East Lismore were ”just” too strong for Ballina R in Far North Coast Hockey Men's A Grade division winning 7-0 yesterday, but they did not get it all their own way. There was no score at the end of the first quarter. Peter Ryan in goal for Ballina was simply unbeatable and did all he could to keep the Ballina side in the game.

It took Easts to within four minutes of the break to get past Ryan when Matt Carter scored, Carter scored again a minute later, and Easts went to the break at 2-0. In the third quarter Easts did all they could to increase the lead but the Ballina R side, especially Ryan in goal, had their own ideas. No further score in the third quarter.

Four minutes into the final quarter Easts made further inroads with Wynand Volschenk trapping a ball on the spot and pushing it past Ryan to go three up. With 9 minutes left in the match, Volschenk scored his second off a penalty corner when picking up a rebound off the keeper’s pad and making no mistake in front of goal giving Ryan no chance. Ballina tired a little and Easts scored their fifth in the final five minutes when Nic Layton scored. A minute later, Matt Carter converted a penalty corner for his third, then Carter scored his fourth. Easts picked up three goals in the final five minutes.

Ballina were solid in their win over the Star side. Star scored almost immediately from the hit off when Mark Harris received a ball from a free hit outside the 25 and scored with a deflection. Ballina lost their key defender Brett Crawford ten minutes into the match and that didn't help their cause early.

Ballina rallied and took the game to Star with some good attack and sound defence, Ballina were unable to score but equally were not allowing Star to add to their tally in the first quarter.

At the sixth minute of the second quarter Ballina tied things up when Scott Hamilton converted a penalty corner. Both sides tried to go further ahead but neither could add to the score. In the second section tempers flared early and players found themselves in the sin bin for a cool off period.

Ballina's goalkeeper Richard Lawrence was in superb form despite the final scoreline. Photo: Shez Napper

Hockey became the feature of the game again and Ballina went in front 2-1 with a length of the field effort that resulted in Brody Robinson deflecting a 20-metre pass from Daykin Stanger into the back of the net. Ballina led 2-1 going into the 4th quarter and both sides were throwing all they could at each other, and all was repelled early in the quarter. That trend continued and a desperate Star could not win or level the match. Ryan McGuiness and Jesse Hughes were Star's best and Scott Hamilton, along with Richie Lawrence in goal, stood out for Ballina.

In the women's A Grade, Northern Star were too strong for East Lismore winning 5-0. Leading 2-0 at half time they ran away in the game scoring three goals in the third quarter and shutting Easts out of it. Natalie Psarakis opened Star’s account in the 11th minute of the first quarter, converting a well worked penalty corner variation. Hayley Marshall increased the lead to two midway through the second quarter when she pounced on a loose ball in front of the goals and pushed past the keeper.

Easts responded well with great positive runs from Charlotte James who was always testing the Star defence. Emily Hoskins was carrying the ball at speed and Star were struggling to control her.

Star's Alana Albertini scored and had a fine match against East Lismore in the Women's A Grade yesterday. Photo: Shez Napper

The flood gates opened in the third quarter. Alana Albertini scored soon after the start, at the 5th minute Maya McGrath made it 4-0 and at the 11th minute of the third

quarter Leanne Albertini scored with a back stick touch on the ball. The 4th quarter went scoreless, as Easts defended stoutly and applied plenty of pressure of their own.

Eliza Wallace was a standout in Star’s defence and Maya McGrath was ever creative, deceptive and an absolute handful for the East defence.

Kim Newton, Candice Hellyar, Karen Eakin and Kylie Quinlan in goal were good for Easts and Star was well served by Hayley Marshall, Leanne and Alana Albertini.

Ballina defeated Coraki 4-0 in the other A Grade Women’s match.

All games scheduled for today at the Goonellabah and Ballina hockey complexes were postponed and have been rescheduled to Sunday, 9 August.