WEATHER

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds.

Northern Tablelands District:

Partly cloudy. Patches of frost and the chance of fog on and west of the ranges in the morning. Slight chance of a shower in the north. Light winds.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower in the north. Patches of morning frost on and west of the ranges. Light winds becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the day.

New South Wales: Fine and mostly sunny, apart from the chance of isolated showers in the northeast, mainly near the coast. Morning frost patches about the ranges, slopes and southern inland, and areas of morning fog inland. Daytime temperatures around average. Light and variable winds, tending southerly in the northeast.

Thursday. Isolated showers in the far northeast and developing across the far south during the day. Fine and partly cloudy elsewhere. Morning frost patches and areas of fog about the ranges and inland. Daytime temperatures near average. Northeast to northwesterly winds, freshening along the coastal fringe in the afternoon. Winds tending southeasterly in the northeast.

Byron Coast: Winds: Southerly 10 to 15 knots turning southeasterly during the afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. Coffs Coast:

Winds: South to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots turning southeasterly below 10 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Gold Coast Waters: Winds: Southeast to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots tending southeasterly during the morning. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Tim Howard

The Grafton Ghosts have clung to fourth spot in the Group 2 Rugby League competition despite a 28-18 loss to Woolgoolga on Saturday.

The Ghosts held the lead twice in a match that could have lifted them to third spot on the ladder, but lost their way with a combination of ill-discipline and a couple of questionable refereeing decisions in the fnal stages.

The Sea Horses were quick out of the blocks with second rower Jake Elphick scoring in the opening minutes of the half.

But the lead was short lived with the Ghosts scoring a well worked try through fullback Toby McIntosh and winger Wirri Boland.

The Ghosts had put on their pet play on the left edge giving big centre and captain Dylan Collett a shot at the line.

The defence pulled him up a metre short, but McIntosh jumped into dummy half and slipped a quick pass to Boland who plunged over in the corner.

Halfback Cooper Woods nailed the conversion to make it 6-6, but better was to come for the Ghosts a few minutes later.

Capitalising on a penalty from a play the ball infringement, the Ghosts were able to attack the Woolgoolga line from about 30m out.

Woods threw a pass to fve-eighth Koopah Walters, who found himself confronted by Sea Horses second rower Emanuel Sutton.

The number 6 threw a delightful dummy and glided past the stunned backrower to score near the posts. Woods converted to give the Ghosts a deserved lead.

The referee was having problems with the play the ball and some questionable decisions clearly frustrated both teams.

Midway through the half it came to a head after a couple of strange decision against both teams.

Woolgoolga players remonstrated with the referee after he ruled a player had lost the ball while getting to his feet after the tackle.

Unhappy with what he heard he penalised the Sea Horses and when the chat didn’t stop, marched them another 10 metres downfeld.

The game changed for the Ghosts with a bizarre try from an aimless chip ahead from Woolgoolga

BALLINA MAHJONG 02ND AUGUST 2024

Margaret Bryant 1, Val Heinritz 2, Jeanette Henwood 3, Ronda Taylor 4, Shirley Atkinson 5, Coral Lavelle 6, Barbara Ellan 7, Vanessa Reynolds 8, Wendy Thornton 9, Joy Lowien 10, Lynda Lovett 11, Janene Jarvis, Valda McLerie 12, Jan Boardman 14, Kath Hubbard 15, Susan Scott 16, Pauline Kearney 17, Jane Fenech, Linda Lloyd 18, Gail McDonagh, Jan Small 20, Carol Meyer 22, Cindy Smith 23, Lisa Wong 24, Ramsay Roper 25, Kathy Pickles 26, Pam Farrell 27, Pauline Kearney, half Tyler Murden. The kick bounced up near the Grafton posts and second rower Malcolm Scott easily cleaned it up.

But big Sea Horses forward Jackson Gissinger spotted an opportunity and ripped the ball away from Scott to score under the posts.

Murden kicked the conversion, bringing Woolgoolga level with 10 minutes left to go in the half.

It proved to be a disastrous 10 minutes for the Ghosts.

Woolgoolga came close to snatching the lead when fve-eighth

Jason McGrady skirted across feld and ficked a pass to winger Coen Van Dugteren, only for desperate defence to bundle him over the sideline a metre out. A few minutes later the Ghosts had a similar chance at the other end of the feld when Walters chipped over the top for Collett to chase, but he was forced over the sideline.

But it was the referee who had the biggest say in the fnal minutes of the half.

