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No splendour in the farce for NRRRL Junior Byron Beez swarm into finals Story and photo John Campbell
Every year, the Byron Bay Red Devils ask that their bye be allocated to the weekend of Splendour in the Grass, as they are most drastically affected by absenteeism it causes. And every year, presumably because they want to make an utter joke of their own product, those responsible for the NRRRL draw shoot themselves and the greatest game of all in the foot by dismissing Byron’s request. The result on Sunday was that the Devils kicked off against Marist Brothers with only twelve players, the thirteenth arriving with Byron already behind on the scoreboard. The Papists, with former Devils Chris King and Joey Gordon running riot, went at better than a point a minute to be ahead 44–0 at half-time, at which time the mercy rule was invoked and the game called off. Is the NRRRL happy about that? Let me tell you something for nothing: the punters who travelled and paid at the gate to see a contest were not. No wonder rugby league is losing its way in our area. Captain Ryan ‘The Crab’ O’Connell, the big Pommie
Jenny Ogle
All four of the Byron Bay Basketball Association’s junior representative teams have made it through to the finals of the Northern Junior League to be played in Port Macquarie over August 5–6. The club is very proud of their efforts especially since it is only the first year for the girls and second year for the boys to compete at this level.
Byron Bay Women’s League tag player Megan Curran in action at Lismore on Sunday against Marist Brothers.
with the fab off-load, Dominic ‘Ilkley’ Maloney and prop Tom ‘Hardy’ McMahon tried hard, as did all of the boys, and it was most pleasing to see Noel ‘Hairy Legs’ King land one on the Papist grub who was getting away with repeated elbows, but Brothers, poncing around like flattrack bullies against a hapless opponent, were always going to win.
Women lose too Earlier, the Byron Women’s League tag team, hitherto unbeaten, went down 10–0 to Marist Brothers (Sisters?) in an open and entertaining encounter. The girls’ game is basically the same, but with a couple of significant alterations. At the
end of the set of six tackles, or following a knock-on, there is no scrum, merely a handover of possession. Tackling is also not called for. Instead the defending players need to detach a tag worn at the attacking runner’s waist to halt their progress – meaning that, without being brutal, it is a bit more physical than touch footy. Currently it is a six-team comp and it is easy to see how Byron’s Devilettes (?) had come to win eight in a row. They are well drilled and skilful and, even better, it’s obvious that the result means something to them. They are there to have fun, but they are in it to win it. The game is open and fast moving, so don’t miss out.
Local know-how key to Ocean Shores bowls championship Local greenkeeper Troy Makin won the Ocean Shores Mens Major Singles bowls championship for 2017 last week. Troy took on Ben Sweeney in the final played in blustery conditions. ‘Both players handled the wind well with Troy Makin doing enough to win 31–28,’ bowls manager Lee Roberts said. Both players work for the Ocean Shores club as greenkeepers, Troy on the bowling greens and Ben on the golf course.
Mullumbimby Bowling The first round of the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Bowling Club Minor Pairs was played on the weekend with Ashley Lumsden and Ben Leeson recording a 26–16 win over Bernie O’Hearn and Troy Creighton.
U/16 boys (coach Nash Campbell) Their season goal of learning how to compete with the best teams in the state was demonstrated last round during two epic games. Against Bellinger, the boys had four players fouled off, finishing with only three players on the court, and nearly completed a fairytale comeback, but went down by just two points. In the game of the season against arch ‘fren-emies’ Port Macquarie, the boys fought for the lead, then went behind before a three-point bomb on the buzzer from Panha D sent the game to overtime. In one of the most nailbiting see-sawing games you would see at any level, the boys went down by two.
U/14 boys (coach Alvin Caoyonan) The team won 4–0 over their last weekend to finish at the top of the table going into the NJL finals. Playing Tamworth twice and winning each by comfortable margins, and also playing Port Macquarie, left our boys feeling sharp for their final match against Bell-
U/16 girls Beez: Monica Brandolini, Hannah Kelly, Tilka Fossemalle, Taniesha Fullagher, Josie Huntsman, Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn, Talia Kilmartin, Rhiannon Murphy, Shayd Turner-Watson and coach Matt Ogle. Photo supplied
inger Valley, the event’s big match-up. They were behind for the majority of the match and fought hard to keep it close. The final minutes were frantic as the boys closed the gap to tie and force overtime. The experience of playing high intensity from previous carnivals shone through as the boys grabbed a quick but small four-point lead and never relinquished it to come away with a tough but wellearned victory.
U/14 girls (coach Matt Ogle) The girls played five games in the last round of NJL in Coffs Harbour and with only five players this was a tremendous effort. The drive and heart shown by each individual on the team were amazing. The games they played were not the only things they won. They won the respect and admiration of opposition
coaches and parents. Heading into the final round of NJL the girls had only lost one game from seven, the first game of the season, to Coffs Harbour. The U/14 girls finished as minor premiers on the NJL ladder and they will face Tamworth in a qualifying final for the Championship. In their first year of NJL competition this is an exceptional achievement and the players are to be congratulated on their fantastic performance and attitude throughout the season.
U/16 girls (coach Matt Ogle) The U/16 girls played five games at the last round of NJL in Coffs Harbour and after a heavy injury toll won just one, but contested strongly throughout. The U/16 Beez girls finished fourth on the ladder, qualifying them for the finals. Go the Beez.
Countback golf victory for Griffiths at Teven
Singles final contenders Troy Makin (L) and Ben Sweeney from Ocean Shores Bowling club. Photo supplied
Jamie Ewin and Andrew Moroney had a 23–14 victory over Michael Lardi and Trent Foreman. Sunday’s match saw Clint Marsh and Geoff Flick run out 22–12 winners over Phill Brassington and Ian Weir. Club results for Thursday July 20 included Bob McGuire, Mike Nicholls and Michael Burke defeating
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Clint Marsh, Tony Baggio and Larry Henry 29–11. Ray Breckenridge, Ian Carlin and Kerry Roberts defeated Robert Rays, Phil Brassington and Paul Perry 26–14. While Peter Andrew, Bob Rose and Gary Porter won over Peter Andrew (swinging lead), Michael Lardi and Lee Roberts 23–17.
Ray Griffiths collected the win after a countback put him ahead of Rex Nixon at last week’s nine-hole Stableford, which was also the fifth round of the Point Score Championship for the Teven Golf Club’s men’s championship. Griffiths and Nixon ended the day on 21 points. Ball run down: Chris Gee 20, John Selwood 19, Robert Tillman 19, Greg Unwin 18, Geoff Colnan 18, Bill Wayte 18, Ian Coochiroff 18. NTPs: fourth Chris Gee; eigth Bill Wayte (within a flag length). Putting: Robert Tillman (11 putts).
Ray Griffiths (R) pipped Rex Nixon via a countback of their nine-hole stableford encounter at Teven. Photo supplied
Next game is this Saturday July 29: a nine-hole Stableford plus two-man aggregate Stableford – this will also be the
sixth and final round of the Pointscore Championship (6.15am start for a 6.30am shotgun tee off).
The Byron Shire Echo July 26, 2017 45