Sport
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Suffolk Park gets new team Wilkinson fighting hard in Rio
Suffolk Park Mini Roos played at home with a new squad in early May on the Baz ‘n’ Shaz fields. The new U/8 team made many proud, joining the U/9 and U/7 teams for fun and exciting matches. No one can quite remember the scores but everyone had a great time.
Mixed results for Shores United Marc Pattern
Shores Juniors were involved in their fist ever trip to the new field at Shara Boulevard and the U14s looked really excited for their clash against Casino two weeks ago. The match was one way traffic, with the Shores kids much too strong for Casino, running out rampant winners 10–2. All four men’s grades were also in action for Shores at the weekend. The first division Brown Snakes took on the team to beat, Ballina, at home. Once again injuries to key players meant five boys had to play up from the fourths. Shores were caught napping early, when Ballina raided down the left side to score. A fairly even match flowed back and fourth after that. Tal put a through ball to the flying Jarvis who raced away to beat the keeper as the half ended 1–1. Shores started the second half stronger when just 30 seconds in, a great goal from the in-form Matt Rowland
First grade goalie Callum Cowan offers safe hands to a corner kick Ballina. Photo Michelle Begg
saw them in front 2–1. With the match winding down it looked like the Snakes had done enough, but you just can’t give Ballina a sniff. Eleven minutes from time Ballina pushed and equalised then, in a cruel twist with just two minutes to go, the Ballina centre half hammered one, which struck a player on the rear, changed direction and sailed into the open net. That’s twice the Snakes have been in front 2–1 at home, against the 1st divison favourites and twice we’ve been beaten 3–2.
A really even match saw the Shores fourths up against a top notch, Mullumbimby. The high quality game saw some good football without too many chances. In the end we missed our chances and they didn’t. Mullumbimby, won it 1–0 with the evergreen Hank an absolute rock for the Valleys. In old boys seventh grade, Shores destroyed Alstonville 7–0 with two goals from Super Ray, even DJ got amongst it with a cracker free kick. The old boys roll on with four wins from four starts. Go Shores!
BCPS takes to the sporting fields Annie Roberts
Girls soccer, cross-country running and cheerleading are all on the sports agenda at the Byron Community Public School. Our girls recently played in an all-girls soccer gala day in Ballina. Many of the girls had not played soccer before. We played four games and had one win. Our other three games were tightly contested. Minka showed her true skill by scoring six goals. The girls had a fantastic outing and had the opportunity to make new friends. The Whales have also rep-
Wilkinson having fun in Rio. Photo WSL/Poulenott Crystal Cylinders
After a couple of dud results in the last two Australian events Byron Bay’s Matt Wilkinson is on his way to a solid result at the Oi Rio Pro at Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Wilkinson seems at home in the tricky beach break conditions on offer and his quick-fire backhand snaps on the wobbly right-hand peaks are getting the attention of the judges. He seems to be building his performances the further he moves forward in the competition. A shock exit from ratings leader and current world champion John John Florence has opened the door for the top ten to make up some lost ground and tighten up the ratings leaderboard in what is looking like a unpredictable and eventful year on the WSL CT men’s tour. Likewise on the women’s tour the early exit of Stephanie Gilmore, Courtney Conlouge and Carissa Moore, along with the powerful win by Tyler Wright here in Rio has rattled some competitor’s cages and is making for an exciting close race for the 2017 World Title. Current champion Tyler Wright returned to the winner’s podium for the second straight year in Rio and her third event victory overall in
Brazil. Wright did so in dominant fashion, leading over runnerup Johanne Defay from the start and never looking back. Wright’s big win takes her into a tie with Stephanie Gilmore atop the Jeep Leaderboard heading into the Tour’s next event; the Outerknown Fiji Women’s Pro. Stu Kennedy from Lennox Head left the Oi Rio Pro with an equal 25th place after coming up against an on-fire Connor O’Leary in round two. It was a clash of mates as O’Leary and Kennedy travel together on the WSL Tour.
traliawide series and some of the best junior surfers from around the world were greeted with excellent conditions for the entire contest. Reef Heazlewood is the Australasian JQS Champion with Mikey McDonagh in second spot, which secures him a berth representing Australia at the World Junior Championships. Kyuss came 12th on the final ratings ladder, Jack Murray (Lennox Head) finished 14th, Joel Paxton (Byron Bay) was 20th and Luke Condon (Lennox Head) was 47th.
Junior results
Lennox Head surfing history
Mikey McDonagh from Lennox Head has finished runner-up in the JQS Australasian Series after the final event of the WSL sanctioned Subway Surf Series Pro Junior was held on the Gold Coast two weeks ago. It was held in 1-metre waves at Duranbah Beach, and McDonagh was again at the business end of the event with a quarter final finish. Lennox Head’s Jack Murray and Byron Bay’s Joel Paxton had solid equal thirteenth-place finishes. Kyuss King from Byron Bay was 17th and Luke Condon from Lennox Head was eliminated in round one. The competition was the seventh event in the Aus-
In 2008 the Lennox National Surfing Reserve was declared a site of environmental, cultural and historical significance to the Australian surfing culture. To mark the 10th anniversary next year, the Lennox Head Heritage Committee and a team of local surfers and writers is seeking photos and recollections reflecting the local transition of surfing between 1958 and 2018. Images and those fond, crazy memories will be collated into a publication. No photos are too old or new, and if you can contribute to this history of Lennox Head and adjoining surf breaks, please contact Robyn Hargrave on 0412 660 994.
The BCPS girls soccer team. Photo supplied
resented the school in the NCIS touch football gala day. The kids played really well and, although we did not have many victories, the improvement throughout the day was amazing.
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We have also started a cheerleading club with 18 members. The school had its crosscountry and a school team of 40 will travel to Ballina for the NCIS championships.
Mikey McDonagh finished second in the national junior series. Photo Bennett/WSL
The Byron Shire Echo May 17, 2017 45