or players who have been out of the game for long periods. For details give me a call at Lismore Tennis Centre on 6621 3417 or 0403 161 855.

Turning Japanese

David Eckford (pictured) is the only Westerner to ever win the All Japan Karate Open since its inception more than 40 years ago. David was born and raised in Lismore. He was 17 when his mother let him travel to Japan to study karate hoping it would help him get the martial art out of his system. Twenty-two years later David lives in Nara outside Osaka with his Japanese wife, Mutsumi and three children, Yusuke, Ran and Taiga. He's an assistant sensei at Tadashi Hasimoto's dojo.

David's dedication to his beloved martial art has taken him to extraordinary heights. He won a karate scholarship to attend one of Japan's largest universities, Kinki, and came fifth in the highly prestigious Japan collegiate championships. He has been a loyal follower of the martial art and it has rewarded him well.

The Echo caught up with David during the week, where he explained the life lessons of his craft.

"Perhaps the most important thing I have learnt about karate is that it is about health; self defence and fighting are only a small part of karate," he said.

He admitted to finding it challenging to be back home. "I'm suffering from reverse culture shock. In Japan, we respect people for how long they do something; we respect our elders. In Australia, people start by telling a joke."

David returns to Osaka early next week to continue his life's study.

Veterans invade seaside village to take titles

FNC this year entered seven teams in the State Women's Veterans Championships in Coffs Harbour, winning three and coming second in two other titles. Of these teams the 35 Division 6, 45 Division 1 and the feisty 50s were successful. The 40 Division 1 and Division 2 sides went close and were runners-up in their respective divisions.

Pictured are the feisty Over 50 Division 1 winners: ( rear, l-r) Joyce Cordery, Margret Mcgrath, Chris Rose. Middle: Wendy Trudgeon (Manager), Yvonne Parmenter, Gaie McAteer, Chris Eather, Sandy Quinn, Dawn Aitken; and (front) Lyn Grey, Barbara Creighton, Jean Pearson, Dawn Allen and Bev Rose.

Ballina better themselves

Gemma Johnson, Dean MacKay and Anna Campbell of the Ballina Indoor Swim team performed solidly at the Telstra Australian Short Course Swimming Championships in Melbourne last week. With them is coach Peter Charlton.

Three Ballina Indoor Swimmers, Dean MacKay (16 years) Anna Campbell (19 years) and Gemma Johnson (15 years) travelled to Melbourne to compete in the Telstra Australian Open Short Course Swimming Championships last week.

Gemma Johnson managed the best return, coming in fourth in open women 50m fly, missing out on the bronze by a mere .07 second. Gemma swam a personal best time of 27.61 in the final.

Gemma made the semi final in the 50m freestyle, finishing 12th. She also managed personal best times in the 100m freestyle and 100m medley.

Dean MacKay, FNC distance champion, finished 8th in both the 800m and 1500m freestyle and recorded a personal best time in the 400m freestyle.

Anna Campbell was on track with her return to high performance competition, producing three personal best times in 50m, 100m back, 200m back.

The Millie Kirkland Memorial

Lismore Heights prevailed by a single shot over Casino RSM bowling club to win this year's Northern Rivers District Women's Bowls Association Annual Millie Kirkland Memorial day at South Lismore Bowling Club.

Twenty-eight teams and 112 players, swept through South Lismore last Friday, August 12, for the unseasonally cold event.

The particularly chilly conditions did nothing to restrict the skill and daring of the ladies from Lismore Heights. Ballina and South Lismore were only two shots off the pace in third and fourth respectively.

The winning team of (l-r) Caterina Danelon, Del James, Norma King and Kath McDermott are happily pictured here with president Fran Olley on right and Kevin Kirkland at rear.

