Sports News

Hook, Line and Sinker

Last weekend I had the pleasure of flying to Sydney with Mick McGilvray to collect his new vessel to be used for deep-sea charters off Evans Head. The boat is a 38-footer and has been a charter boat in Sydney for a number of years. We left Cronulla at 8.30pm last Friday to drive the vessel to the heads. Not long out to sea the wind began to blow, finally getting up to 40 knots. It was good to get to Port Stephens the next morning for some respite. We had come through a four-metre sea but the boat handled it with ease. Mick is a very experienced trawler skipper having worked in the Gulf chasing prawns. After refuelling we headed out again. The sea rapidly improved from Coffs to Evans and we were able to do some fishing, catching some snapper, pearl perch, cod and kingfish off the Solitary Islands. We saw lots of whales with the highlight being a sighting of the white whale Migaloo just south of Evans Head.

Mick McGilvray's new vessel.

Evans Head is the new home for the boat and day fishing charters can be booked by phoning 0428 828 835 or calling into Suffolks Sports Store for details.

Next Tuesday, September 27, at the Commercial Hotel the Richmond Valley Anglers Action group will meet and we encourage anglers to attend. For example one conservation group has called for all NSW to become a Marine Park?! So turn up at 7.30pm and give us a hand to defend our rights.

Call of the Loon with Laurie Axtens

Oliver's army only months away

Whilst I was quaffing chardonnay with the local hoi polloi at the Lismore Wine Fair on Sunday I started to contemplate how the local sporting clubs could best take advantage of the new slave class the federal Government intends to establish.

You see the visionaries in charge of the nation have decided to establish full-time Work-for-the-Dole as of next July, which will force thousands of underprivileged people to work for about $4 per hour.

During my discussions with my fellow proprietors and administrators, it became clear that, apart from the obvious benefit of forcing down the average wage, the new scheme will mean cheap labour and plenty of it. All that will be required is the filling in of a form and the proffer of a fake smile for the assessor once a year. Hoorah!

So considering the relative ease of taking on a host of new workers I think it behoves the local sporting organisations to get together and whip up a myriad of applications so that no one, other than the soldiers of Oliver's army, misses out.

Think about it; each club could be provided with a grazing herd of single mothers who keep the pitch mowed when they're not painting the clubhouse or selling raffle tickets.

What's more, and this is vital, one of the major roles sport fulfils in our society is the sublimation of violently aggressive behaviour. Turning anger into more socially acceptable late tackles and head highs. Given that hundreds of already economically struggling people will be ‘breached' and end up on the streets, they might get a bit miffed (maybe they've never been homeless before). In any case, that anger will need to find a socially acceptable outlet. In short, it's time to lower fees and considering the grass will be nibbled as short as you like for next to nothing, we should be able to make sport more affordable almost overnight.

We could empty the pool and begin boxing again. Soccer will have to be rid of their ludicrous retaliation clause and will have to welcome hooliganism. Well, it's better than muggings and violent theft.

With lowly-paid and socially dislocated workers wandering aimlessly about in search of a cardboard box to snuggle up in, sport will be needed to keep the masses occupied. The charities are already overloaded. This is our community. Be part of the solution. You know what I mean.

At The Net - with Ken Wray

Local juniors on the move

Over the school holidays many of our local juniors will be travelling to compete at tournaments and coaching camps throughout the state. Two of our leading juniors, Rose McWilliam and Ellie Wray, have both qualified and are playing this weekend in Melbourne at the National Clay Court Championships. This event allows only the top 54 girls in the country direct entry and both girls qualified in the top 32. This event will be tough for our girls because of the lack of clay courts in our region to practise on, while the Victorian girls play on the clay surface on a regular basis.

Also Bryce Devlin from Lismore is travelling to Newcastle for the Newcastle Junior Open and I expect he'll give a very good account of himself. Bryce was part of the successful Lismore High State winning team and he has been in great form over the last month. Many of the other top local juniors will be in Coffs Harbour this weekend with me at the first North Coast Academy of Sport tennis camp. Tennis has just been introduced to the academy program and I will give a full report on who has been selected after this weekend's camp.

All the local juniors will hopefully be then participating in the Summerland Age Tournament held in Lismore on October 8 and 9. Entry forms are available at Lismore Tennis and most local clubs should now have these forms as well.

The Lismore Association Mixed Competition is in full swing and players are reminded that there is play during the first week of the school holidays, but no play on October 5.

Obituary

Vale David Sandercock (6 April 1947 - 3 September 2005)

David Sandercock started surfing on the first modern foam boards in South Australia as a member of the Sand & Sea Club, where he earned a reputation as a smooth, goofy foot stylist who liked to keep up with the progressive new turns and tricks.

