Sports

Rebels and Ghosts to face off in semi

TIM HOWARD

The South Grafton Rebels will meet cross town rivals the Grafton Ghosts on Saturday to decide which Grafton team carries the Jacaranda City’s banner further in the Group 2 Rugby League Premiership.

The Rebels’ 10-week winning streak came to an end on Sunday at the hands of the Woolgoolga Sea Horses with a heartbreaking 34-30 qualifying fnal loss at Woolgoolga.

Both sides scored six tries and the lead changed four times in a thrilling and surprisingly brutal encounter at Woolgoolga Sportsground on Sunday.

It was a win that tested the depth of the home team as brilliant fve-eighth Jason McGrady was helped from the feld with what appears to be a serious knee injury early in the game.

He had been on the ground screaming in pain and clutching his leg after a heavy tackle.

The Rebels scored soon after when fve-eighth Hughie Stanley unleashed a towering kick winger Izack Smidt couldn’t handle.

His opposite number Luke French swooped on the crumbs and sprinted 30m to score in the corner. Kicker Grant Brown’s conversion attempt hit the upright.

French was in the thick of the action again minutes later when he ran onto a cut out pass from Stanley which put him into the clear.

As the defence closed he picked up centre Nick McGrady backing up who ran round under the posts to touch down.

But the lead was shortlived.

Minutes later McGrady’s replacement, Blake Seymour, picked up a ball from dummy half and ran 15m to score under the posts for the softest try of the afternoon.

It was the next score that set the alarm bells ringing for the Ghosts when Woolgoolga fullback and captain Dane O’Hehir unleashed a towering bomb none of the Rebels back three wanted to defuse.

It bounced obligingly for the chasers and hooker Joel Collinson scored under the posts.

The try set a pattern for the match as O’Hehir would repeatedly bomb the Rebels fullback and wingers, who struggled to catch the kicks that seem to change direction as they headed back to earth.

But with ball in hand it was the Rebels who were in control.

They quickly snatched back the lead when Gallagher slipped through a tackle and linked with fullback Keiron JohnsonHeron, who scored under the posts.

In the frst set from the kick-off the Rebels were on attack again when centre Thomas McGrady burst through some weak tackles and found Gallagher in support, who scored just to the left of the uprights.

But Woolgoolga had the last laugh in the half with three tries in the last 10 minutes including one from a spilled bomb on the stroke of half time that gave Woolgoolga a 28-22 half time lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the frst with the Rebels screaming out of the blocks to put winger Brian QuinlinRandall over for two tries in fve minutes.

But that was the end of the scoring for the Rebels, who defended their line resolutely but surrendered two more tries from bombs to surrender a lead they could not regather.

After the game coach Ron Gordon praised his team.

“It was a bit disappointing, but in the end they were the better team,” he said.

“Their kicker is really good. Our fullback, Keiron Johnson-Heron, is usually pretty safe under the high ball, but he struggled today.

“I think they must have done a bit of video on our wingers (French and Quinlin-Randall) and he targeted them all afternoon.”

But he was happy with the way his team competed, scoring fve of their six tries with ball in hand.

“They scored a few soft tries, we probably got a couple of fairly soft tries,” he said. “It was one of those games where you could never sit back in your seat.”

Rebels prop Ryan Binge crashes into the Woolgoolga defence during their qualifying fnal at Woolgoolga Sportsground on Sunday. SCORES

Woolgoolga 34: Blake Seymour, Joel Collinson, Dane O’hehir, Matt Golsby, Ethan Duncombe, Izack Smidt Tries. Ethan Duncan 5 goals, def South Grafton 30: Luke French, Nicholas McGrady, Keiron Johnson-Heron, Jordan Gallagher, Brian Quinlin-Randall 2 tries. Grant Brown 3 goals.

Grafton cricket remains leaderless

TIM HOWARD

Clarence cricket is still leaderless after a reconvened annual meeting failed to elect a president and secretary.

The meeting, at the Grafton District Services Club last Thursday, was attended by nearly 20 people, representing the six clubs making up the CRCA competition.

The entire CRCA executive from 2021-22: president Bruce Baxter, vice president Derek Woods, secretary Judy Disson and treasurer John Blanch stood down, leaving the entire executive vacant.

South Services delegate Anthony Dickson was the sole nominee for vice president and Andrew McLachlan, who was not at the meeting, nominated for treasurer.

