Sport
Byron tosses Geckos in Shand grand final Brian Mollet
In the bowels of The Echo building in Mullumbimby there is a cobwebbed corridor that winds its way through dusty stacks of old newsprint strategically laced with tendon-lacerating shards of old red wine bottles. This is where The Echo keeps its greatest treasures like McDonald’s racier chicken pictorials, the Lovejoy manifesto for world domination, and Simon’s collection of antique Pelaco shirts. Here you will also find the second Nick Shand Memorial trophy, a beautifully made purple goblet that sees the light of day just once a year on grand final day, as the first trophy was famously obliterated at a party to celebrate its winning. On Sunday sporty sophisticates the Byron Full-Tossers convoyed across the highway to take on the Geckos, who condense onto the park from all quarters in answer to a call
In a free-for-all pre-game (read: before it got dirty) portrait, rival teams the Byron FullTossers and the Geckos posed with the Shand Holy Grail at Lomath Oval in Mullumbimby. Photo Tree Faerie.
from St Seymour of the fivethumbed hand. Lomath Oval was teased by a chilly breeze but there was just enough sun to glint enticingly off the trophy as James of the Geckos invited Ash and the Full-Tossers to bat.
Boundaries to Scotty and Christian saw the Tossers engorging well early until James held an overhead mark at deep square to give Dave the first of his two wickets. Christian held the faith and when joined by the ruthlessly efficient Shaun (33
n/o) the scorer’s pen began to twitch furiously. The Byron lads showed they had come to play grand final cricket, Adam (31 n/o) content to caress the ball about while at the other end Jade (34 n/o) carpet-bombed the outfield. The only Gecko
Undefeated to the end Jump into the Byron Lighthouse Run
bowlers to escape extreme chastisement were the crafty pair Joffrey and Greg-O, and the mesmeric Peter WynneMoylan (0–10). Janny, Jean and Ash tasered the bowling, then began to put the boot in. Christian (62 n/o) returned to the crease and the ball was sent into divine ascension, the total likewise at 6–249. The Geckos came out after lunch knowing they needed to achieve the cricketing equivalent of outbidding Gina Rinehart at an auction. St Seymour was martyred very early but Greg-O settled in and helped James (32 n/o) channel his natural aggresion into positive results. At 2–60 the Geckos were still a chance. Jade’s second stumping and two wickets to Janny’s hooping inswingers had the Tossers firming for the title as the run rate mounted up like zeros in a slush fund. Jason (3–8) then went through the middle order like Ebola, and wickets to
Adam and the inspirational Christian ensured that James, like an ageing Lothario, would run out of partners. The Byron Full-Tossers then led the traditional toast to Nick Shand’s memory as 2014 champions and everyone got down to the serious business of exaggerating their abilities. Mysterious Merlin and the Grand Master were there in person to hand out the awards on behalf of the invisible commitee and thank LuLu’s cafe and Laurie of the Court House Hotel for their continuing support of the series. Snakebite Pete’s ‘Queensland coverdrive’ award went to Christian of the Geckos as top scorer, Neil the birdman claiming the coveted witchdoctor’s bowling award and Owen of the Swingers voted player of the season by the votes of opposing captains. Next season promises more than a pre-election commitment and The Echo is sure to be there. The Byron Lighthouse Run will be held this weekend and this year promises to be a continuation of the everexpanding awesomeness of this fantastic event. Registrations open at 6am and the run starts at 7am. Visit www.byronrun.com.
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The Mullumbimby Brunswick Women’s B Division were undefeated for the 2014 Far North Coast football season and went on to beat Woodburn 5–1 at the Grand Final held in Lismore. Coach Jonathon Flantz, centre back, was ably assisted by Heath, far left.
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The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2014 13