Nothing could separate Wollongbar Alstonville and Byron Shire in the FNC Rugby match of the round on Saturday.

The two sides are major contenders to take out the 2024 Premiership, with Byron Shire sitting just 1 point ahead of WAR on the competition ladder.

The Pioneers led early after two penalty goals, taking a narrow 6-5 lead into halftime.

The second half was an arm wrestle, with neither team able to break away and gain an advantage, with the final score ending in an 18-18 all draw.

In other matches, Lismore went down to Richmond Range at Mallanganee, 32-19 after trailing 17-7 at halftime.

The SCU Gold Rats travelled to Casino and went down 57-5 to the Bulls.

Casuarina had a big win over Lennox Head 52-20, and ladder leaders Ballina ran riot over Evans River, winning 79-15.

Next weekend the SCU Gold Rats will host Richmond Range on Friday night at Maurie Ryan Oval at SCU and Lismore will travel to Wollongbar to take on the Pioneers in a tough hit out for the Greens.

FAR NORTH COAST RUGBY UNION 

Round 9 Results 29th June 2024

First Grade

Casuarina Beach 52(Levi Dangerfield 4, Jem MacDonald 2, Dan Raye 2, Wil Stacey, Sam Vereniki, Oliver Miller, Will Patterson tries, Sam Vereniki 2, Will Stacey 2 conversions) d Lennox Head 20(Luca Beasley-Kenk 2, Hayden Blair tries, Lachlan Miller conversion, penalty goal)

Half Time: Casuarina 28 – Lennox 5

Wollongbar Alstonville 18(Hamish Mould, Joe Blyth tries, Sam Kerry conversion, 2 penalty goals) drew Byron Shire Rebels 18(Joel Little conversion, 2 penalty goals)

Half Time: Wollongbar 6 – Byron 5

Richmond Range 32(James Pankhurst, Hayden Pratt, Brock King, Bradon Gumbleton tries, James Pankhurst 3 conversions, 2 penalty goals) d Lismore 19(Cohen Cartwright, Gus Leju, Mitchell Fawcett tries, Kyle Maluta 2 conversions)

Half Time: Range 17 – Lismore 7

Ballina 79(Anthony Lolohea 3, Pierce Bryers 3, Tupou Lolohea 2, Reuben Saric 2, Stan Lolohea, Harry Bungate, Carl Lolohea tries, Pierce Bryers 4, Elliott Bryers 2, Nick Brydon conversions) d Evans River 15(Agustin Aversa 2 tries, Michael Miskle conversion, penalty goal)

Half Time: Ballina 24 – Evans 15

Casino 57(Cameron Davis 2, Nick Benn, Justin Zaiko, Hakeem Torrens, Tepiti Korewha, Quinton Avery, Harry Amey, Letti Drugutanalevu tries, Jayden Torrens 4, Hakeem Torrens 2, conversions) d SCU Gold Rats 5(Reshawn Brown try)

Half Time: Casino 29 – SCU 5

Point Score – Ballina 36, Byron Shire 33, Wollongbar 32, Casuarina 28, Richmond Range 22, Casino 21, Evans 15, Lennox 11, Lismore 10, SCU 0

2nd Grade

Yamba 31 d Kyogle 5

Ballina 33 d Mullumbimby 19

Wollongbar Alstonville 20 d Byron Shire 5

Casuarina 22 d Lennox Head 10

Point Score – Wollongbar 34, Byron 29, Ballina 29, Casuarina 22, Yamba 17, Lismore 14, Casino 14, Kyogle 12, Lennox 11, Evans River 5, Mullumbimby 5

Women’s

Point Score – Casino 21, Lismore 10, Byron 9, Casuarina 8

Under 18’s

Casuarina 21 d Lennox Head 8

Point Score – Yamba 11, Lennox 10, Casuarina 8, Lismore 5

Next Week’s Round 10 Matches 

Friday 5th July – 6:30pm

1^st Grade 

SCU Gold Rats v Richmond Range 

Saturday 6th July

1^st Grade

Evans River v Byron Shire Rebels

Wollongbar Alstonville v Lismore

Ballina v Casuarina Beach

Lennox Head v Casino 

2^nd Grade

Evans River v Byron Shire Rebels

Wollongbar Alstonville v Lismore

Ballina v Casuarina Beach

Lennox Head v Casino

Kyogle v Mullumbimby

Yamba - Bye

Women’s 10’s

Lismore v Byron Shire Rebels at Wollongbar

Casuarina Beach v Casino at Ballina

Under 18’s

Lennox Head v Yamba

Casuarina Beach v Lismore at Ballina