Sport
North Coast news daily:
Shiners give all in epic Grand Final
Geckos into Shand Final
Dean Trevaskis
Brian Mollet
Saturday’s Presidents Cup Rugby Grand Final at Lismore between Mullumbimby Moonshiners and Lismore City was a gruelling edgeof-your-seat ride that earned both sides a standing ovation. They had met twice in the previous month for a draw and a last-gasp one-point win to Lismore. Saturday’s game did not buck the trend of nail-biters. Lismore, as always, would rely on a big well-drilled forward pack, Mullum on their speed and exciting brand of expansive rugby. The young Shiners have won the hearts of the community in the northern end of Byron Shire. On Saturday that army of fans was magnificent in numbers, colours and voice. Ryan Cuthbert epitomised the one-for-all attitude of this team. He was the unlucky one to miss out when 24 players was culled to 23. He kept his head high, contained his disappointment and got right behind his teammates. After a truly epic match that saw a 16–16 score, the game went into extra time of ten minutes each end. It was no place for the faint-hearted; like two heavyweight boxers both teams swung from the
Nick Shand became an unlikely publishing magnate when his efforts at protesting heavy-handed police tactics in his local community became the newspaper we all read, love, and scrub our windows with. What he really desired however was sporting glory, something he tragically never achieved as a quick motivational chat and an offer of the vice-editorship has never turned a tealady into a tonscorer. These days the Geckos fare much better on the field thanks to the divine workings of Saint Seymour and his arcane address book. Up against smart socialites the Suffolk Swingers for a place in the Shand series final, Geckos’ on-field general James won the toss and with Lomath Oval glowing like a pair of new Dunlop Volleys chose to bat. Adeha, the world’s oldest teenager, and Kiwi mercenary Greg-O saw off some early heat from Heath (1–3) and a tight-fitting spell from Levi (1–5). Gav’s nippy outswingers nabbed the first wicket with 22 on the board but the next was not to fall for 82 runs as Mick (30 n/o) rode his luck well between big hits and James (31 n/o) had the Swingers’ fieldsmen, like Syrian suburbanites, looking skyward with some trepidation. Rod the Rocket man, although seemingly held together by bandages and
hip looking for the knockout blow. The rub of the green seemed to be Lismore’s way when Shiners’ full back Jacob Johnstone caught a kick at halfway that bobbled in his hands before he attacked the line. The ref called knock on to the disbelief of the crowd. Then with 15 minutes of extra time gone Lismore nailed a wobbly drop goal. An epic final ended 19–16 Lismore’s way in a game that truly did not deserve to have a loser. Both sides were outstanding. Every Mullum player deserves a mention but one epitomises the spirit of this
Byron Bay Little Athletics
2013/14 SEASON SIGN ON WEST BYRON SPORTS FIELDS Friday September 20th 3.45 – 5.30pm Friday October 11th 3.45 – 5.30pm (with free BBQ & introductions) All past & new members welcome! Info – call Deb Milgate 0409 079 202 or 0428 482 282 Email – deb.milgate@northernstar.com.au
Mullumbimby
Touch Association I N C O R P O R A T E D
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
At Mullumbimby Leagues Club Monday Sept 23, 2013 at 7pm BUSINESS: • Election of Committee • Nominations of Teams • Insurance & Fees • General Business
Team registration from 6pm to 7pm Contact Mark Hartley 0400 531 801
Sports Results are posted online each week in Echonetdaily
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38 September 17, 2013 The Byron Shire Echo
side. Simon Hutton was simply magnificent. The fastest man in the competition ran like a demon, accelerating at the point of impacting props twice his side, hurling himself into tackles and making some astonishing runs, one 60-metre dazzler that included six tackle breaks. He did not have energy left to walk off the field when the final whistle blew. It is that fearlessness, courage and willingness to take on anyone that runs
through the heart of this side. They have developed as teammates and men this year and everyone associated with the club was unanimous that they have done themselves and the Mullum Moonshiners proud in 2013. The loss continues the Shiners’ history of losing grand finals in odd years and winning them in even years, look out 2014! To read the full version of this union report, go to: www. echo.net.au/category/sport.