Both were elected unopposed.

It was a different story when nominations were called for president and secretary and the positions were declared vacant.

Earlier the meeting heard reports from the outgoing president and treasurer.

Baxter thanked the CRCA major sponsor, the GDSC and the sponsors of the night cricket competition, Cleavers Mechanical.

He paid tribute to the work of his fellow executive as well as registrar and score recorders Maxine White and Rhonda Adamson, the umpires, curators Tony Blanch and Derek Woods and match day workers Adam Brown and Rick Bender.

He said the experiment in third grade of having older players and juniors competing together had been a success.

He was also pleased that the second grade competition had been played exclusively on turf wickets, which was good for the development of younger players.

Baxter was pleased at the growth of the Cleavers Mechanical Night competition, which had attracted nine teams and in the next season would need to play to games a week.

He noted the CRCA six club competition was a rarity in NSW country cricket and the absence of inter district cricket was hindering the development of talented young cricketers.

He urged young players to take part in the early season North Coast Zone Twenty/20 cricket carnival to give them access the Big Bash competition later in the season.

Blanch’s treasurer’s report revealed the CRCA to be $28,762 in the black with 2021-22 income of $41,000 and expenses of $34,000 generating a surplus $7166.91.

He also revealed investments of $19,657 had accumulated $474 through the year.

The meeting rolled through the appointments of offce bearers without fuss until it reached the payment of honoraria for the offce bearers.

Baxter said the computerisation of scorecards did not require two people and he moved that Maxine White’s payment of $200 be increased because of the extensive amount of work she did for the association behind the scenes.

After some discussion the meeting agreed to raise her payment to $500 for the season.

The meeting also increase fees for curators to $100 per wicket from $80. It was revealed curators in some other associations received between $120 and $150 a wicket.

Other payments, $450 to the secretary, $350 to the president and $350 to the treasurer, remained the same.

The meeting also dealt with three notices of motion, including one from the outgoing president.

Baxter.

South Services delegate Dylan Cleaver sought to change to CRCA rules penalising clubs for non-attendance at meetings.

He moved it be changed from clubs being penalised seven competition points to a monetary fne of $150 and a single competition point in each grade the offending club competed in.

But this proved unpopular with clubs noting this tended to suit the richer clubs, who could shun the meetings and pay the fnes. They noted meeting attendances had improved after the points penalty system was introduced.

Another notice of motion, from Baxter, seeking to clarify playing conditions in fnals where weather bad light shortened playing time, also failed.

Another motion to keep the player qualifcation for third grade fnals at four games, was successful.

CricketNSW volunteer support specialist Steve Meakin addressed the meeting about a new online record keeping system to be introduced around the state in place of the MyCricket app.

Meakin said the new system, called PlayHQ, would operate on similar lines to MyCricket, but ironed out some of that system’s bugs and allowed integration with other online administration and umpiring modules.

“The scoring experience will be very similar to the MyCricket system,” he said.

After the meeting Meakin met with club delegates to give them the information to allow them to set up their organisations for the coming season.

Because of the failure to elect a president and secretary it was decided to postpone the general meeting scheduled for after the annual meeting for August 25 at the GDSC.

Baxter said it would give the association time to fnd nominees for the president and secretary positions.

RAINBOW DRAGONS REGATTA IS BACK ON THE WATER

Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club, Lennox Head & Ballina, has waited a few years to welcome the Northern NSW dragon boat and local community back to their annual regatta at Shaw’s Bay, on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 August.

Even though this year’s foods have restricted most clubs’ training and regattas have been few and far between, the competitive bug is high and the paddlers are keen for a weekend of hard racing and socializing.

Jan Wright, President of Rainbow Dragons says ‘we’re also keen to fnally regatta-test Shaw’s Bay’s dredging and the new beach front completed a good year or two ago. We’re confdent that the paddlers who will descend upon on the “new” racecourse and the beach boat loading area will give it the thumbs-up.”

The community teams’ competition always adds fun and colour to the regatta. Each team has two training sessions, plans their team theme and costume then onto the water they go. Albeit teams are a bit short on this year but already there are teams making plans for 2023!

Rainbow Dragons wish to thank their generous and loyal sponsors especially during the past 3 years. A special thanks to our major sponsors- Jett’s Ballina, Just for Pets, Discovery Parks Ballina, LJ Signs and Shaw’s Bay Hotel.

