Sport
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Bluedogs reach ANZAC Cup finals
The Bangalow Bluedogs football club were good enough to get two teams into the finals of the ANZAC Cup last week but the men’s premier division side lost 3–0 to Lismore, while the women’s B division lost to the Casino Cobras 10–2. Photo supplied
Bowls triumph for Byron women
Mullum Giants too strong for Red Devils
Byron Bay Women’s Bowling Club was well represented at the Coolangatta Ladies Fiesta Two Bowl Triples on Monday last week. Mirtha Christian, Patricia Bigg and Linda Child took out the second-round winner’s prize. Photo supplied
The Byron Red Devils kick out of their half in the derby against Mullumbimby, played in the wet. Photo Ross Kendall
New sportsfields Triathlon returns to the Bay opened in Wollongbar More than 1,00o athletes are expected for the 23rd edition of the Byron Bay Triathlon set for Saturday, May 12. The competitors will race over Tempta, Sprint and Olympic distances and will be joined by 100 juniors, many of whom are competing in their very first triathlon. The new course includes a revised cycle leg and a run under the lighthouse. Organisers are expecting a competitive field from across Australia.
The Men’s podium is shaping up to be a battle of the northern rivers as 2017 Men’s Open runner-up Matt Slee from Suffolk Park is back with the gold in his sights, along with local favourites Harry Jones and Jack Orr. Holly Grice is also back to defend her 2017 title, facing strong competition from Courtney Gilfillan. Road closures from 11am till 3.30pm towards Suffolk Park; and until 4.30pm in the CBD.
The new million-dollar 14-hectare sporting facilities were officially opened by the federal member for Page Kevin Hogan last week The new grounds include an AFL field/cricket oval, two rugby grounds with lighting, six tennis courts with lighting, four sealed netball courts (with lighting for two), separate facilities for rugby/AFL, cricket, netball, and a tennis clubhouse, as well as car parking for 292 vehicles and bus parking. ‘This is great news for
King and Ryan make quarterfinals Crystal Cylinders
Kyuss King (Byron Bay) and Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head) were the best of a group of our local junior surfers competing at the Gold Coast stop of the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series at Currumbin Beach. Both King and Ryan featured in the quarterfinals of the men’s and women’s respectively where they finished in equal ninth place at the World Surf League Junior Qualifying Series event while Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Head) finished equal 17th.
All Girls The Lennox Head All Girls Surfriders club were hit with pouring rain, cooler weather and less than ideal waves for their April round. ‘The weather was against us but we decided to make the most of the morning. The club had a very small turnout for this month. Well done to the hardcore girls who showed up in the rain and
Wollongbar and the sporting community,’ Hogan said. Greens member for Ballina Tamara Smith also announced the WollongbarAlstonville Rugby Club will be receiving $5,000 from the Local Sport Grant Program for player jerseys and training shirts. All grades can get cheaper players kit, she said.
The stark contrast in local league so far in the 2018 season was evident as the Giants beat the Byron Red Devils 32–10 at home last Sunday. For the Mullum side it was their fourth straight win and a top spot on the ladder (shared with Cudgen and Tweed Coast) while the Devils remain winless at the bottom of the table. Silky handling from the Mullum side in the sloppy conditions saw them go two converted tries clear in the first ten minutes. It was simple league played well. Hold onto the ball, run hard up the middle early then
go wide to the corners, or put the ball high and chase strongly to force errors. It all went the way of the Giants. They out scored the visitors six tries (five converted) to two, the tries to Byron coming late in the second half. Players players were Lindsay Beckett and Matty Ashton. The Reserves also notched up another win for the season beating the Byron side 14–10. Players Players Ethan Anderson. Giants take on Casino this weekend, while Byron hosts Cudgen.
Byron Bay rugby in winning form Luke Sullivan
Two weeks ago the boys in blue and white took the long bus trip to play the Casino Bulls in the Far North Coast Rugby competition and came away with two wins to back up their double victory over Lismore the week before.
Reserves
Kyuss King ripping up at the Gold Coast. Photo Ehan Smith
thunder and stayed to surf and even managed to have some fun. ‘Because of the weather we decided to run straight finals except for the Junior Intermediates, who surfed heats and a final,’ Natalie Grono said.
Results Jnr Intermediate: Juniper Harper, Mahia Adams, Poppy Hand, Amelia Walker.
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Snr Beginner: Belinda Wells, Breanne Brown, Seraphine Nolette, Perrine Widlak. Snr Intermediate: Jen Hollier, Peta Grew, Sylvie Hoarau. Longboards: Maz Pentecost, Peta Grew, Jen Hollier. Open: Nyxie Ryan, Ebony Santamaria, Jane Collins, Maz Pentecost. Soul Surfers: Cory Whitney, Marika Llic.
The Sandcrabs (Reserve Grade) have found form early in the season and looked to continue their winning streak, making it three from three this year. Will Aisake and Jo Common helped the Crabbies to start the game like a bat out of hell with fast hands and excellent rolling rucks to have Casino on the back foot early. Andy Teuma and Roberto Lynch played like long-lost brothers, both running hard fast lines, looking for the offload. Mark Howard had an absolute screamer of a game, at times grabbing the ball looking for holes. Dan George rallied the troops, communicating well and guiding the forward straight up the guts. Josh Smith’s enthusiasm
Sam Shiner on the break for Byron. Photo Max Goldfield
and intensity at the back of the pack continued to pay dividends with yet another burst close to the line, charging over for his hat trick. Byron Bay won 29–14.
Firsts In first grade the Byron Boys started well with some sharp hands and lightning fast clear outs leaving the opposition gobsmacked and sending Hamish Rowland over in the corner. Dru Baggaley came onto the pitch ready to make an impact and James ‘Fat 10’ Bulmer worked hard. Casino’s boot was their saviour in the first half, punishing the Bay when the ball
was turned over after 50 metres of hard work. The Bulls came out firing after the break with some great hands putting Byron on the back foot. This momentum saw the Bulls execute an excellent set move off a scrum to score in the corner By now the Bay’s lineout found its groove, setting the platform for Bedwin to score a screamer. The Bay won 25–19 and showed true grit to pull off a double win away. There was a bye in the competition last week. Byron Bay now face Bangalow in the Battle of Byron Shire this Saturday May 5, at the Rec Ground, Byron Bay.
The Byron Shire Echo May 2, 2018 39