Sports News
 Bowled Over
The Numbers Game
Something which is of concern to most bowling clubs in Australia is the decrease in numbers of playing members.
From June 1996 to June 2000, there was a decrease in membership in NSW clubs of 19.7%.
In Zone 1, the zone in which our District is included, there was a 17.1% decline in membership. One does not have to be too clever to realise that, unless there is a turn around in this trend towards diminishing numbers, bowls, which was once a very popular sport, will gradually die out.
The RNSWBA slogan, ‘Bowls – a Game for All Ages', is very true and indeed, there are many young people who have taken up the game with much success.
Steve Glasson, Kelvin Kerkow, Karen Murphy and Adam Jeffery are but a few top international young bowlers and at the local level we have youngsters such as Peter Brown, David Zorzo, Emma Lee Rose, Daniel and Bradley Foster who are achieving great success. The problem is that we need many more of them and we need to attract young people so that there will be an ongoing influx of new blood to take the place of those of us whose blood is thinning (or is it thickening?).
Clubs such as East Lismore, South Lismore and Nimbin are to be congratulated on their programs for junior bowlers and schools in NSW which have included lawn bowls in their sporting programs are finding it very popular.
Perhaps another way of bringing more people to the game would be to make greens more available to those in the workforce. I have spoken about this aspect before, and it continues to bother me, but the opportunities for working people to play bowls are almost non-existent. We have greens that have lighting facilities and are able to be used at night – why not use them and make the game more available to the working people in our community?
There is no doubt – bowls is a great game. Having played various sports all my life, and being keen to continue to remain active, I reluctantly (I must admit), decided to have a go after encouragement by a friend and was captured by it within two days of trying it out. It is a challenging, exciting and rewarding game. My one regret is, that I did not take it up when I was a much younger woman as it is well known that skills are acquired more easily at an early age.
Anyone reading this column who is not a bowler and would like to give it a go, only needs to contact their local bowling club and someone will be appointed to look after you.
On Monday and Tuesday, September 3-4, Workers Heights will be holding its Open Men's Classic Two Bowl Triples. Prize money of $4,500 will be distributed over the two days with play beginning at 9am each day and lunch being provided. Nomination fee of $90 per team can be paid at the club upon registering or you can contact the Tournament Coordinator on 6624 3040.
Coaching Tip
Upon completion of delivery of the bowl, the palm of the bowling hand should be facing upwards and not higher than the knee of the lead leg. The shin of the back leg will be almost parallel to the green. The non-bowling hand rests on the lead leg just above the knee, helping to maintain balance. This stance allows the bowler to keep his/her eyes focused well up the aiming line without straining the neck and back.
Umpire's Corner
Law 26 DEAD BOWL
(i) Without limiting the application of any other of these laws, a bowl shall be dead if:
Not being a toucher it comes to rest in the ditch or rebounds onto the playing surface of the rink after contact with the bank or with the jack in the ditch or a toucher in the ditch or after completing its course, or after being moved as a result of play it comes to rest wholly outside the boundaries of the playing surface of the rink, or within 14m of the mat line, or
In its course, passes beyond a side boundary of the rink on a bias which would prevent it re-entering the rink.
Until next week, good bowling.
 Hook and Slices
with Stan Bendall
Draining Away
Lismore Workers
The August medal will be played this Saturday as the first round of the president's trophy. The second round will be played the following Saturday.
There will be a double event staged next Sunday with the Workers Social Club Ladies shotgun event beginning at 7am and the Marist Brothers Golf Day for junior footballers to be held at noon. Nominate now and have a good time at either event!
There is plenty of drainage work happening on the course at the moment with preferred lies to be on through the green until further notice from the match committee. Don't forget to carry a sand bucket (full) even if you are carrying your clubs and make sure if you are playing social golf you have a green fee ticket or have paid as course rangers are about.
The bus trips have now been changed to Sundays with the first to be on Sunday, August 19 to Grafton, leaving the club at 8am. Sheet on the board, $35 per head.
Bruce Nobbs won the single stroke last Thursday by a shot from Ian Savins and Brenton Hare. Wolf Simandl won the front nine from young club talent, Lloyd Kelly. Wayne McInness won the second nine from Gerard Egan and Kane Webber won the gross with a fine sub-par round of 69.