The event is free. Spectators are welcome to this exciting alcohol-free venue. Food and drink on sale. Saturday: 11.30am Welcome to Country; 12.30-3.30pm 1 KM Chase Race & State of Origin. Sunday: 8.30am-3.30pm Community, men’s, women’s and mixed teams. Shaw’s Bay, via Pop Dennison Park

SPORTS RESULTS

BALLINA MAHJONG

12th August 2022

Jan Rhodes 1, Pauline Kearney 2, Rosemary Russell 3, Gail McDonagh 4, Joy Lowien 5, Shirley Atkinson 6, Val Heinritz 7, Lisa Wong 8, Kath Hubbard 9, Jan Henley 10, Diana Auret 11, Jeanette Henwood , Kathy Pickles 12, Jan Small 14, Jan Boardman 15, Coral Lavelle 16, Ronda Taylor 17, June Greenaway 18, Sally Lowry 19, Valda McLerie 20, Shirley Henry 21, Susan Allan 22, Yvonne Weddup 23, Gladys D’Anna, Pam Farrell 24, Shirley Coleman 26, Lorna Simpson 27.. Mahjong is played on Friday at 12:30pm at the Ballina Bridge Club North Creek Road. Enquiries for new players phone Vanessa on 66874181.

CASINO RSM WOMENS BOWLS

2022 Open Pairs Champions

H. Lavelle & D. Skinner Runners up were: N. Moran & M. Mead

Wednesday 10/8

Minor Consistency championship round: A. Williams def I. Watson. Congratulations.

We also played a social game & the results were: J. Creighton, R. Skirrey & A. McLean def D. Skinner, H. Lavelle & M. Mead

Friday 12/8

Today another round of the Minor Consistency championship was played & the results were: J. Creighton def J. Carthew There was also a social game played, well done to all ladies.

CASINO SOCIAL GOLF

14-08-2022

The single stroke on the bottom 10 was won by Ken Morgan with a net score of 24 from Gary Skennar with 31. The putting trophy went to G.Shephard with 12 putts and D.Slade won the players draw.Nearest to pins: 2nd, T.Jenkins. 3rd, M.Gooding. 4th & 18th, G.Randall.5th, W.Jackson. 6th, D.Diews. 7th, J.Rankin. 8th, R.Horseman. 17th, Vinny.

Next Sunday’s event sponsored by Richmond Valley Meats in the RSM shopping village, Casino will be a 2 ball aggregate on the top 11 holes and visitors are welcome to play with hit off from 6-30am till 7-30am. Northern Rivers Area Golf Croquet Handicap Singles Championships 2022. Werner Borkhardt 1st, Margaret Mitchell 2nd, Penny Scott 3rd.

CHERRY STREET CROQUET CLUB ASSOCIATION CROQUET: B.Reddy 15 d B.Hardy 14, G.Porter 21 d L.Hardy P.Hume 13 RICOCHET CROQUET: D.Scott N.Poynting 14 d P.Waters P.Doyle 10 R.Poynting B.Waters 5 d P.Scott B.Wellings 2 J.Doust P.Bolte 10 d A.Kelly R.Poynting 6 D.Jones N.Poynting 10 d M.Field J.Hannigan 8 P.Scott 14 d R.Allen R.Chapman 12

Club Handicap Doubles Championships: H.Young M.Russell 10 d P.Bolte G.Kerr 6 P.Waters B.Waters 5 d H.Young M.Russell 4

Singles Championships: D.Scott 16 d G.Kerr 5

Tournaments Northern Rivers Area Golf Croquet Championships: Singles Handicap: W.Borkhardt Byron Bay 1st. M.Mitchell Ballina 2nd. P.Scott Cherry Street 3rd. Semi Finalists: G.Drew, H.Mckay, S.Daley.

Singles Level Play: R.Chapman Cherry Street 1st, D.Scott Cherry Street 2nd. Semi Finalists: S.Daley, M.Hughes

Crusader Cup Doubles: W.Borkhardt, D.Tiffn Byron Bay 1st. D.Scott, R.Chapman Cherry Street 2nd. Semi Finalists: M.Gidding, M.Hughes, D.Matten, S.Hambly.

