Lopsided results dominated Round 1 of the Far North Coast Rugby Union First Grade Premiership on Saturday.

In a disappointing start to the season, three sides failed to score a point and their opponents managed to tally 201 points in the first round.

In their return to First Grade, the Casino Bulls were courageous, but were outclassed by a strong Casuarina side 85-0.

The Bulls will not get it easy in Round 2 when they host Byron Shire.

The newly formed Byron Shire Rebels, an amalgamation of the Bangalow and Byron Bay clubs got off to the perfect start with a 50-0 victory over Ballina.

The results of the amalgamation were always going to be interesting and a detailed process, but it appeared that the partnership has started strongly.

Lismore travelled to Wollongbar to take on the 2022 Premiers, the Pioneers, with a depleted side after nearly half the First Grade side were unavailable due to prior commitments.

Five players made their First Grade debuts for the club, with Mitchell Cox, Gus Leju, Calijah Craig, Atticus Hanney and Charlie Clarke all pulling on a First Grade jersey for the first time.

With a number of players backing up after the Reserve Grade clash, the Greens were up against it, with Wollongbar running out 66-0 victors.

Clarke made a strong debut for the side, taking the teams Man of the Match, with captain Tyler Coveney and youngster Andrew Clarke and Xavier Tiseni also have strong games.

Pioneers winger Sam Kerry collected 21 points in the match, with fullback Bodi Smith scoring a hat trick of tries for the hosts.

Reserve Grade also had a tough first match, with the Pioneers running out 73-19 winners, with Lismore's Andrew Clarke also impressing in the lower grade match.

Several clubs had a number of players absent for the Round 1 clashes due to schools holidays and other commitments but it is hoped that the results are not an indication of the competition this season.

One of the big shocks in Far North Coast Rugby Union for the 2023 season is the failure of Lennox Head to field a team in First Grade.

The club narrowly lost the 2022 First Grade Grand Final to the Wollongbar Alstonville Pioneers and just 7 months later the previously powerful club is fielding just a Presidents Cup team and a Colts team in the competition, with the Presidents Cup team going down to Yamba 52-12 on Saturday.

FAR NORTH COAST RUGBY UNION                       

Round 1 Results 15th April 2023

First Grade

Byron Shire Rebels 50(Gavin McGonagle 2, Sam Reid 2, Robert Taylor, Dominic Tydeman, Darcy Woods, Jordan Elliott tries, Dominic Tydeman 5 conversions) d Ballina 0

Half Time: Byron Shire 12 - Ballina 0

Wollongbar Alstonville 66(Bodi Smith 3, Rory Collings 2, James Vidler, Tarj Bennett, Sam Kerry, Daniel Damen, Brenden Williams tries, Sam Kerry 8 conversions) d Lismore 0

Half Time: Wollongbar 40 - Lismore 0

Casuarina Beach 85(Zac Hanna 2, Jesse Grey 2, Harrison Hall 2, Liam Marcus, Cody Ross, Mitch Planten, Jem MacDonald, Oscar Sims, Webb Lillis, Sam Harrison tries, Webb Lillis 9, Harrison Hall conversions) d Casino 0

Half Time: Casuarina 41 - Casino 0

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

2nd Grade

Casuarina 29 d Casino 7

Byron Shire Rebels 28 d Ballina 14

Wollongbar 73 d Lismore 19

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

Presidents Cup

Evans River 22 d Mullumbimby 19

Yamba 52 d Lennox Head 12

Richmond Range 76 d Kyogle 5

Point Score – Richmond Range 5, Yamba 5, Evans River 5, Mullumbimby 1, SCU 0, Lennox Head 0, Kyogle 0

Next Week's Matches 22nd April

1st Grade

Ballina v Lismore

Casino v Byron Shire Rebels

Casuarina v Wollongbar

2nd Grade

Ballina v Lismore

Casino v Byron Shire Rebels

Casuarina v Wollongbar

Presidents Cup

Yamba v Kyogle

Richmond Range v Mullumbimby

Evans River v Southern Cross Uni

Lennox Head - Bye

Women's 12's

Evans River v Lismore

Richmond Range v Byron Shire Rebels

Casuarina - Bye

Under 18's Colts

Casuarina v Lennox Head

Barbarians v Lismore

Evans River - Bye