Young Daly does it again - Baseball

After a stunning debut on the mound last week, Norths' Gus Daly made it a double with a second win in as many outings, in the second last round of the Interleague series on Thew Field in Lismore. Daly locked out the Robina batting lineup for a 7-1 win. Robina found it hard to get the wood on Daly's sliding and accurate pitching for the opening four innings.

Norths captain-coach Paul Simes sealed the victory after taking over the pitching responsibilities in the fifth. Best with the bat for North's was Steve Ross.

On Baxter Field, Brothers went down to the Gold Coast minor premiers Mudgeeraba 6-2 after a blistering opening burst from Redsox, who picked up all six runs in the first innings courtesy of nine hits and two walks.

Brothers' powerful batting didn't really fire and although Redsox didn't make any headway against the pitching of Matt Gahan, the damage was already done.

In the remaining game of the afternoon, Workers enjoyed the road trip to the far end of the coastal strip, knocking off Runaway Bay 11-6.

Workers delivered a characteristic start, securing three runs in the first. Runaway Bay struggled against the pitching of Josh Daley who gave up just five hits during the encounter.

Workers' Dallas Knapp and Josh Daley each picked up three hits, whilst Mick McClelland and Sam Keehn grabbed two apiece.

Next weekend the Rex Airlines competition will continue with Interleague and the regular season will finish up as teams play the final round before the finals. Norths have the chance to upset the Gold Coast Premiers Mudgeeraba on their home turf. Brothers will join the As on the road against Robina in a must-win charge to the finals, while the Redbirds will host Runaway Bay.

For more, see www.n fnc.baseball.com.au or contact Geoff Hallmann on 0414 014 365.

James to Linger longer in Loreto

James Linger proudly sporting his Queensland jacket down on Thew Field Lismore, during January's AA National Championships.

Talented Under 16s FNC baseballer James Linger has capped a sensational 12 months with selection in the Australian AA team to compete in the 2005 Youth World Championships in Mexico later this month.

Linger, who plays for Norths in the FNC Baseball League, played a pivotal role during last year's State Championships in Ipswich. His performance with the bat and ball caught the eye of Queensland selectors and he found himself with his first cap in the State side that competed in Lismore in the AA National Championships in January.

During the championship, Linger, Queensland Junior Player of the Year, led the batting averages with 0.636 and put in an errorless performance at centre field.

In July he was invited to attend the Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program where he has spent the past month honing his skills in a combination of training and games against the nation's best baseballers.

Linger left for Mexico with the Australian team on Monday.

Nothing separates them

Evans Head's Madaline Bock tries to dribble her way through a gauntlet of Alstonville defenders in the under 11s competition played at Hepburn Park on Saturday. Its moments like this one when passing is an excellent idea. Think about it - you've drawn four defenders, that means three of your players are unmarked.

JH Williams Men's Premier Hockey League

In the closest finish imaginable in the premier league, Ballina and Waratah, not only ended the season on the same points, but with the same number of wins, losses and draws and with the same goal average. So when they run on this Saturday, August 20, in Murwillumbah in the final of the competition, finding a winner will be difficult and entertaining.

Ballina will go into the one off final after Capri forfeited their final round match to the men in sky blue. It's not the preparation they would have wanted. The Waratahs, in contrast, fought out a desperate 4-3 victory over a fired up Kingscliff.

Waratah's have a very fast and youthful line up, Ballina are more experienced and will play a more structured and open game. The classic encounter gets under way at 4pm.

In the other matches of the final round, East Lismore produced a mature display to get the better of Coraki 4-2 after the game was locked at 2-all at half time. Easts midfielder Matt Rhodda really came of age during this game and it bodes well for Easts' chances next season. Easts have a glorious defensive unit, but too often they hand over control of the centre field. Rhodda looks like he's about to bring that situation to an end.

At Murwillumbah, Northern Star caused an upset, overpowering the United Vipers 3-2 in a tough, uncompromising match. While slow to start Star wasted little time taking charge of the midfield giving them a platform to launch their raids and take control of the game.  Meanwhile, Alstonville finished the first tilt in the major competition on a high, beating Redbacks 1-nil. The win lifted Alstonville to 10 points above wooden spooners Burleigh on four and the Redbacks on six.