CORAKI VETERANS GOLF

Thursday 11/8/22

The second round of the vets championships was played 45 starters, winner G Brown, 2nd K Avery, 3rd M Bruggy free game T Duff, chicken/ball winners J Nilsson, T Beemster, R Rodda, B Micheal, J Perkins, B Waterson, G Tait, J Sauer, G O,Connor. Nearest pins 3rd/12th, T Newton, 6th/15th, J Sauer.

This Thursday will be the third round of the vets championships commencing with a shot gun start at 8.30am. Members playing in our open day please see the notice board for the draw. As usual till then good golfng, Max

EVANS HEAD WOMENS BOWLS CLUB

Ladies Social Day 10-08-22

2 Bowl Triples - Lucky Rink - Winners - C. Bond, J. Butcher, S. Downs. Runners/up - M. Playford, J. Guadian, V. Hart. 3rd. Place - T. Goode, E. Gollan, B. Montague.

Club Championship Major Pairs held 22nd June 2022. Winners - P. Weller & G. Marczan. Runners/up - B. Montague & L. Vidler. Congratulations to all Bowlers who participated in the Championships.

LISMORE WORKERS SPORTS BOWLING CLUB Tuesday winners were: J Jacobson, P Raleigh, M Rose - D Pearce, J Rose Friday Rocco, S Smart-R Hoskin. J Piper, S Savins, D Smart, W Partridge, L Bryant Championships: Jane rose def Carol Tait, Joy Piper def Elaine Bullman, Murry Rose Def Don Pearce

from back page

by MARGARET DEKKER

EIGHTEEN years after he frst competed in the World Surfng League’s infamous Teahupo’o round in Tahiti, Tweed Coast surfer Nathan Hedge has been handed a wildcard to the ‘2022 Outerknown Tahiti Pro.’ The 43-year old goofy-footer returns to the heaving left-hander, better known as “Chopes,” with his trademark vigour, positivity and gratitude. And a whole lot of inspiration for the ‘over-40’ crew.

Tweed journalist Margaret Dekker caught up with Nathan Hedge, a.k.a. ‘Hog’, on the eve of the main event happening now in the French Polynesia, and asked the local legend a few questions.

Q. Nathan (Hoggie) how did you feel when you were told triple world champion Gabriel Medina was out of the comp (injury) and you were in the ‘Outerknown Tahiti Pro’ as a wildcard?

I was ecstatic! I Immediately began to pack my surfboards, put my favourite music on, started jumping around the place, feelings of gratitude for this opportunity given I was in the fnal of this event 18 years earlier, mind blowing really. I felt proud of myself for the hard work I’ve put in to stay relevant and the dedication to keeping ft and committed to my surfng.

Q. What are you going to bring to the competition? What have you been refning, both skills-wise and mentally?

A. I’m going to bring an open mind to what is possible. Hopefully I can bring inspiration and motivation for people that know my journey and for people who may have given up on their dreams once hit 40. I’m bringing 12 surfboards. I’ve been refning my surfboards, working on designs that suit big hollow waves. I’ve been working on a lot of mobility and also a lot of breath work, being more effcient with my energy, practising being consciously aware, staying present in each moment.

Q. As a 43 year old competitor in a World Surfng League event, your wildcard stacks up as a very impressive achievement. What do you say to that?

A. I’m humbled, it’s an incredible achievement to be invited back in 2022 considering I made the fnal 18 years ago. I’m grateful for the opportunity, to my sponsors OuterKnown (presenting event wildcard.) But I’m also aware, know, I’ve earned this invitation through years and years of dedication, commitment, and passion to continually front up to this wave, experience upon experience, never giving up on my dream here.

Q. How do you credit the Tweed Coast as a ‘training ground’ for your ongoing, world-class surfng?

A. The consistency of the waves on the Tweed Coast means I can surf pretty much every day of the year round so it’s awesome for surf ftness and variety of waves, you can stay really well-rounded. It’s got incredible facilities and there’s a good vibe on the Tweed Coast, a very conducive breeding ground for Pro-surfng / athletes. It keeps me positive with a healthy environment, clean living and incredible food.

Q. Who, or what will you be surfng for when you’re out there and your heat starts?

A. I’ll be surfng for my family, doing myself proud and my wish is to inspire. Contest dates for the Outerknown Tahiti Pro are 11th-21st August; you can watch all the competition on the World Surf League app.

