Sport
Giants two wins from three Rollers host biggest bash ever John Campbell
After being done at the death by Northern United in Round One of the NRRRL and registering an encouraging win over Marist Brothers at their next start, the Mullumbimby Giants returned to Les Donnelly Field on Sunday for their first home game of the season. Following a couple of lean years there was a whisper that, under new coach Shane Diehm, the Blue-and-Golds were primed for a serious tilt at the title, meaning that a victory over the Evans Head Bombers was essential to consolidate the boys’ growing confidence. When winger Troy McArthur sprinted down the western sideline and placed the ball under the black dot, it was mission accomplished for the Giants to the tune of 28–6. But it didn’t come quite as easily as the final scoreline might suggest. Earlier, the reggies had towelled-up the visitors by 32–0 in warm and steamy
conditions, but as the Agraders appeared from the sheds there were dirty black storm clouds rolling in from the south and with them a sharp drop in temperature. Suddenly it felt like winter – like real football weather. Mullum kicked off into a chilly southerly and swarmed over their opponents with high energy but, as is so often the case, penalties awarded to Evans Head relieved whatever pressure the Giants might have been able to build. Instead it was the Bombers who established a territorial advantage – not that they ever looked likely to breach Mullum’s well-organised and totally committed defensive wall. This was a pleasing and constant feature of the Giants’ play, that they were at all times composed, organised and quick to restore their shape if ever it were lost. At last the ref blew in favour of the Giants and in the ensuing set stocky Jack Govett, who had come off the bench, barrelled over and,
with Louis Earl’s conversion, Mullum was ahead 6–0. Centre and captain Tim Abbott put his winger Darcy Earl in not long later and when tall five-eighth handled twice before Earl got another there was a whiff that, at 14–0 at the break, the floodgates might have opened. To the Bombers’ credit, however, they never turned it up. The second forty was contested in nasty spitting rain and it was the visitors who scored first when their winger gathered a nicely placed chip to his corner. Trailing only 14–6, they were back in it, but a try to Robbie ‘Crazy’ Goodacre restored the Giants’ lead to twelve and with seven minutes to go there was a bit of a harmless stink to get the mob’s blood bubbling. The young bull Govett, ‘Sunshine’ Jay Hampson and forward leader Dan Molenaar all handled in a surge that resulted in a try full-back for Luke Baker, to whom the Bombers had been kicking high most of the arvo.
Brown Snakes win ANZAC Cup Shores United Brown Snakes’ Kyriakos Tsapaliarsis making the ball work during Friday’s 3–3 penalty shootout win against the Richmond Rovers. The win gave the small club its first piece of silver in the men’s divisions. Photo Paul Begg Photography
Rams ANZAC adventure over and out The rivalry between the Park Jason Woolett shortly after Hotel Rams and Lismore gave Thistles an early 2–0 lead. Rams striker James TomThistles continued with a rerun of last year’s Anzac Cup linson’s relentless attacks on final at Lismore’s Oakes Oval the Thistles goal were thwarted by tough tackling from on Friday night. It was Byron’s third final man-of-the-match, Hospers, in as many years, and Damon while the Packham brothers Bell’s Rams were determined held the Byron line for the to take home the pre-season remainder of the second half. Rams’ substitute Barry championship silverware. From the outset, they Wood put Byron back in the looked evenly matched and game with a tidy finish to a the crowd was in for an enter- cross from Michael Kelly taktaining evening, with plenty of ing them into the break at 2–1. fiery midfield action, powerful The second half saw an attacking and gritty defence. epic battle for the midfield Thistles opened the score with both sides fighting hard early with defender Max for the upper hand. The Hospers flying high to take struggle saw some tough dea header from a long-range fending and busy keepers. throw. Another header from Despite tireless perforNorth Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
mances from James Tomlinson, Herick Schuenneman, Kazuhiro Tsukamoto and a gutsy effort from the entire Byron squad, the Rams couldn’t crack the Lismore defence to find the equaliser. A penalty gave Thistles a 3–1 lead that they defended solidly through the remaining 15 minutes. Another tough final, another bridesmaid finish for the Rams and a taste of what looks like being the battle for this year’s Premiership honours. The next round of the regular season has the Rams facing up to another Lismore rival, Richmond Rovers, at home on May 3. Reserves take to the pitch at 1pm and the prems at 3pm.
This weekend Byron’s derby team The Bay Rollers will host the biggest roller derby event that has ever taken place in the northern rivers. Featuring eight teams from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads, roller derby will be played all weekend at the Byron Sports Complex. This is the culmination of the 2014 North Coast Derby Coalition, a round robin for north coast teams. For the first time, men’s derby has been added to the comp. Derby will be played all day Saturday and Sunday from 9am. For more info visit: bayrollers.com.
Derby’s Valley Vixens ‘Block Ness Monster’ and ‘Poisonality’ give Byron’s ‘Paris Eat A Mole’ a taste of what’s waiting for the biggest-bash-ever event. Photo The Tree Faerie
Byron finds sharp end of stick Peter Griffin
Byron Bay were beaten 38–17 at home by Lismore in the third round of Far North Coast Rugby on Saturday. Byron is still a work in progress under new coach Paul Jeffery but if anything the team should be emboldened by their performance against the champions. The visitors took a deserved but hardly decisive 14–10 advantage to halftime. Lismore’s backline twice opened up Byron’s defence from long-range counterattacking raids but the Bay replied in kind with a rare try to back-rower Matt Larsson. Impressive newcomer Romey Vassell proved too clever on his feet for the opposing centre pair and laid on the try for the popular former Lismore man. Lismore moved to 19–10 after the break but momentum shifted when the Byron forwards began to dominate their highly rated opposition. The usual suspects Craig Wallace, Ryan Betts,
Rob Lynch and Larsson were all tormenting the Lismore forwards as the sweat from Anzac Day celebrations rose like a heat haze around the ground. The home team now had all the territory and possession but the Bay’s still disjointed attack could not deliver the decisive play. Lismore may not look as polished as last season but the desire of the champions was evident. They clawed their way downfield and took the game from Byron in bizarre circumstances. The incendiary Wallace was hit late by a ‘third man in’ Lismore forward after a scuffle had broken out on the grandstand touchline. The linesman immediately raised his flag as Lismore swept left to set up a try. The officials conferred and stunned the crowd by awarding the try and producing a yellow card to Byron’s Matt Larsson who could not have been further from the incident had he been on the Mir spacestation. After the incident players
on both sides lost focus and composure and three tries were scored in quick succession in a spiteful end to the contest. Players from both teams were yellow carded as a nervous referee clutched for control of the match. Tom Sandstrom scored for Byron after the excellent James Hawley had swooped on a loose ball. The Bay’s Hawley, Betts and Wallace were all outstanding but the revelation was Byron’s new front-rower Aaaron Shakeshoff. The power-packed import gave Byron’s set piece a massive boost and his bursts close to the ruck delighted the Byron faithful. He is sure to be a crowd favourite. Byron return to the Rec fields this Saturday against the disappointing Southern Cross University. A comfortable win is expected but more importantly the third game of the campaign will add further cohesion to the spirit and passion always evident in Byron Bay Rugby. Go the Bay!
Mullum football winners
The Mullum/Brunswick Ladies B Division football team won the Callan Mcmillian Cup grand final on Thursday night 6–nil against Byron Bay.
SPORTS RESULTS ARE POSTED ONLINE EACH WEEK IN ECHONETDAILY Find them under the Sport menu or go straight to this link:
www.echo.net.au/category/sport/results The Byron Shire Echo April 29, 2014 39