Woolgoolga were hard on attack when the referee pinged the Ghosts three times in succession for high tackles and slowing play. With play entering stoppage time, the referee signalled he’d had enough when Collett brought down a Woolgoolga player 10m out from the line and didn’t get off him quickly enough.

He put the Ghosts skipper in the bin and within minutes

Woolgoolga used the opportunity, when McGrady scored in the corner where Collett, a noted defender, would have been positioned.

Murden’s conversion went wide, but Woolgoolga had snatched the lead at a vital time fo the game and their opponents were a player down for the opening minutes of the half.

Fortunately the Ghosts were able to keep Woolgoolga out when the half resumed and about 14 minutes into the half snatched the lead back when Walters scored his second try for the game.

Receiving the ball with the defence back pedalling Walters again demonstrated his ball skills with a show and go with an angled run to the left corner.

Woods converted to give the Ghosts the lead with about 25 minutes on the clock.

Both teams had their chance in the following minutes, but luck favoured Woolgoolga when the referee construed a lost ball when a Woolgoolga player appeared to knock down a pass as a Ghosts knock on.

Gifted feld position the Sea Horses’ hard working lock Michael Curnow accelerated past a couple of tired defenders to score near the posts.

Once in front 22-18, Woolgoolga then worked hard to close out the match.

Just a few minutes later they turned to their match winning centre Shayde Perham, who bounced out of fve attempted tackles to score under the posts for the match sealer.

In the fnal minutes of the game, Woolgoolga ran down the clock when a player stayed down with an injury as time ticked away.

It was a disappointing result for the home team, who would feel they had their chances.

Some 50/50 decisions cost them, but so did ill discipline and some tired defence on their goal line.

Yvonne Weddup 28, Diana Auret 30, Susan Allan 31, Jan Henley 32 Friday at 12:30pm at the Ballina Bridge Club North Creek Road. Enquiries for new players phone Shirley on 0423384647.

CASINO SOCIAL GOLF RESULTS 04-08-2024

The Monthly medal was won by Philip Piccoli with a net score of 22 from Dave Roberts with 27. The putting trophy went to W. Jackson with 15 putts and C.Hatfeld won the players draw. Nearest to pins: 8th & 15th, J.Rankin. 9th, 12th &

17th, M.Gooding. 10th, D.Slade. 11th, T.Jenkins. 13th, W.Jackson. 14th, B.Yates. 16th, D.Roberts. 18th, C.Hatfeld. Next Sunday’s event sponsored by Richmond Valley Meats in the RSM Shopping Village Casino will be a two person ambros on the bottom 10 holes and visitors are welcome to play with hit off from 6-30am till 7-30am.

CASINO WOMEN’S BOWLS RESULTS

On Wednesday 31/7 we had 2 rinks of Major Pairs rounds:

Julie Creighton & Mary Mead def K. Jonsson & Ivy Watson

Denise Skinner & Helen Lavelle def Judy Carthew & Annette James

Congratulations to the winners & good luck in your next games

Minor Pairs club champions for 2024

Julie Creighton & Ivy Watson

CHERRY STREET CROQUET CLUB SPORTS RESULTS ASSOCIATION

CROQUET:

P.Waters T.Hume 12 d

P.Hume G.Porter 11

Club Championships

Division 3 : S.Hume 9 d G.Drew 7 RICOCHET

CROQUET : R.Allen D.Cummings

5 d J.Doust C.Edlund 4

P.Bolte 12 d B.Bill

M.Russell 9

J.Hannigan 13 d P.Scott 10

R.Poynting G.Porter 9 d P.Waters N.Poynting 8

J.Doust J.Hannigan 14 d R.Allen N.Barnes 10

J.Bate M.Field 19 d

M.Russell A.Mangan 5

H.Young N.Poynting 9 d P.Bolte P.Scott 8

G.Kerr R.Poynting 14 d G.Drew D.Scott 8

Cherry Street Croquet

Club Friendship Day

Sunday 18th August 9am start.

All Welcome Players & Non Players.

CORAKI VETERANS

GOLF RESULTS

THURSDAY 1/8/24

Results August monthly medal Winner B Micheal, vets winner T McBurney 2nd W Lunnon, 3rd R Thorne, free game R Gacioppa, chicken/balls J Ellis, K Lloyd, G Brown, P Buggy, G Tait, P Martin, S Reddell, T Foster, R Ellis. Nearest pins 3rd/12 G Brown, 6th/15th J Ellis putting comp B Micheal.