David, along with Sue Bennett, helped school surfing get established in South Australia and during the 1980s he travelled with the Australian team at the first World School Surfing Titles in California.

Later he moved to Lennox Head and joined the Lennox-Ballina Boardriders along with his sons Tim, Caleb and Joseph. During his time in Lennox he was instrumental in founding the Rusty Gromfest. The internationally renowned Gromfest brings families from all over the nation and the world to Lennox to enjoy the beauty and surf the township provides. David had many friends all over Australia who will miss his effervescence, warmth, compassion and positive energy.

Tribes topple Daleys

Tribes were dominant in defence during the game, hauling in over a dozen intercepts and committing themselves to leaping defensive efforts throughout the match.

Daley's Tribes turned around last year's defeat at the hands of Daleys, with a 40-36 win in the grand final after racing away to an early 11-5 lead in the first quarter.

Francoise Naeyaret (above) and Kristy Durheim gave their parent's generation a master class in reading the play, and their athleticism in defence was outstanding.

Academy softball muster

The North Coast Academy of Sport is searching for talented juniors and coaching staff for this year's softball squad.

To be eligible for selection athletes must be turning 13, 14 or 15 years of age in 2006 and be a registered with a NSW Softball affiliated association.

The selection will involve a two-day development and selection camp to be held in Lismore on October 8 and 9.

Applications for both athletes and program staff close this Friday, September 23. Forms can be obtained from www.ncas.org.au or by phoning 6620 3073.

Sporting grants

Telstra Country is calling on local sports clubs to register for assistance as part of a $1.3 million development program that the company is providing for cash-strapped grass roots clubs across six codes.

The fund is to be shared among clubs who are affiliated with National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Athletics Australia, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), Swimming Australia and The Football Federation of Australia.

Applications for assistance are available online at www.telstraassistancefund.telstra.com.

Grafton and Ballina battle for the big one

Ballina stalwarts Kane Scott and Karl Lupton flank Zone treasurer Graham Cook, Zone secretary Tony Heeson and the prize - the Bruce Judd Memorial Shield. Bruce Judd was a Waratah who played during the 1920s.

Supporters at this weekend's grand final are sure to be just as vocal as they were last Saturday at the Casino Ballina game, and they won't mind telling you how you went.

Ballina's flashy fullback Kane Scott turned on the turbos against Casino as the Seahorses earned themselves a spot in this weekend's grand final on Oakes Oval, knocking off the Bulls 24-10.

The performance of the Ballina Seahorses tight five will determine this Saturday's grand final against the Grafton Redmen at Oakes Oval at 3.30pm. Ballina's big men will be charged with the responsibility of restraining the Grafton front row, which is no easy task. If they can manage to hold them then the Seashorses' backline will flourish. If they fail then it's going to be a long day in the field for the seasiders.

Last time the Redmen played on Oakes Oval against Lismore City, City's flankers had a field day, closing down the Redmen's kicking options, turning over possession and bursting through at the edge of the ruck.

Considering Grafton will be playing a similar tight forward dominated game, the work at the edge of the ruck could prove vital. Ballina's number eight, James Bolton, put in a prodigious effort last Saturday against Casino and if he puts in another barnstorming show, Ballina might just steal the silverware.

Oakes Oval hasn't hosted a rugby final for more than a decade and the administration of Far North Coast Rugby Union feel that the Oakes game will prove to be a great showcase for the sport.

"The Far North Coast has produced some great rugby this season," said Zone president Maurie Ryan. "Oakes is the number one venue on the Far North Coast and the players, supporters and clubs deserve to have the season decider at a venue that will complement the event."

The four game ticket gets underway at 10.35am and culminates in the first grade grand final at 3.30pm.

Ballina make it four as Glee make it five

The all conquering Ballina premier hockey team after taking out their fourth successive Far North Coast hockey premiership.

The Glee A grade team that took out their fifth straight premiership on Saturday.

FNC men's hockey

On Saturday Ballina surged home to take their fourth successive Far North Coast hockey premiership, like the ocean ahead of a cyclone, swamping Coraki 4-1.

Coraki had scored early via the stick of Ben Moss and had maintained the lead going into the half time break thanks to the defence, but as the game wore on Ballina rose to the occasion.

Coraki played out of their skin for most of the match, and at one stage even looked like knocking off the regional champions, but it was not to be. Ballina's attacking structure gave them a decisive edge against the more dour shape of the Coraki team. Basically Coraki found it difficult to break out of defence and into attack, unlike Ballina, who scored all their goals on the counter attack.