Dan O'Brien won A grade from Steve Fredericks in last Saturday's single stableford; Col Pratt won B grade from Brian Flynn and David Clark showed he is back in form by winning C grade from Gaz Underhill. It appears Bill Roberts is again overtrained as he took out the Bradman's trophy in fine style with 26 points. Not a wind player, Bill! Two vets, Stan Haywood and Max Murray won the two ball that was held in conjunction with the stableford and a new member from Canada played his first match – welcome, Errol Kerr!
Betty Whitelaw and Jan Maxwell won the ladies American foursomes last Wednesday.
Another club pennant has been won by Lismore Workers. The division 3 ladies, Robyn Watt, Iris McPhee, Jonone Pethers, Thea Warren and Anne Slade defeated Ocean Shores in the final last Monday. Reserves, Ev Harding and Fay Thorley, played (very well too) as well! Congratulations girls!
There are seats placed out ton the golf course and if you would like to sponsor one – $100 – see the secretary-manager.
NRDGA
There will be an interdistrict match for seniors (over 50), juniors, colts and open on Sunday, August 12 at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads between Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and South East Queensland.
The Foxsports men's district final will be held at Coraki on Sunday, August 19.
There will be a welcome day for the commencement of the Northern Rivers Golf Classic at Ballina on Sunday, August 26.
From Monday, August 27 until Friday, September 7 there will be 13 days of golf at 13 different golf courses in the Northern Rivers area with the final farewell at Yamba.
The NSW championships are being held at Newcastle Golf Club from October 2-4. Entry is $50.
Ballina
The August medal will be played in three grades this Saturday while the ladies play a single stroke event and the RSL have round one of their matchplay championships and the monthly mug.
Robert Giles took out the overall trophy in the single stableford event last Wednesday. Ramon Morris won A grade from Stewie Bradhurst; Phillip Gordon won B grade from Brian Hannan and Terry Noonan won C grade from Graham Moore.
John Sanderson took the honours from Mick Kellett in the single stableford last Friday.
Bob Watts won the overall trophy in last Saturday's stableford. Young Dan McPhie took out A grade from Don McMurray; Guy Clark won B grade from Glenn Mills and Doug Waters won C grade from Terry Noonan. Tracey Wilson won the A grade cadet trophy; Dean Mobbs won B grade and Nathan Mills won C grade. Well done, fellas!
Coraki
The August medal will be played in three grades this Saturday.
There will be a single stableford in three grades next Saturday.
The ever-popular Mid-Richmond Open Plumbers Day will be held on Sunday, August 12 as a single stroke event.
The excitement has only just died down after the finals of the club championships last Sunday. The A grade and club title went down to the wire with young Rodney Davison beating Northern Rivers preso Earl Scurr on the 37th hole with Arthur Fogarty defeating Daniel Rogers in A reserve; Kerry Latimer beating Ron Fuller jnr in B grade and Guy Stewart defeating Walter Wotherspoon in C grade. Well done, fellas.
Neil Garrett took out A grade in the bisque versus par last Saturday; Steve McDonough won B grade and Brian Murray C grade.
Woodburn-Evans Hd
A single stroke for the August mug will be played in three grades this Saturday.
There will be a single versus par event on Saturday week.
Elaine Compton took out A grade in the ladies single stroke last Wednesday and Lyn Reid won B grade.
John Ramsay won the veterans' 12 hole stroke event last Thursday from Keith Sawtell and Tom Payne.
Merv Cornelius and Geoff Treharne took the honours from Lester Capp and Jim Perry in the members aggregate stableford last Saturday while Marie Kerr won the ladies stableford event.
Casino
The monthly medal will be played this Saturday.
Greg Cowen from the NRMA got in early last week, winning Thursday's single stableford, as he knew he wouldn't be able to take home the trophy in Saturday's event because he was the sponsor!
