Sports News

Hooks and Slices

with Stan Bendall

NRDGA

The next Northern Rivers District Golf Association delegates meeting will be on Tuesday, October 28, commencing at 6pm for the executive and 7pm for delegates, at Lismore Workers Golf Club.

Ballina

On Saturday a men's backmarker event will be held with the ladies to play a 4BBB stableford. Brownies golfers will play their final match-play stroke on Sunday morning. The vets will play the second round of their stroke championship.

Casino

On Saturday a two-person ambrose will be played. The final of the Alex Armstrong memorial four-ball Knockout saw Bill Stanford and Bill Snow take the honours after a playoff with new club captain, Mick Greentree, and Andy Shaw. Des Heath and Graham Coss won the two-ball stableford.

Coraki

On Saturday a 4BBB will be played, as will the final of the knockout, which must be played on that day, with the popular annual liquor trades day to be played on Tuesday. Coraki golfers will travel to Lismore for the annual interclub visit on Saturday for the Bartlett-Clarke Shield. The overall winner last Saturday was past club champ, Peter Cordery, winning from big hitting Kenny McLean. The scratch winner on the day was back-to-back club champ, Gordon Dutton.

Kyogle

Saturday's 4BBB stableford is to be sponsored by the Thursday hackers. Stuart Penman, father of promising young golfer, Robert, won the A grade Monthly Medal on Saturday from Bruce Wilson. Tony Hale winning B grade from Roy Crotty. The Penmans won their share of nearest-the-pins, with Stuart winning two and Robert three.

Lismore

Lismore Workers Golf club will host Coraki golfers next Saturday for the annual interclub visit for the Bartlett-Clarke Shield. There was an interesting scenario last Saturday with a great prize for the best nett score of three nights and two days and golf at Noosaville with the winner to be present. There were two top scores of 65, but neither was present. Next came a 67, and again there was no one present to claim the prize. Gerry Lynch was the next best score with 68 to win the trip, donated again by Lismore Pool Scene. Brian Whelan once again took out A grade, young Luke McDonald won B grade and Chris Sims took C grade. Blake Jamieson, in the winning team the previous week, took out the Bradman award.

Woodburn/ Evans Head

Saturday will be a single stableford. Betty Doyle and June Hitchin won last Wednesday with Bob Eagles winning the vets A grade. Fred Moss and Barry Cox won last Saturday with Corliss Wagstaff winning the ladies from Karen Allen.

Hook, Line and Sinker

with Lindsay Doust - Suffolks Sports Store

Wind pushes anglers inland

Wind has wreaked havoc with fishing over the past few days. The severe southerly blew for four days straight, the barometer dropped and it was impossible to get outside or find many places sheltered enough to fish.

The wind was not so bad upstream and it saw an increased number try their hand at the bass. Some ran into them and some found very few.

This is what makes bass fishing special. They are a predator that needs to be hunted down and skill is not always in the catching, but in the finding.

Those who were able to find a reasonable place to fish in the salt water found some nice jew on the North Wall. Fishing into the sea on the north wall side in the rough white water proved to be quite productive.

There were a number who wanted to make last weekend their first serious go at flathead on plastics and lures but were mostly thwarted due to the wind.

We were pleased with the response of over 1,500 recreational anglers with submissions on the Cape Byron Marine Park. The issue is not over yet and for those wanting the "lock up and throw away the key" approach, we are ready and able for the next round. Recreational anglers do not accept the philosophy that closing an area preserves fish stocks. This is not the point of view of marine science. Fishing regulations are set so that stocks do survive and if recreational anglers do the right thing, there is no need to lock away the areas to fishing.

What needs to be done is to set up zones that ensure that strict fishing regulations are enforced without the Big Brother approach. Sadly, many will take this to mean that anglers are some kind of environmental terrorist. Not so! Myself, and many others, have changed so much on these issues in the last ten years and are viewed by many as being very keen environmentalists. Unfortunately politicians and bureaucrats are not very often willing to listen to a lifetime of experience.

Thanks for the mail we are receiving and the matters raised will be addressed as we do our homework.

Next weekend, try early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This is when the tides will be best for this phase of the moon.