FNC women's hockey

A converted penalty stroke four minutes from time gave Glee their fifth straight FNC women's premiership over East Lismore 1-nil.

In a game where Easts soaked up the pressure whilst Glee poured it on the inevitable result happened because it's impossible to win a game with defence.

Tragically it was Easts' Karen Eakin, who put in a brilliant defensive effort, who forced the tackle that led to the stroke. Glee Captain Renee Dunstan put away the dot shot.

That is not to say that Easts didn't put together some attacking raids, but nothing came of it.

Rams tough out the title

Winners of the 2005 Tursa men's premier league, the Byron Bay Rams. It is the first time the seasiders have won the premiership since joining the competition in the late 1980s.

Shall we dance? Two speedsters from Richmond Rovers and Lennox Head vie for possession in the first division reserves grand final at Oakes Oval on Saturday.

Little Byron and little Goonellabah (right) kept the crowd entertained at half time. Byron played like they were possessed, winning 1-nil. It was an omen.

Shocked, happy and exhausted. Byron's Todd Knaus, Bruce Morhaus and Adam Bostock join arms to skip down the yellow brick road to the trophy presentation after winning the final against Goonellabah Hornets 1-nil on Saturday night at Oakes Oval.

Player of the Year Arron Richter-Steers deals with the pressure of Ben Andrews with his usual grace.

A formidable defensive effort from the Byron Bay Rams, led by man of the match Arron Richter-Steers, formed the basis for the Rams first premiership title victory on Saturday night over the Goonellabah Hornets.

The renowned Hornets attack rarely even managed a shot on goal during the tough and uncompromising encounter, so tight was the marking and determined the defence.

In the end it was a well-directed shot by Shaun Packham from outside the box, which deflected in off the post, late in the first half, which separated the two top quality teams.

In the end, perhaps it was fair considering the quality of the sides that the two teams shared the annual trophies, with Goonellabah picking up the pointscore title and Byron the major premiership. Needless to say both sides have played well throughout the year but perhaps more importantly both teams have continued to improve as the season progressed. This could be the beginning of a great duel; an era of Hornet and Ram run-ins. I hope so - they both play entertaining football.

Getting out there

12-year-old Dewi Murray of Lennox Head gets a few tips from a supportive Surfing Byron Bay coach. Dewi then took to the water and stood up - every first time surfer's dream.

Flat Rock beach played host to over 120 first-time surfer girls last weekend as the Billabong Girls Get Out There completed stop number three of its 2005 east coast tour.

Running throughout the September school holidays, the Girls Get Out There days have proven to be an excellent way to have fun amongst friends and tackle the surf for the first time. The $40 fee entitles each girl to a 90-minute training session, a showbag and a day of sun and fun among Billabong's Northern NSW team riders.

Ladies to flood Lismore streets

104 teams from Brisbane in the north to Soldiers Point in the south will bring 416 ladies bowlers into Lismore from September 27-28. The ladies will bus in to do battle in the 48th Northern Rivers District Bowling Association Carnival. The annual competition will be spread out over four of Lismore's prestigious clubs - Lismore Workers Heights, East Lismore, Lismore City and South Lismore. During the three days of the carnival bowlers will be expected to bowl three games of 15 ends apiece each day. The overall winners last year were from the South Lismore Bowling Club, skippered by Thelma Fredericks. The South Lismore team will be hoping for a repeat performance this year.

Bowls battle

Lismore City Bowls Club will hold their annual Northies vs Southies mixed bowls day this Saturday, September 24, from 1pm. Members who have not advised the club whether or not they will be playing are requested to do so as soon as possible on 6621 5991.

Britton rules

Lismore Indoor Swim Club's superfish, 11-year-old Hannah Britton, is back in the spotlight after taking out the Overall Champion of the Meet title at the recent Grafton Short Course Carnival. Hannah's success capped off an extraordinary carnival from the swimmers from Summit Sports and Fitness Centre as they broke five records and picked up six age champion titles on their way to a medal tally of 20 gold, 20 silver and eight bronze.

Hannah - who set four new records in the 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke - easily won the 11 years age championship. Meanwhile Tali Hooper won the boys six years age championship, Allani Roy took out the eight years girl's title and Suzannah Lack the girl's nine years title, while Alexander Roy acquired the 10 years age championship.

Clinic for surfers

Beginners and intermediate level female surfers aged between 10 and 18 will get the chance to participate in a surfing clinic this weekend in Byron Bay. The clinic has been established thanks to the efforts of the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation and Surfing Byron Bay.

This clinic runs this Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25, from 8.30am to 4.30pm daily.

For more information or enrolment forms phone 6687 7168.