The westerly winds and slick greens provided a good test for the golfers on Saturday for the NRMA single stableford. Geoff Carroll won the overall trophy on a countback from consistent evergreen Les Isaac. Jim Donnelly won B grade from Steve Matheson and Lismore macca king Jim Poulos took out C grade by a point from Dave Owen. Ian Lynn took out A grade from Ron Carney on a countback.
Greenkeeper, Mick Greber and Brad McLennan took out the club foursomes last Sunday, giving Mick the trifecta: the club champos, the club mixed foursomes and the club foursomes!
What a great effort from the greenkeeper who knows every bit of grass on the course. Top stuff Mick!
 What's My Line
with Ian Clark
By Hook Or By Crook
Big seas, cold windy days and cold windy nights.
Still anglers are wetting a line and catching some good fish.
But before we tell you where, former commercial fisherman Jon Sipp has developed what he calls the 'MiNi Me.'
It is a de-hooker made from quality stainless steel and is basically a straight length of tubing bent at 180 degrees one end and the other end has a padded T-shaped handle.
It comes in two sizes along with instructions on how to use it.
Those that have used it say you do not touch the fish and that it comes up trumps every time.
If you have ever been spiked by a flathead or some of the reef fish we have around here you should have a look at this. Most tackle shops have them in stock.
Now to the fishing.
There are some good reports of jew being caught from Lennox to Broken Head using lures. Big O's are the ones to use this week. They have landed 13.4kg, 19.5kg and 23.5kg size jew over the weekend.
The best bloke to talk to about lure fishing for jew is Paul of Lennox Head Bait and Tackle.
Tailor has been reported along the beach in the 2kg to 3kg range but at the time of going to press the beaches were pretty well unfishable with a big surge pushing up the beach.
Best spots would be the walls and the rivers. School jew and bream can both be found off the Ballina and Evans walls. The bait to use is mullet or chook gut for the bream and worms for the jew.
Unless the seas settle a bit more, some of the headlands will be a bit dicey for climbing around, although they are holding some jew.
I have little to report from outside other than a couple of boats went out but no great kills were recorded.
This weekend's fishing will be determined by what happens with the seas during the week. I hope all has settled down as it is a good time, moonwise, to catch a feed.
Until next week fun fishing.
Crunch Time
The business end of the FNC Rugby competition is approaching and this weekend's matches will again have an effect on how the table stands.
Last week saw Ballina play to form to beat a brave Byron Bay, 25-5.
Even with this loss, Byron are in a good position to make their debut in a First Grade Finals series.
This weekend brings an interesting set of games, some of which could be vital for certain sides.
Lismore and Casino meet in the game of the round at Lismore, Wollongbar host SCU, Ballina travel to Mullumbimby and Grafton welcome Byron Bay to Big River country.
Ballina will trounce Mullum, making the Lismore-Casino match a must win affair for both sides.
Lismore need to win to stay in touch with the minor premiership while Casino will need victory to hold their third place should Byron defeat Grafton.
Lismore have been building over recent weeks, culminating in their 53-12 drubbing of the Pioneers a fortnight ago.
A victory to Lismore this week will put the minor premiership on the line when they meet Ballina the following week.
However, Casino have also improved over recent weeks, with their forward strength a stand out, along with some enterprising back play.
It will be another heated encounter between the clubs, but should the Greens utilise the phase play they have been working on they should get up – yet anything can happen against Casino.
Lismore by 7.
Of equal importance is the game at Lyle Park, Wollongbar, which could see either the Bar cement their finals berth or SCU race back into contention.
The Gold Rats have been patchy at best in 2001, but as has been proved before, SCU need only to make the finals to be a real threat to the premiership.
They have pace and ability in their young side, but often lack control and leadership.
By this I do not refer to their senior players but to the lack of organisation that has plagued their club this season.
But I can guarantee that every first grade coach in the zone is hoping for a Wollongbar victory this Saturday as they realise the potential threat SCU represent should they reach the finals.
Wollongbar have also been struggling to find their old form and will need to address their lack of pace and ball security to combat the ultra mobile students.
SCU by 5.
Grafton also have a chance to change their destiny when they play Byron Bay this week.
Should the Redmen beat their coastal cousins they could also revive their poor season.
And they are never stronger than when playing at home on the Clarence.