United they stand Marc Patten
Well, it’s been a long hard road for the Ocean Shores under-13 boys. They copped some lopsided hidings over the years, but that all changed last Saturday at Oakes Oval. The boys have stuck together through thick and thin, some since they were six. The Ocean Shores boys, headed by their longtime coach Tim Hays, had a fantastic year in 2013, finishing undefeated minor premiers and scoring a record 119 regular season goals. This was the most by any team, male or female, senior or junior, in the far north coast competition. The 2013 grand final was their turn and they knew it; there was only one problem: arch rivals Ballina. In their last two meetings against Ballina they really struggled – the stage was set for an oldfashioned arm wrestle. The huge crowd saw the Shores boys start on the back foot as Ballina threw everything, including the kitchen sink, at them. The boys bent, but held on, then 15 minutes in, Bailey beat his man and set off down the right side, a great cross missed everyone but not Lewis, who pounded the ball in for Shores and set the crowd (and the bench!)
into raptures. Not long after his brother Jarvis belted one from outside the penalty area, only to see it crash into the crossbar and just stay out. Ballina came at it again. David, Theo, Julian, Callum and the defence worked, like their lives depended on it, to keep Ballina out. Yet another raid down our left saw them equalise and at half time scores were level 1–1. The Shores boys came out in the second half to dominate. By now the halves were giving Mondo plenty of ball and it was only a matter of time before he punished Ballina. About halfway through the second half, he broke down the left side, turned the defence inside out and smashed the ball over the keeper’s head, Shores 2–1. As always, Ballina came back. The Shores boys worked time and again Ballina were turned back. Shores slowly shut them down and late on another great cross by Bailey saw Lucca arrive on the far post just in time to knock it in 3–1 to complete a wonderful Grand Final win for Ocean Shores. The celebrations were enough to bring a tear to your eye. It’s been a long time coming. Congratulations, boys; you so deserve it.For the entire story, see www.echo.net.au.
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electrical tape, flung himself around all morning at backward square and held a sharp catch to remove the mild but dangerous Anthony. Adeha (33 n/o) showed that a week’s snowboarding did him no harm and late hits from Roscoe, Ali and Trent saw the Geckos pile on a fully engorged 196. The reply from the Swingers teetered early as opener Barney was seeing the ball so well he managed to edge James’s second ball and Karl became one of many to be ‘mongoosed’ by the enigmatic Ali (1–2). Hughsey and Lionel (20) did half a rescue job on the middle order but when Hughsey skyed one down the ground waiting under the ball was the indefatigable Simon. Simon’s main job during the week is to stop Echo cheques from bouncing and he managed to do the same with the Kookaburra. Heath (44 n/o) at one end was slapping the ball around like Madonna’s boyfriend’s backside but wickets to stalwarts St Seymour and Pete, and a double to the noncholantly talented Trent had the Swingers dropping off the hinges. Gritty Gav (22) biffed a brace of boundaries in a late showing with Heath but all hope for the Swingers was snuffed by smiling assassin Anthony (2–1) who ushered the Geckos into next week’s Shand Grand Final against the efficient Byron Full-Tossers. Join in the fun on Sunday from 11am on Lomath Oval Mullum.
Yellow Submarine dream
The Yellow Submarines from Ocean Shores Club won the U12s Division 3 Grand Final. The team played the final at Mullumbimby and beat The Skittles 18–7. There has been so much awesome sport happening in the Shire and on the north coast that we simply have not had room for it all in The Echo. To see more stories and plenty of photos visit Echonetdaily: www.echo.net.au and look under the Sport tab. If you have any photos or stories from your finals series, or any news and photos about your summer sport starting up, email onlinesport@echo.net.au and we will put you in our daily edition.
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au