The SCU Gold Rats have tasted victory for the first time in a number of years with their hard fought win over Lennox Head on Saturday.

The Gold Rats have returned to Far North Coast Rugby after being unable to field a team during the COVID interrupted competitions and related restrictions.

With no students on campus, the club struggled to add players to their squad of locals, but 2023 has seen a resurgence at the club.

The club rallied hard at the start of the 2023 season to resurrect the club and several club stalwarts have been able to make it happen. Names such as Condon, Murphy, Anderson, Ledger, McMullen, Witt, Quigley, Breen, Bird, Taylor-Brown and Kelly have been able to support the club again as they rebuild.

The club has entered the President's Cup competition and after a bye in Round 1 and a narrow loss in Round 2 to Evans River they played their first home game in 3 years on Saturday at Maurie Ryan Oval against Lennox Head.

With several changes from the team that took on Evans Head last week, the Gold Rats took to the field with confidence after defeating Lennox Head in a preseason trial game in March.

Skillful Number 10 Perry Daly crossed for SCU's first try and it gave the side the confidence they needed, running in 4 tries to 2.

The Gold Rats eventually running out 27-12 winners, with Finn Spencer adding 2 conversions and a penalty goal.

The last victory for the club was in First Grade over Lismore 50-14, when the club hosted a massive 50th Anniversary celebration at their spiritual home at SCU.

Numbers have been strong at training and the coaching staff led by Josh Condon, have been able to develop a great combination of youth and experience for the year award.

The Gold Rats will look for revenge, when they host Evans River next weekend at Maurie Ryan Oval at 3:00pm.

FAR NORTH COAST RUGBY UNION                       

Round 3 Results 29th April 2023

First Grade

Byron Shire Rebels 24(Benji Clarke 3, Joel Little, tries, Dominic Tydeman 2 conversions) d Casuarina Beach 12(Webb Lillis 2 tries, conversion)

Half Time: Byron Shire 12 - Casuarina 7

Ballina 24(Wilson Lovokuro 2, Kye Cribb tries, Nick Byron 3 conversions, penalty goal) d Wollongbar Alstonville 22(Ben Damen, Austin Markwort, James Vidler, Hamish Mould tries, Ben Damen conversion)

Half Time: Wollongbar 17 - Ballina 0

Casino 34(Hakeem Torrens 3, Gaunavou Drugutanalevu 2 tries, Jayden Torrens, Harold Torrens 2 conversions, Jayden Torrens penalty goal) drew Lismore 34(Gavin Tulk 2, Cody Johnston, Fraser Ruane, Cameron Bryant, Mitchell Cox tries, Joseph Davis, Xavier Tiseni conversions)

Half Time: Casino 22 - Lismore 12

Point Score – Byron Shire 15, Casuarina 9, Ballina 9, Wollongbar 8, Lismore 3, Casino 3

2nd Grade

Byron Shire Rebels 16 d Casuarina 5 

Casino 31 d Lismore 12

Wollongbar 68 d Ballina 5

Point Score – Wollongbar 14, Byron Shire Rebels 14, Casuarina 6, Casino 5, Lismore 5, Ballina 0

Presidents Cup

Southern Cross Uni 27 d Lennox Head 12

Richmond Range 46 d Kyogle 5

Evans River v Mullumbimby - Match Postponed

Point Score – Richmond Range 15, Yamba 10, Evans River 10, SCU 6, Mullumbimby 1, Lennox Head 0, Kyogle 0

Under 18's

Lennox Head 35 d Lismore 17

Casuarina 33 d Evans River 0

Women's 12's

Casuarina 25 d Byron Shire 0

Lismore 19 d Richmond Range 0

Next Week's Matches - 6th May

1st Grade

Ballina v Casino

Casuarina Beach v Lismore

Wollongbar v Byron Shire Rebels

2nd Grade

Ballina v Casino

Casuarina Beach v Lismore

Wollongbar v Byron Shire Rebels

Presidents Cup

Mullumbimby v Richmond Range

Southern Cross Uni v Evans River

Kyogle - Bye

Women's 12's

Richmond Range v Evans River at SCU

Casuarina Beach v Lismore

Byron Shire Rebels - Bye

Under 18's Colts

Casuarina v Lismore

Lennox Head v Evans River at Yamba