This Thursday will see the start of our championships played over four weeks with the best three out of the four rounds to count, best of luck to all golfers. AS USUAL TILL THEN GOOD GOLFING

The Lismore Turf Club, in collaboration with prominent Lismorebased horse syndication business Viva Racing, is excited to announce signifcant enhancements for September’s Rodney Lees Cabinetmaking Lismore Cup Carnival. This year marks a historic change as the Lismore Cup will be held on Friday, September 27, for the frst time ever.

In addition to the new Friday schedule, the event will expand with the inaugural Viva Racing Lismore Cup Golf Day and Calcutta, set to tee off on Thursday, September 26, at the Lismore Golf Club.

Scott Jones, Secretary Manager of the Lismore Turf Club, expressed enthusiasm about the changes, stating, “Moving the Cup to a Friday presents an exciting opportunity for the future of the event. It allows us to expand our offerings and ensures minimal disruption to local businesses, making it easier for them to participate and support this iconic event.”

Jones added, “Adding the Viva Racing Lismore Cup Golf Day and Calcutta to the calendar made perfect sense. We’ve always aimed to expand the Lismore Cup into a multi-day event to add value for our attendees and bring more economic benefts to Lismore. This year, we’re especially eager to see the positive impact of these changes on our community.”

The four-man Ambrose golf event promises an afternoon of fun and competition, featuring a delicious BBQ lunch and a lively atmosphere. Participants will have the chance to win incredible prizes, including an impressive $200,000 for a hole-in-one on the 2nd hole.

Whether you’re an avid golfer or just looking for a great day out, the Viva Racing Lismore Cup Golf Day is a fantastic addition to the Lismore Cup carnival. Following the Golf Day, the excitement continues with the Lismore Cup Calcutta, hosted upstairs at the Lismore Golf Club. Each participating team will receive $200 worth of Calcutta tickets, perfect for getting into the racing spirit for the Cup the next day.

Tickets for the Viva Racing Lismore Cup Golf Day and Calcutta are $600 per team, with a maximum of 36 teams available. Each team entry includes four general admission tickets to the Rodney Lees Cabinetmaking Lismore Cup.

For more information about the carnival, including event tickets, food and drink packages, the Viva Racing VIP marquee, and to register for the Viva Racing Lismore Cup Golf Day and Calcutta, visit www. lismoreturfclub.com. au.

The Sydney Swans AFL Women’s team is set to bring their electrifying presence to Coffs Harbour, with a highly anticipated competition clash against the Richmond Tigers on Saturday, September 14, at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium.

Tickets for the SwansRichmond Tigers AFLW match are now available for purchase.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Sydney Swans AFLW team to our beautiful city,” said City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos.

“This event is a fantastic opportunity for the community to experience top-tier AFLW action right here in Coffs Harbour.”

The Swans’ men’s and women’s teams enjoyed a successful pre-season camp in Coffs Harbour earlier this year, further cementing the city’s status as a premier sports destination.

The 2024 NAB

AFLW competition kicks off on August 30, with the Swans hosting Collingwood.

The upcoming match in Coffs Harbour is particularly exciting, as it features two closely matched teams from the 2023 season, with the Swans fnishing eighth and the Tigers tenth.

“This match is a testament to the growing popularity and inclusivity of AFLW, and we couldn’t be more excited to showcase

Coffs Harbour as a premier entertainment destination,” said Chris Chapman, City Planning and Communities Director for the City of Coffs Harbour.

Don’t miss the chance to witness this thrilling AFLW clash and support the Sydney Swans. Get your tickets now and be part of an unforgettable sporting event. For ticket purchases and more information, visit Coffs International Stadium

The NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) state lawn bowls championships was held in early July at Warilla Bowling Club.

Northern Rivers Bowls was represented by four junior bowlers in the region, Cameron Sutherland, Shae Fuller and Phoebe Fuller of Evans Head and Ballina’s Archie Hurrell.

The junior bowlers performed to their best, being one of the frst to roll up each day and remaining behind after the days play to continue practicing.

Overall, there were some very tough competitors including Warilla Platinum Pennants representative, Travis Moran, current NSW under-18 Singles and Pairs champion, Chanel Chakouch, and current NSW under-25 rep squad member Shelby Powell.

Shae Fuller of Evans Head was selected to be part of the NSW CHS State lawn bowls team as one of the top bowlers of the state tournament. Shae Fuller was chosen as one of 20 students to represent

NSW public high schools as part of the NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) team.

