SPORT

Rams finish season with strong win ahead of semi-final

BYRON Bay FC have completed the regular season with a strong win over historical rivals Richmond Rovers to finish in second places heading into the semi-finals.

The Rams were in the hunt for first place and a second-straight Pointscore Championship but needed South Lismore to drop points against Goonellabah for a the trophy to be a possibility.

The match started with lots of promise for Byron with the Rams getting an early lead after a Diego Vazquez free kick beat the wall and swung into the top corner.

Once the goal was scored,

Byron took their foot off the pedal somewhat with the rest of the half turning into a cagey affair. The Rams continued to launch some promising attacks but were unable to find the net with

Rovers competing well and creating some opportunities of their own.

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After the half time break, Byron stepped-up a gear to wrestle back full control of the match. This new dominance was rewarded when Vazquez scored his second: doubling the lead Photo: Goal scorerDiego Vazquez. Credit: dogwhistle

with a rocket from outside the box.

From that moment there was no doubt about the result, and Oli Stautner sealed the win. Working hard all game, the industrious midfielder created plenty of scoring chances during the match and converted one himself after combining with young Luca Twomey and Vazquez.

Heading to the sheds after the game, all attention turned to the South Lismore game to know if Byron would finish the regular season as Pointscore Champions. Unfortunately for the Rams, South Lismore defeated Goonellebah 2-0 to keep Byron in second position.

Semi-Finals start next week with Byron Bay taking on local rivals Bangalow. Match details will be published on byronbayfc.com.au when

confirmed.

THERE are some long faces at the Ballina Cherry Street Croquet Lawns this week, as the players are having another enforced break with the lawns closed for the annual maintenance for up to 6 weeks. Members had only recently returned to restricted play, since the Covid shutdown, with strict adherence to social distancing and hygiene, even to washing the balls and hoops.

The Ballina Cherry Street Croquet Club are in their 10th year since forming, but had cancelled celebrations due to the Covid 19 restriction. There will be much to celebrate once back to ‘living and playing with Covid’ Croquet.

Croquet is fun for all ages, we have 90-year-old members, the majority of members in their 80’s, plus quite a few newly retired members or are still working, down to year 12 students learning the intricacies earlier in the year. Members enjoy the game in its three forms—association, ricochet, and golf.

We range from beginners to winners, being holders of the NRCA Championships plus our

Club Secretary, David Scott, has been invited to play in the NSW GC Invitation Tournament, with Ray Chapman, Club Captain, an entrant in the Queensland State Ricochet championships

In this time of inaction, the lawns will be rejuvenated to give us top class croquet lawns, a result of the ability of the green keepers and the support given by Cherry Street Sports Club, of which the Ballina Cherry Street Croquet Club is a sub club.

Our Members recently were proud to donate $1100.00 to the Ballina Hospital Auxiliary.

This was donated from refunds received from Croquet New South Wales, due to cancellations of activities, and forwarded on, as we were unable to hold our annual Charity Day in their favour.

Our 2020 Committee, recently elected at our AGM is President - Robbie Allen, vice president - Peter Hume, secretary - David Scott, Club captain - Ray Chapman, vice-captain - Greg Porter, treasurer - Faye Duncan and publicity - Norma Watts.

For any enquiries, email: cherrystreetcroquet@yahoo.com or phone secretaryDavid Scott on 0414 241 290.

Uncle Joe’s artwork features on Rabbitohs Indigenous round jerseys

YAMBA’S Uncle Joe Walker’s talented Koori artwork has been recognised after designing traditional themes depicting totems on the South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League jerseys for the traditional NRL Indigenous round in the 2020 competition.

Born in Casino Uncle Joe Walker has a strong love for Rugby League, and for many years played with the Tabulam Turtle Divers team in the Northern NSW Regional competition.

Unlce Joe’s priceless contribution to Koori culture and the NRL was recognised recently in Federal Parliament by the Member for Page Kevin Hogan.

The launch of Surfing Mental Health 360

WITH many young people having to cope with a new strange world of border closures, changes at school, lack of employment opportunities and lockdowns that have been driven by the pandemic it’s great news to hear that Surfing NSW announced the launch of its new Surfing Mental Health 360 program on the eve of R U OK? Day.

Surfing Mental Health 360 is a surf community-driven program connecting board riders clubs, surf schools and high schools in communities affected by drought, bushfires and Covid-19. As part of the program, Surfing NSW has teamed up with five Surfing Mental Health organisations - Batyr, Waves of Wellness, The Good Human Factory, Man Anchor and The Rise Foundation - who will all be working together through the sport of surfing with a holistic view to create awareness and provide ongoing referrals and support pathways.

Surfing Mental Health 360 is jointly funded by The NSW Mental Health Sports Fund, CommBank South Coast Bushfire Relief Grant and Randwick City clubGRANTS.

Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor launched the initiative at Surfing NSW headquarters at Maroubra Beach today. She said the ‘Surfing Mental Health 360’ program will deliver programs aimed at boosting the mental health and wellbeing in communities impacted by drought. “This community-driven program is connecting board riders’ clubs, surf schools and high schools to trusted mental health organisations that can help them build their mental fitness from the

ground up,” Mrs Taylor said.

“Surfing has a great way of bringing people from all walks of life together and this program will empower them to have the right conversations about improving their wellbeing and knowing when it’s time to put their hand up for help.”

Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden

NEW PRESIDENT READY TO PLAY COVID-19 GOOGLIES

By Tim Howard

A POWER vacuum at the top of the Clarence River Cricket Association has drawn in a reluctant leader to guide the organisation through what promises to be difficult times.

