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Byron Bay topple Bangalow Mullum Giants struggle for their Rebels in rugby union derby Ǖ ſƆƐ ƱĶŕ ëƆ ōşĈëō ŔëƐĈIJȒƖż ōşşŔƆ Ross Kendall Byron Bay rugby collected their second win of the season when they took on local rivals Bangalow and came away with a 24–10 win. In a strong all-round team performance the centre pairing of Wal Andrews and Romey Vassell were standout players in the game, as was second rower Will Alsake, Byron captain Craig Wallace said. Despite travelling up the hill to Bangalow’s Schultz Oval the Byron side had the run of much of the play and certainly dominated the first half but for a late try to the home side, which still left the hosts trailling by six points at the break. Byron continued to dominate field position and ran out winners four tries to two. Byron had a win in the opening round of the competition against Lismore, but last Saturday’s effort was more ‘convincing’, Craig said. ‘It was good to see the side starting to click. What
Cohesive team rugby helped Byron take the points from Bangalow last weekend. Photo Tayla Nicholls we have been working on at training started to come through and everyone was starting to buy in,’ he said. ‘We are starting to get the shape of what we want to do this season,’ he said. The game was played in front of a strong home crowd plus plenty of Byron supporters as well. ‘The game was played in great spirit and it was good to see strong support for local rugby,’ he said.
The win leaves Byron Bay in fifth position just below Ballina. Bangalow are third from the bottom and face a tough test this weekend when they travel to take on persistent premiers Wollongbar Alstonville, who are again at the top of the table with four wins from four starts. Byron Bay take on Southenr Cross University at home at the Recreation Grounds this Saturday.
Ill-discipline costs Ryan at pro junior Crystal Cylinders Nyxie Ryan from Lennox Head has had a podium finish at Cronulla Beach at stop two on the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series, a WSL Pro Junior-rated event. Unfortunately for Ryan she incurred a priority interference during the final, which relegated the event standout to fourth place where otherwise she had the scores to win. Following the shock first-round elimination of current World Surf League junior rankings leader Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach NSW), the ball landed in the court of second and third placeholders Nyxie Ryan and Hollie Williams (Sunshine Coast Qld) to narrow the gap as they continue their campaigns at Cronulla. ‘The conditions were tricky out there for sure. I knew it’d just be best to stay as busy as I could,’ said Ryan. ‘I haven’t looked at the rankings too much as I’m focusing mainly on the event and just trying to take every heat as it comes.’ Ryan has finished on the podium in three of the four
The Mullumumbimby Giants will face an uphill battle searching for their first win of the season playing away in this weekend’s derby against the in-form Byron Bay Red Devils. Despite a half-time lead of 12–6 the Giants lost their first home game of the season against Tweed Coast 24–14 last Sunday at the Les Donnelly Field. Without a win to their credit they are languishing at the bottom of the table along with the Evans Head Bombers. Tweed Coast have only lost one game this season and that was against Byron Bay, who have come out in good form under new captain coach Todd Carney. The Red devils sit in second place on the table after securing a 26-all draw against Cudgen on the weekend.
The Red Devils on the attack against Cudgen on the weekend. Photo Helen Buckly The Byron Bay Red Devils came away with a 26-all draw but not without a scare at the backend of the game. They led 12–10 at half time and then scored another two tries to go further in front. But with 12 minutes to go Cudgen threw out the challenge scoring three tries from a glut of possession mainly engineered by their half Harry Fitzhugh, who kicked
three 40-20s and at the same time restricted the Devils to one completion. ‘The fulltime hooter could not come quickly enough for the Bay, who were well and truly gassed,’ Byron’s Dave Garsed said. Next Sunday all the local rugby league action kicks off at 10.45 at Red Devil park in Byron with the main game kicking off at 2.45pm.
Ʒſşŕ ĎşŔĶŕëƐĕƆ 'ĶƆƐſĶĈƐ ëĶſƆ ćşƱōƆ Ǖ ŕëō Paul Clark and Gavin McPhail have won the District Pairs title by defeating Calin Hede and Sam Skehan 24–14 in an all-Byron Bay final played last Sunday on the Roy Wynter Green. ‘Calin and Sam put up a good contest and are to be complimented on their efforts to get so far,’ the club’s Syl Reid said. Paul and Gavin will get to play for the Zone title later in the year.
Players celebrate the District Pairs final. Photo supplied
Groms bring it on in Bali Nyxie Ryan in action at Bells Beach, a WSL Pro Junior event. Photo Ethan Smith/SNSW events in the series so far, and is currently in second place on the JQS Australasian ratings.
Soli at Bells Bells Beach was pumping at the second stop of the WSL World Championship Tour and John John Florence and Courtney Conlogue rose to the challenge to ring the bell. After a dismal start in small lumpy waves, the ocean came to life with big waves for the last two days. The swell peaked on the second-last day with fourmetre sets thundering into
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the Bells bowl. Numerous boards were broken and competitors were washed over the bare rock ‘button’ at Winkipop as jet skis rushed in to rescue them and take them back out to the take-off zone. Byron Bay’s Soli Bailey would have thrived in the solid conditions but unfortunately he was eliminated earlier in the competition in lacklustre surf at Winkipop in round three by Connor Coffin in a tight battle. Bailey won US $10,500 and is now in equal 23rd position on the WSL ratings ladder heading into the next round in Bali.
Byron Bay’s Duke Wrencher and Oska and Teo Martin from Ocean Shores have returned home from a surfing competition in Bali over Easter with quality results. The BL Blast Off was run by Barton Lynch and Hurley and was held over five days at Bingin on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula. It comprised an international field in four age divisions for boys and girls. The competition was blessed with a solid swell midway through the week, which saw an unprecedented high standard of surfing from all. Duke finished third in the U/14s, Oska third in the U/10s, and Teo came second in the U/8s.
The younsters had plenty of fun in Bali. Photo supplied
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