Shae now has the opportunity to trial for the NSW All Schools

Shae Bowling

(Public, Catholic and Independent) team which will be held at Merrylands Bowling Club on Monday August 5th, 2024. The selected team will then go on to compete at the School Sport Australia Bowls Championships to be held at Geelong in September.

Jack McMaster, North Coast Lawn Bowls Convenor of Evans Head School said he is really proud of the performance of the junior bowlers who represented the Northern Rivers region.

“Shae’s selection in particular is a fantastic achievement,” he said.

“I think it is important to showcase this achievement for one of our Northern Rivers juniors and it is very welcoming to also see Northern Rivers junior championships on the bowls calendar this year.”

GARY NICHOLS

Games between the Grafton Redmen and SCU Marlins are always a close affair and Saturday’s fnal round game was no different with Marlins holding on for a tense 10-5 victory. In a game highlighted by defence, Marlins ran in two tries to Grafton’s one with both goal kickers failing to land a single conversion or penalty goal.

Marlin’s fullback Jack Canning had a dismal day with the boot missing several penalty attempts from in front of the uprights which could have given the visitors some much needed breathing space on the scoreboard.

Grafton had their chances to score throughout the contest but fell short.

What looked like a certain fve-pointer on the stroke of halftime was ruled a no-try by the referee and on at least three occasions players were held up over the tryline thanks to Marlin’s desperate defence.

Grafton will now need to regroup for their minor-semi-fnal clash against Marlins next

Sunday in Coffs Harbour.

Grafton second grade wrapped up the Mid North Coast minor premiership with a 69-0 drubbing of Marlins who had no answer to Grafton’s free-fowing attack.

The Redmen ran in 11-unanswered tries in a one-sided affair.

The visitors failed to stem the fow of points with their “turnstile defence” and inability to put points on the board.

Grafton have booked a place in Saturday’s major semi-fnal against Coffs Snappers which will be played in Port Macquarie.

Lismore has reinforced its position as the state’s regional sporting hub with the opening of Oakes Oval and Crozier Field after a $12.4 million upgrade to the facilities.

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg was joined by Member of Lismore Janelle Saffn and Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan for the opening.

Mayor Krieg said the completion of the extensive upgrade would be a further boost to the community and economy as the city continues to recover from the February 2022 natural disaster.

“Unfortunately, the project was delayed because of the disaster, but it’s open now and ready to be used and cherished by the community,” he said.

“Local sports fans can now enjoy the best of the best playing right here in our hometown – I am a huge sports fan and I’m personally really excited.

“I’m a great believer in the power of sport to create healthy communities and foster great relationships and the new Oakes Oval and Crozier Field will be a focal point for live sports as well as training, workshops and school events.

Sport is something Lismore was built on and the upgrade of these two felds will help ensure it remains a tradition here for many years to come.”

Representing NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper, Lismore MP and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffn said Lismore deserved frst-class sporting facilities delivered by this landmark upgrade.

“I’m pleased that the NSW Government awarded $4.9 million in funding -- $4.5 million through the Offce of Sport under the Regional Sport Infrastructure Fund and $400,000 through Regional NSW under the Stronger Country Communities Fund,” Ms Saffn said.

“This project is another example of all levels of government working together to create a fantastic sporting precinct for all sportsmad people, myself included, here in Lismore and Northern Rivers region.”

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the upgraded complex would also be good news for local businesses as they continue to recover.

“Sport brings millions of dollars into our economy each year and this important upgrade will enable us to host national games that will bring more visitors to the city and put more money in the pockets of local businesses,” he said.

Works undertaken at Oakes Oval include a new media and coaches boxes, change room upgrades, upgrade of Grandstand including new seating and the internal refurbishment to the Gordon Pavilion that includes a function room, bar and kitchen, upgraded amenities, accessible amenities and storeroom.

At Crozier, works included a new pavilion off the back of the existing grandstand, which includes as function room, commercial kitchen, amenities, a lift, offce space, coaches boxes and viewing deck for both felds. Old change rooms have been upgraded and another one constructed.

Across the Precinct, three new amenities blocks have been constructed, two scoreboards upgraded, construction of spectator mounds, new cricket facility training nets to a national standard, landscaping and new perimeter fencing installed.

The project was funded by the Australian Government ($6 million), the NSW Government’s Regional Sport Infrastructure Fund ($4.5 million) and Stronger Country Communities ($400,000), and Lismore City Council ($1.5 million).