Win tickets to Indy 300

This is your last chance to win one of two four-day double passes to the Indycar 300 compliments of The Northern Rivers Echo and Gillette.

The Indycar 300 is held along the streets of Surfers Paradise from Thursday to Sunday, October 23-26. Events include the Indycar 300, featuring drivers such as Bobby Rahal, Paul Tracey and a round of the V8 Supercar series.

To celebrate, The Northern Rivers Echo, in conjunction with Gillette, sponsor of V8 Supercar driver Jason Bright, is giving away two four-day double passes to the Lexmark Indy, worth $142 each, plus three HRT packs, one mach 3 Turbo razor, one Gillette for men shave gel and one Gillette deodorant for sensitive skin – over $350 worth of prizes!

To be one of the lucky winners all you need to do is complete the 'Ring-a-word' on this page and drop your entry in to The Northern Rivers Echo office, Molesworth Street, Lismore or send your entry by snail-mail to Gillette/Indycar Giveaway, Northern Rivers Echo, PO Box 37, Lismore, NSW, 2480.

V8 ring a word

From the passage below find the words in bold. Then find that word in the Ring-a-word box, drawing a circle around the word.

"The Gillette V8 Supercars rock into action at this October's 23-26's Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast.

According to driver Jason Bright, the big Fords and Holdens are under pressure on the brake blitzer street circuit.

The V8s contest two 100 km races with a compulsory pit stop for a change of tyres, but not fuel.

To shave time off every lap, drivers have to be on the pace and maximise the few pass opportunities on the back straight."

Ledger shoulders load - Cricket

Souths appear to be in trouble after the first day of the opening round of the LJ Hooker League regional cricket competition.

Sent in to bat, South's were soon struggling at 3-22. They were rescued by Paul Mclean (41) to lift their total to 141. Although this is a low score it must be remembered that the Oakes Oval ground is now notorious for it's uneven pitch and soft, absorbent outfield grass.

The pick of the bowlers for Easts was Dale Ledger, with three wickets for four runs.

Easts lost 4-57 by the close of play with Ledger on 19 not out.

Norths-Goonellabah RSL has started the season with an ominous blast. After struggling to get to 4-38 Adam Osborne (100) combined with Steve Lockhart (29) to steady the ship. Norths finished with an imposing 8-325.

Alstonville are headed towards an outright victory after humbling the Lennox Head top order, leaving them 4-24 in reply to their 159 at Saunders Oval. Greg Potter starred for Alstonville, putting on an unbeaten 94. Mark Denmeade finished with 5-45 for Lennox.

The Ballina v Brunswick Valley match at Fripp Oval is evenly poised. Ballina are 0-33 in reply to Brunswick's 187.

Casino recovered well against Tintenbar East Ballina in Casino. Tintenbar opener and captain Brett Crawford won the toss and elected to bat, plundering an 86 run 2nd wicket partnership with No 3 Kent Shay (30). He was adjudged out LBW only four runs short of his century. Casino started their chase well but lost opener Adam Shields off the last ball of the day to go in at stumps on 1-17.

In the first round of the Country Cup Lismore will travel north to play Tweed on Sunday.

Fun Run sweetener

Members of the Lismore Little Athletics Club with some of the prizes, including huge lolly jars, for the primary school colouring competition held in conjunction with the Darrel Chapman Fun Run.

The annual Darrel Chapman Fun Run, to be held on Sunday morning from 8.30am at Southern Cross University, has forged an alliance with the Lismore Little Athletics Club.

The Lismore Little Athletics Club has recently purchased a state-of-the-art stopwatch, allowing it to record over 500 race times, with a printout facility. In a mutually beneficial arrangement the club will lend the fun run organisers the watch. In return the DCFR have donated $100 towards the purchase of a printer.

Runners will be registering at the University's Goodman Plaza from 7.30am.

The day will also feature an exhibition of colouring competition entries from local primary school students.

After the run there will be a sausage sizzle and free massages to help to soothe any muscular complaints.

There are two choices for those entering the fun run. Runners (walkers, wheelies etc) can enter either the three or six kilometre events. Categories for the shorter run are 12 and under; 13-17 years; 18-40; 40 and older; 50 and older and differently abled. The six kilometre event is broken up into 17 and under; 18-45; 45 and over and differently abled.