Yet Byron have been playing well and know that a victory will ensure they contest one of the finals matches in a fortnights time.
Hard to pick as it will be a scrappy game, but whoever maintains control will win.
Byron by 3.
Lastly is the game at Mullum, where the ever-friendly Moonshiners will endure another cricket score against themselves, but with their ever-present good natured humour.
Ballina by 30… no… 40.
I am pressed for space so there will be little ranting on the Tri Nations, save that the boys will come back this week at ‘The House of Pain' in Dunedin… have no fear.
Congratulations are also in order to the lads in the composite Lismore side that faced a highly regarded English touring side from the Bournside School on Monday night.
Our local lads didn't even have time for a training run before the game but wore their hearts on their sleeves to go down 11-10 in a thrilling match – well done boys, we are proud of you all!
Also up for some kudos are some other local boys doing great things around the traps.
Five FNC boys have been selected in the NSW Country Under 15 squad.
David Bermingham and Ryan Graham from Lismore, Bill Johnson and Rick Eggins from Wollongbar and Casino's Ben Shoebridge will travel to Parkes to play ACT next weekend.
Well done lads, good luck and keep up the training!
Ed Rummery
Thistles Out To Give Bobcats The Blues
Maclean replaced Byron Bay on top of Soccer FNC's premier division ladder with a sensational 5-1 win over the Rams last week, but the Bobcats' stay at the top could be brief if they fail to overcome Lismore Thistles at Oakes Oval on Saturday at 3pm.
Maclean will still be bubbling with confidence after last week's sparkling win, while a desperate Thistles are battling to maintain their grip on fifth place and know a loss could put their semi-final hopes in jeopardy.
The quality of Maclean's finishing is likely to prove the difference, with striker Grant Nielson in fine fettle after scoring four goals against the Rams and last year's golden boot Daniel Fung also in top form.
In comparison Thistles played out a drab scoreless draw against Ballina in their last start and looked far from their best.
The Blues have tended to rely too much on key individuals such as Darren Beardow, Anthony Nind and Daniel Braithwaite, while Maclean have a well-balanced side that can attack from anywhere on the paddock.
The wide, open spaces at Oakes should allow both sides to play an expansive game and with plenty at stake, spectators can expect an entertaining clash.
Rams On The Rebound
After tumbling from the top of the ladder with consecutive 5-1 losses, the Byron Bay Rams will be trying to break their fall when they host an out-of-sorts Casino on Saturday from 3pm.
Key striker Bruce Morhaus missed last week's costly loss to Maclean, but his return should give the Rams the edge, as they look to get their premiership hopes back on track.
Casino have little to play for after also suffering a 5-1 loss last week at the hands of Uni, ending the Cobras semi-final hopes.
Students Shoot For Stars
Last year's grand finalists face a fateful re-match tomorrow night, when Southern Cross Uni host Italo Stars at 8pm.
Stars emerged victorious to claim the premiership double last September and are looking to cement a top three finish, while the students are three points short of the top five and need a win to make consecutive grand final appearances a possibility.
Both had good wins last week, with Uni coming home strong to overwhelm Casino 5-1 and Stars securing their fourth win on the trot with a well-constructed 4-1 result over Goonellabah.
While both sides will be missing key figures from last year's showdown, plenty remain to renew the rivalry and after a 4-2 win in their first round encounter, Stars will be looking to maintain their dominance.
Rovers' Road To Recovery
With the semi-finals looming large, Richmond Rovers have a golden opportunity to return to top form when they meet last-placed Goonellabah at Weston Park on Saturday from 5pm.
Rovers are holding a share of third place and traditionally finish the season strongly, but last week's shaky 1-0 win over Alstonville followed a 3-0 loss to Stars, leaving a big win needed to restore confidence.
The return from injury of predatory striker Tim Sheridan will add string to Rovers attack and with Goonellabah still on the bottom of the ladder as they have been all season, few will be predicting an upset.
Sink or Swim For Seasiders
Ballina face what could be the last roll of their semi-final dice on Saturday, when the Seahorses travel to Richards Oval to take on Lismore Workers at 5pm.