Although he has led the GI Hotel Tucabia Copmanhurst Cricket Club for the past four seasons, new CRCA president Derek Woods freely admits he lacks experience at this level.

With former president Tim Kinnane moving out of the area due to work commitments, the association annual meeting could not find a new president.

“Someone had to do it, so I put up my hand. In these uncertain times you can’t leave these sorts of decisions for too long, so I decided I would have a crack,” Woods said.

Woods said the association’s meeting last week had made some important decisions including fixing a start date for the senior competition, October 17.

“It’s two weeks later than we’d normally do it, but we’ve got the winter sports finishing their competitions later, which has created some conflicts over ground usage,” he said.

He said there was some positives to come this season with the CRCA fielding teams in three grades for the first time in several seasons.

“We haven’t had second grade for a fair while now,” he said. “This year we’ve got four teams in first grade, four in second grade and five in thirds.”

The CRCA has also filled a void in junior cricket as the competition threatened to fold due to lack of people willing to serve on the junior executive.

“We’re running the juniors ourselves through a sub-committee system. It’s unfortunate the juniors have folded because this year wanted to build on an increase in the playing numbers,” he said.

The association has also flagged a number of playing condition brought about by COVID-19.

Woods said one that was particularly relevant for the juniors was a rule forbidding sharing equipment.

“The clubs are getting around this by loaning out equipment to players until the end of the season,” he said.

“It’s a real issue in juniors with players getting into the game normally able to use pads, bats and other equipment in the club kit.

“We don’t want to put off people by forcing them to spend $100 or more on cricket gear for a child wanting to try the game for the first time.”

Although inexperienced, Woods is keen to create a mark in local cricket, and he believes working with the Lower Clarence association to better the game in the region is the place to start.

“I’d like to foster closer relations with the Lower Clarence association.Both associations have struggled with numbers over the past few seasons, so it makes sense to put our heads together,” he said.

Woods said he would like to see some rounds of games where CRCA and LCCA teams played each other during the season.

“It might be a few one dayers where clubs from both areas played each other,” he said.

“At the moment it’s just a talking point, but it’s something that I want to work on for the betterment of the game here.” stated: “Surfing NSW recognises the vital role that surfing can play in preventing, treating, educating and supporting sufferers of mental illness. In partnership with these fantastic mental health service partners mentioned above, this project is tailored to regional communities who suffer mental health issues.”

This project demonstrates a valuable, collaborative and cost-effective way to deliver health care by enabling board riders clubs and surf schools to be on the ground with the mental health first aid accreditation and knowledge to support. The team at Batyr will attend high schools across the coast to discuss mental health amongst teenagers while Man Anchor and Rise Foundation are accrediting first aiders within our affiliated board riders clubs to provide initial support to other adults who may be experiencing a mental health problem and the team at WOW are offering ocean therapy to our affiliated surf schools.

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Verity Charles in red hot form for selection

By Tim Howard

GRAFTON netball’s brightest export Verity Charles has polished her game to the extent she’s ready for the Australian Diamonds according to former national coach Lisa Alexander.

Speaking on the ABC sports talk show Offsiders on Sunday, Alexander said Charles, who Clarence Valley netball fans will remember as Verity Simmons, should be a player Australian selectors look at closely.

The West Coast Fever midcourter has the eye of a key figure in the selection puzzle, newly-appointed Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich.

She has put the Fever on a six-game winning streak since the surprise announcement on August 28 she would end Alexander’s eight-year tenure.

On Sunday Alexander said one of the key players behind the winning streak was Charles, 29, who should be considered for a Diamonds mid-court position.

“They’ve got some great players in great form, particularly Verity Charles, and I think she’ll be putting her hand up for selection in the Diamonds squad and the team, perhaps,” Alexander said.

Charles turned in a typically tough and skilful performance on Saturday when the Fever upset defending champions, the NSW Swifts 80-71.

The midcourt, acknowledged as the the Fever’s engine room, dominated the Swifts for most of the game.

Charles’ stats for the game were outstanding with 25 goal assists and 35 feeds along with Emma Cosh who contributed 20 goal assists, 23 feeds.

The win puts the Fever into

second spot on the Suncorp Super Netball ladder.

Captain Courtney Bruce said she’s delighted in the way her team has stepped up this season.

“Everyone’s just taken another step forward and everyone is taking that individual accountability,” said Bruce.

“You can see it in the change room,everyone’s just zoned in the moment we get here and really knowing what they need to do to perform and once you have 12 players knowing what they need to do and stepping up, it gets us the outcome that we need.”

Meanwhile Charles’ red hot form for the Fever appears to have upset Brisbane fans, who allegedly spat at her when she was out to dinner with teammates on Saturday night.

In 2014 Charles was a member of the Brisbane Firebirds team that made the grand final in the ANZ Championship and the 2015 team that took the title.

In 2016 she returned to the West Coast, where she began her professional career in 2012.

Former Australian Diamond and ex-Fever star Nat Medhurst took to social media to slam the behaviour as “not acceptable”.

“If reports of FBirds supporters spitting on Super Netball player Verity Charles is correct, then I sure as hell hope the club and league take action on these people ASAP,” she tweeted.

“Our sport can’t keep getting caught sitting on its hands and not taking action quick enough!!”

In a statement, Fever said they do not condone any negative behaviour from members of the public towards our players.

“The incident that took place between one of our players and four members of the general public on Saturday night is very disappointing,” the club said.

“West Coast Fever continues to provide all the support that our players need to continue to live in the Queensland hub safely.

“The club would like to thank the Queensland Firebirds who reached out to offer their support.”

Super Netball is yet to release a statement on the incident.

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