The Darrel Chapman Fun Run is held annually to help raise funds for the NSW Cancer Council and to honour the memory of local academic, sports administrator and sportsman Darrell Chapman, who was taken by cancer in 1992.

Bird delivers ducks

Malcolm Bird (left) is congratulated by Jeff Walsh, president of the Lismore District Cricket Association after his outstanding treble on Saturday.

Playing for Eastern Districts against Norths in the Lismore District 3rd grade, team captain Malcolm Bird achieved a rare treble: a hat trick, a five-wicket haul and a half-century.

Malcolm started with a hat trick, which he had converted into a five-'fer by the close of the innings. He then produced his highest ever score with the willow, an even 50.

"The rest of the team reckon that I put myself on to bowl too much. This will quieten down the grumbles for a little while," Malcolm explained.

Suns set to rise again

Action from the 2002/03 Summer Youth League season as Suns forward Max Latimer clears the ball under attention from a Queensland Lions opponent.

Soccer Far North Coast will be entering both men's and women's teams in the 2003/04 Summer Youth League. The SYL is made up of teams representing 11 regions and clubs from southeast Queensland. The Soccer FNC team, the only one in the competition from south of the border, rounds the league to twelve.

In launching the new season the general manager of Brisbane Mens soccer said "the focus of the competition is on the development of the youth players as we feel that it is important to encourage these local soccer players who aspire to play at higher levels by providing such competitions. We believe that such competitions generally lead to an environment which encourages and attracts people to the game of soccer."

Last season the Far North Coast Suns men's team competed in the competition, finishing with three wins and a draw from their ten matches, finishing two games shy of third place.

The league has been split into two divisions this season, as there will be twice the number of teams competing as in 2002/03. The top team in each division will meet in a championship match at the end of the ten-round home and away season.

The young FNC Suns team will benefit from the vast international experience of Worker's Club's Paul Foster, who has agreed to coach the team for the coming season.

The women's team will feature some of the leading names from the FNC First division just completed.

The Suns have been put into Group One with Rochdale Rovers, South West Queensland, Palm Beach Sharks, Queensland Lions, Redlands United. Group Two comprises Easts Tigers, Peninsula Power Dolphins, Wynnum Wolves, Pine Rivers United, North Star and Sunshine Coast Hawks

All matches will be played on Saturday nights at 7pm. The competition also sees the introduction of unlimited interchange as a trial and will also focus on encouraging fair play through the presentation of a Fair Play Award to the team with the best disciplinary record.

The season will start on November 1 and run through to the end of January.

The men's and women's FNC Suns teams to play in the 2003/04 Summer Youth League season will be announced in the Echo in next week's issue.

In other FNC Soccer news, Todd Gava, a former captain of Italo Stars has won the Queensland Lions Player of the Year award for the second year running. In those two years the Lions have won the minor-major premiership double twice.

Todd may also be playing in the NSL in the near future as the Queensland Lions are looking to be accepted into the National Soccer League next season.

This week in the World Cup

Friday October 17

7.30pm New Zealand v Canada, Sydney (Live – Ch 7)

Saturday October 18

4pm Australia v Romania, Brisbane (Live – Ch 7, ABC Radio)

7pm France v Japan, Townsville (Live – Ch 7)

10pm SA v England, Perth (Live – Ch 7)

Sunday October 19

6pm Wales v Tonga, Canberra (H/lights midnight – Ch 7)

8pm Ireland v Namibia, Sydney (Delayed 10.25pm – Ch 7)

8pm Georgia v Samoa, Perth (H/lights midnight – Ch 7)

Monday October 20

7.30pm Scotland v USA, Brisbane (H/lights 11pm – Ch 7)

Tuesday October 21

7.30pm Italy v Canada, Canberra, (Delayed 10.30pm – Ch 7)

Wednesday October 22

8.30pm Argentina v Romania, Sydney (Delayed 9.30pm – Ch 7)

Thursday October 23

8.00pm Fiji v Japan, Townsville (H/lights 11pm – Ch 7)