Last week's uninspiring scoreless draw against Thistles has cast the seasiders five points adrift of the top five, while Workers moved to within two points of a semi final berth with an encouraging 2-0 win over Souths.
Ballina sorely missed the guile and finishing skills of the premier division's joint-leading scorer Troy Percival, but his return from suspension gives the Seahorses a trump card that could keep their semi final fires burning.
Workers hopes lie with a solid defence and their youthful new striking pair of Brad Hicks and Tom Guttormson.
Both scored in last week's win and with a budding combination with Shane Banks emerging, the Redmen have a new look to their attack that will test Ballina's semi final credentials to the limit.
Trap-Door Tango
One of the most important games of the season looms for Alstonville and South Lismore this Saturday, as the two sides grapple to side-step the relegation trap-door at Crawford Park from 3pm.
Soccer FNC has broken with tradition and will relegate two clubs this year, leaving second-last Souths in the ‘red zone' and Villa as the next candidate, just two points ahead.
With only three games to go after Saturday's vital clash, both will be feeling the pressure to succeed in what is sure to be a highly-charged affair.
Villa has shown the better form in recent games, but Souths have key players such as Brett Towner who can turn a match at any stage, setting the scene for a heart-stopping encounter.
Soccer FNC Hot Shots
Men
In a classic case of tit-for-tat, Uni striker Scott Collins has capitalised on suspension for rival Troy Percival, scoring a hat trick in the students' 5-1 win over Casino to re-join Percival as joint leader in The Echo's Hot Shots award.
Last week it was Collins who sat on the sideline, as Percival snatched the lead with a four goal haul in Ballina's stunning win 5-1 win over Byron Bay.
Last year's winner Daniel Fung remains in contention for consecutive titles, but trails by four goals and with just four weeks remaining needs to produce something special if he wants the title again.
The season's eventual top scorer will receive a weekend for two at the luxurious Watermark hotel on the Gold Coast, courtesy of The Echo.
Men's Tally
19 – Troy Percival (Ballina), Scott Collins (Uni).
15 – Daniel Fung (Maclean).
13 – Satis Sthapit (Byron Bay), Grant Nielson (Maclean).
12 – Bruce Morhaus (Byron Bay).
10 – Kevin Crofton (Maclean).
Women
Maclean's Tracy Want is now two goals ahead in The Echo women's hot shots competition.
Want is sitting on top of the table with a huge 16 goals to her name but is closely followed by Martene Edwards of Rovers and Workers' top scorer, Rose Argent, both on 14. Argent and Edwards will have a chance to check out each other's goal scoring style this weekend when their teams meet at 10am on Sunday at Richards Oval, Lismore.
Women's Tally
16 – Tracy Want (Maclean)
14 – Martene Edwards (Rovers), Rose Argent (Workers)
8 – Jo Collis (Workers)
5 – Kim Wraight (Workers)
4 – Natalie Anderson (Maclean), Rose Palmer (Workers), Nicole Strong (Workers).
Tigers Tanked
 Lismore Workers fullback, Milton Thaiday on the burst during the Tigers 54-20 demolition of the Grafton Ghosts last weekend.
The Lismore local derby in Group One Rugby League between the Marist Brothers Rams and Workers Tigers will be played this Friday at 6.30pm at Oakes Oval.
The game takes on even more significance now that both Brothers and Workers are guaranteed a position in the final five and look likely grand final prospects. With the prospect of the competition title in sight the game should be a fantastic spectacle where it will be made clear whether Workers have what it takes to win the premiership. Brothers have shown that they are the most consistent, disciplined side in Group One but Workers have a wonderful attacking side and if they can maintain their defence should give Brothers a run for their money.
 Grafton Ghosts lock, Chris Brophy, on the receiving end of some punishing defence by Workers Tigers last Sunday at Oakes Oval, Lismore.
Workers Tigers 54-20 win over the Grafton Ghosts last Sunday has secured them a place in the semi finals and left three teams to fight it out for the final two positions.
While Workers, Brothers and Ballina now definitely have places in the semis the results of the final two rounds will decide which two teams out of Casino, South Grafton and Grafton will finish their season when the preliminary rounds end.
