Ballina Shire teams win three rugby premierships
Ballina Shire rugby teams have won three Far North Coast premierships, headed by the Lennox Head Trojans’ great win over Coolangatta Tweed in Saturday’s grand final at Oakes Oval, Lismore.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Lennox, who finished last in the 2007 season.
The Trojans beat Coolangatta Tweed 23-15 in Saturday’s decider.
The shire’s other two premiership teams are Ballina in reserve grade and Wollongbar Alstonville in third grade.
Ballina proved too good for Casino, winning 24-3.
Wollongbar Alstonville did it much tougher in third grade, drawing 24-all with Lismore, even after extra time.
They were declared joint premiers.
Results:
First Grade
LENNOX HEAD 23 (Matthew Aherne, Mathew Barnes, Joe Witt tries, Adam Gordon conversion, 2 penalty goals) d COOLANGATTA TWEED 15 (Anaru Smith, Nathan Jacobs tries, Simon Campbell conversion, penalty goal). Half-time: Lennox Head 18 – Coolangatta Tweed 3
Reserve Grade
BALLINA 24 (Andrew Gordon 2, Danny Lickiss, Nathan Wyatt tries, Kane Scott 2 conversions) d CASINO 3 (Scott Lambeth penalty goal). Half-time: Ballina 7 – Casino 3.
Under 19
GRAFTON 21 (Huan Collie, Declan Collie, Stephen Trimble tries, Bryce Speechley 2 penalty goals) d WOLLONGBAR ALSTONVILLE 9 (Kahliff Glass penalty goal, drop goal, Tom Lynch penalty goal). Half-time: Grafton 8 – Wollongbar Alstonville 6.
Third Grade
WOLLONGBAR ALSTONVILLE 24 (Troy Macrae 2, Scott Jenkins tries, Michael Turnbull 3 conversions, penalty goal) drew with LISMORE 24 (Vaughan Nilsson, Mark Sivewright, Damien Maher tries, Mark Sivewright 3 conversions, penalty goal). Half-time: Wollongbar 10 – Lismore 10. Full-time: Wollongbar 17 – Lismore 17. After extra time: Wollongbar 24 – Lismore 24. Joint Premiers.