Pointscore

Ballina 34, Waratahs 34, Mudgeeraba 29, United Vipers 25, East Lismore 24, Northern Star 24, Labrador 23, Kingscliff 23, Coraki 21, Mullumbimby 16, Capri 16, Allstars 16, Alstonville 10, Redbacks 6, Burleigh 4.

JH Williams Women's Premier Hockey League

United Vipers 2-1 upset win over the Waratah Falcons in the final round of the premier league earned them a spot in the final this Saturday at 2.30pm against Labrador in Murwillumbah.

Labrador will be without their gun Australian representative, Nikki Hudson, as she has been selected to play a test match against Korea on the Gold Coast on the same day.

Despite the loss of their flashy striker, Labrador should still over come United, granted they can destroy the link between Michaela Smith and Kelly Roatz. The Roatz - Smith combination has been instrumental in United's recent form.

In the other games of the final round Kingscliff accounted for East Lismore 2-nil. East's were without four key players and holding Kingscliff to that score line is a note worthy performance.

On the Gold Coast Glee coasted to a 4-nil victory over Griffith. It was the season that got away for Glee, but next year they will be back with a vengeance.

Labrador cemented their pace in the final belting Redbacks 4-nil while Mudgeeraba had a field day against Capri winning 6-1. Northern Star had the bye.

Pointscore

Labrador 25, Vipers 23, Kingscliff 22, Waratah 22, Mudgeeraba 17*, Glee 15, Redbacks 11, Capri 8, East Lismore 5, Northern Star 2, Griffith 2*. (*deferred game.)

Local lads shine big time - FNC Rugby Union

Its wedgies all round as North Coast's Dustan Andrews flies high to secure possession in front of Polding's Blake Carter during the NSW Primary Schools Association Rugby Union State Carnival Semi Final at Oakes Oval last week. The bounce favoured Polding during the match as the score line blew out to 31-5, to give Polding a shot at the title.

Local players featured in the NSW PSSA Rugby Union State titles last week as the combined Northern Catholic Colleges, Polding, picked up second behind Combined Independent Schools and a valiant North Coast side took out third.

It was a brilliant showing from the local players particularly Alstonville's Nathaniel Regueira, whose regularly barnstorming runs earned him a place in the State squad along side the North Coast's Caleb Binge of Wollongbar. Surely this is a great sign for the Alstonville/Wollongbar Pioneers of the future.

Far North Coast Rugby

Grafton shored up a position in the final four with a hard fought win over Alstonville Wollongbar 26-20 on the back of two tries to the Redmen's flying fullback Justin Spurway.

Meanwhile, reigning premiers Lismore City seem to be losing the plot as the University's mobile forwards ran roughshod over last year's champions, coming away 31-7 winners. The upset comes all too close to the finals for the green machine and all too late for the students, who have no hope of making the finals after an inconsistent season. Pity, because they are as good as any of the sides going around at the moment.

In the other match of the round, Casino ground out a victory over Yamba 27-20 to keep their charge toward the minor premiership intact. However, if it had not been for the speed of winger Rick Randall the Bulls mightn't have got home against the highly competitive Buccaneers.

This weekend Lismore hosts Yamba and will be desperate for a win, Grafton hosts Uni and they shouldn't count their chickens until the fat lady blows the final siren, and Casino will need to work hard to restrict Ballina. Wollongbar get the bye.

Pointscore

Casino 57, Grafton 52,Ballina 52, Lismore 50, Southern Cross University 43, Wollongbar/Alstonville 18, Yamba 11.

The Hornets are buzzing

Up periscope. Italo Stars' Caylan Vassiliou poe goes up to head out of defence, while Kyogle's Josh Whitney and Rory Featherstone hover to pick up the scraps.