South Grafton are currently ahead of Casino and Grafton by two points but Casino have the bye this weekend, guaranteeing the Cougars two points.
South Grafton and the Grafton Ghosts should both have relatively easy games this weekend, putting the pressure on the result of the final preliminary game when the two sides meet each other.
South Grafton are off to Kyogle this weekend to take on the Turkeys at 3pm on Sunday and despite the Rebels losing 44-4 against Brothers last weekend the Rebels should have no trouble coming back this week and taking the points.
The Ghosts should also have a fairly easy win this Sunday when Byron Bay head south to McKittrick Park at 3pm. The Red Devils haven't been a force in the competition this year and with so much on the line for the Rebels, Grafton should finish the weekend with a win.
Ballina will also have a low pressure game this Sunday when they head up the hills to take on the Mullumbimby Giants at 3pm this Sunday.
Ballina defeated Casino 34-22 last weekend and while the Giants did manage to beat Kyogle 22-4 the Seagulls are in a different league to the Turkeys. Ballina should have no trouble against the Giants, even on their home turf.
Petria Takes Triple Gold
 Golden girl Petria leads in the 100m butterfly final.
Mullumbimby's Petria Thomas has surely never had a more emotionally charged week.
Thomas won her first world championship gold medal at Fukuoka (in the 100m butterfly), then her second and third (in the 200m butterfly and the 4 by 100m medley relay), was disqualified from another medley race and lost her grandfather.
Thomas' fantastic achievments in the pool, her best performance at an international meet so far were tinged with sadness, as her maternal grandfather, Mick Godbee died in the Lismore Base Hospital last Sunday, just before she claimed her first gold medal.
Thomas haul of three golds is a wonderful prize to bring home after such disappointment for being disqualified in the 4 by 200m freestyle relay for jumping back in the pool before all competitors had finished.
Former Ballina swimmers, Adam Pine and Dyana Calub also had sucessful trips to Japan. Pine was a part of both the 4 by 100m men's freestyle and medley relay teams who won gold, although he did not swim in the final, after being replaced by more prominent swimmers, Ian Thorpe and Geoff Heugell). Calub swam backstroke in the gold medal winning 4 by 100m medley relay team.
Tigers Clip Swans Wings
As the final round of the Summerland Australian Rules begins this weekend all five teams still have a chance of making the semi finals.
After the Grafton Tigers 10.14.74 surprise win over the Lismore-Goonellabah Swans 8.16.64 last weekend, Grafton are now a game clear of bottom placed Nimbin on the ladder. The Demons will have to pull out all the stops for their final four games if they want to make the semis in their first season back in the competition.
The Demons begin their campaign to make the finals this Saturday when they play the Swans at 2pm at Clifford Park, Goonellabah. Lismore are also hungry for a win as their loss last weekend means they are now two wins below Ballina on the table, in third spot and in danger of having to play the elimination semi when finals time arrives.
Lismore have now lost four games in a row and are struggling to turn their game around to find some momentum as they head towards finals time.
However, the Swans will have all their university players back from semester break this weekend and will also enjoy the home advantage which should help to give them some extra motivation.
The Demons will need to focus their attack and play very tightly around the ground if they are to contain the Swans. The Demons have had trouble winning away from home this season and need to rectify that if they want the fourth semi final berth.
The Tigers will be looking to continue their winning streak this Saturday when they meet the Ballina Bombers at Fripp Oval, Ballina at 2pm.
A win to the Tigers over the Bombers will almost certainly guarantee them a semi final position and although Grafton have had trouble playing away games this year, two wins in a row should have them full of confidence and ready to compete on an even footing with Ballina.
The Bombers (10.12.72) only lost to the Byron Magpies (11.12.78) by one goal last weekend, meaning the Maggies' unbeaten record is still intact. Ballina will want to press home their lead over Lismore on the ladder, as finishing second gives them two bites at making the grand final.
With the home advantage, and after coming so close to beating the competition leaders last weekend the Bombers should take the game and solidify their chances of a top two finish.
SAFL ladder: Byron 48 Ballina 28; Lismore 20; Grafton 12; Nimbin 8.
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