THE LONG, WILD RIDE

Wildcard entrant, Nathan Hedge, from Pottsville

Have Ghosts unleashed a new cult hero?

TIM HOWARD

The Grafton Ghosts have kept their 2022 Group 2 Rugby League premiership hopes alive with a barnstorming elimination semi-fnal win over Macksville at Frank McGuren Field on Saturday.

It was a return to the form for the Ghosts as they took control of the middle of the feld on the way to a six tries to two, 36-8, victory.

Although the Ghosts did not have a bad player, there were a couple of standout performances.

Fullback Cooper Woods was outstanding converting all six tries, four from the sideline or close to it.

And the club may have fund a new cult hero in powerhouse forward Dalton Shaw.

The strapping, longhaired front rower who turned up at the club last season looking for a game, has been eating up the metres in reserve grade for most of the season

Impressed selectors gave gave him his chance in frsts on Saturday and he let noone down.

The Ghosts crowd cheered every time he received the ball and charged up feld.

It was not uncommon for him to make multiple carries in a set, with each run as punishing as his last.

He also made few mistakes in the middle of the ruck, where the Ghosts have obviously worked hard to tighten their defence.

Shaw and the rest of an impressive Ghosts pack enjoyed the robust presence of Adam Slater, who has battled injury for much of the season.

Despite making only patchy forays onto the feld this season, the burly prop showed plenty of aggression with the ball and made every tackle count.

Although the Ghosts dominated the game, they found themselves behind when Macksville fullback Andrew Blair touched down early in the piece.

Ghosts captain coach Todd Cameron hit back soon after and Woods nailed his frst conversion.

The Ghosts set up camp on the Macksville line for the next few minutes and were rewarded with a try to centre Dylan Collett who never gave up the chase on an angled grubber kick into the ingoal, which he planted just centimetres inside the touch-in-goal line.

Woods’ sideline conversion put the Ghosts up 12-4.

The scoreboard favoured the Ghosts, but no-one was writing off the visitor until midway though the half, when Macksville prop Luke Shields unleashed a fearsome high shot on Ghosts prop Oliver Percy, who lay stretched out on the turf for several minutes.

The referee had no hesitation ordering Shields from the feld, giving his team almost no chance in what was shaping as a physical arm wrestle.

Big centre Jake Martin punished the visitors soon after with a powerful burst close to the line.

Macksville centre Dane Saunders did bring the visitors back into the game briefy, when he dived over wide out, dragging the scoreline closer at 18-8.

But a try to the Ghosts in the shadows of half time showed the writing was on the wall for the Sea Eagles.

Collett looked to have scored his second try of the game, only for the ref to say he was held up over the line.

Two plays later scheming half back Vinnie Williams had the ball in hand with players to burn outside him.

He stepped around a tackle and in the same step fred a 20m cut out pass to winger Wirrie Boland who sprinted 20m and dived over in the corner.

Woods had the crowd gasping as he launched another place kick over the black dot and Macksville heads dropped as the half-time scoreline blew out to 24-8.

The second half was a credit to the undermanned Sea Eagles who held the Ghosts to just two converted tries for the half.

The frst of those was a popular score to tireless back rower Justin King.

A contested cross-feld kick from Cameron fell free and an alert King backed up Collett whose well-timed pass gave him a clear run to the line.

Unsurprisingly King ignored the wide open spaces, instead hurling himself at Macksville fullback Blair and crashed over the line.

Try-scoring machine Collett scored his second for the game running off a short ball from fve-eighth Thomas Bowles with 10 minutes left on the clock.

The Ghosts could have done more damage late in the game, especially after Williams unleashed magnifcent 40-20 which put the Ghosts on attack metres from the Macksville line.

In the end it was Macksville who almost had the last say in the game.

With Macksville hard on attack back rower, an obviously offside Cameron Winter. was penalised and sin-binned for playing at the ball.

But with just seconds left on the clock it meant nothing and the Ghosts were soon celebrating a hard-fought win.

Cameron was pleased his team turned around its mid-season slump and returned to something approaching top form.

“Obviously injuries hammered us early in the season, but yeah, it’s good to see us hitting our straps at the right time,” he said.

The Ghosts have it all to do again next week when they play the Rebels at McKittrick Park, South Grafton.