Although it's still too close to call, the Goonellabah Hornets shortened their odds as minor premiership favourites on Tuesday night when they held out a fast-finishing Maclean to come away from fortress Wherritt Park with a 4-3 win. The Hornets' campaign to become the only club to take the title straight after returning from relegation was bolstered by two shock losses by their nearest rivals in the Tuesday night catch up round.

Byron Bay, which has been swapping first place with Goonellabah for weeks, fell 2-nil to a fired-up Italo Stars at Barrow Lane. Stars were playing for their spot in the top five and they were more desperate than the Rams. Stars also showed greater tactical nouse by moving Clint Willoughby to right back to counter Byron's speed down the flanks.

The other shock came when cellar dwellers Casino got the better of Ballina. As well as placing their semis spot at risk, Ballina have also offered the Cobras a lifeline in their battle to avoid relegation. Now they need only hold out for a draw against Bangalow in Bangalow this Saturday for the Bluedogs to take the fall. However, if the Bluedogs can get up, their goal average will keep them in the top flight. This thrilling and decisive encounter gets under way at 3pm.

The last round's next most interesting game is between Goonellabah and Ballina. The minor premiership is still within striking range for Byron, which has a game in hand, plus a relatively easy match against Thistles on Saturday.

Ballina also need the win or Stars, Workers and Rovers could leap over them on the ladder, shunting them out of the top five.

In short, the season has descended into a game of musical chairs that needs an actuary to calculate who'll make the finals. It promises to be a gothic battle for survival. Stars need to win over Maclean, Rovers and Workers will be desperate to get the better of each other in a great local derby, while the Rovers versus Byron game next Tuesday could be decisive. Or not.

Pointscore

Goonellabah 37, Byron Bay 33, Ballina 29, Italo Stars 28, Lismore Workers 27, Richmond Rovers 26, Maclean 18, Thistles 16, Casino 10, Bangalow 7.

SCCU Women's Premier Division

Lismore Workers defeated Byron Bay 2-1 then humbled Casino 11-nil to secure this year's minor premiership in the last round of the SCCU Women's Premier Division. In the game against Casino, a game that begs the passing of a new mercy rule, five Workers players picked up a pair of goals.

Meanwhile Rovers, last year's minor premiers fell off the pace losing to Ballina 2-nil. Italo Stars' matches went to script as they drew with third placed Ballina 2-all on Thursday then defeated Lennox 4-nil on Sunday.

However, Goonellabah did everything but earn themselves a spot in the finals as they whipped Byron Bay 4-1 on Thursday and cruised past Casino 3-nil on Sunday.

The semis will both be played in Lismore this Sunday. The major semi between Rovers and Ballina will be played at Rovers ground and the minor semi is between Stars and Byron on the Barrow Lane ground; both games get under way at 11.10am. The Lismore teams go in favourites. How dreadfully disconcerting for them.

Pointscore

Lismore Workers 40, Rovers 36, Ballina 35, Italo Stars 23,Byron Bay 21, Goonellabah 20, Lennox Head 10, Casino 8

Constellation Hotels (www.constellationhotels.com) Golden Boot Award Standings

Men's premier division:

25 - Peter O'Neil

11 - Grant Nielson

10 - Wayne Mortimer

Women's premier division:

28 - Renee McIntosh

20 - Lisa Kelly

15 - Emma Turner.

Give it a run

Athletics NSW organisers have thrown down the gauntlet inviting every child aged between 9 and 19 years to enter the NSW All Schools Track and Field Championships. The championships, which will double as the Pacific School Games trials, will be held in Sydney from Thursday to Sunday, September 22-25.

Entry forms have been circulated to all Athletics NSW Clubs, Little Athletics NSW Centres, all schools and are currently available from the Athletics NSW website, www.nswathletics.org.au. Entries close on Monday, September 12.