It was a tough Saturday afternoon for the new First Grade teams in the Far North Coast Rugby Union competition.

The FNCRU Board made the decision in the off season to promote a number of clubs up to the First Grade competition to add numbers to a dwindling competition.

It will take several weeks to see if the decision was the right move, but a number of matches across the weekend gave a hint to what may be ahead.

Byron Shire defeated the Casino Bulls 62-0, with Casino struggling in the top grade in recent years.

The SCU Gold Rats, previously in Presidents Cup, took on Lismore, who have also struggled against the top teams in First Grade for a number of years and Lismore took the win 45-0.

The Gold Rats conceded two early tries but improved defensively to hold the Greens to 14-0 at halftime. A number of handling errors from both sides showed it was the first major hit out of the season.

The second half saw Lismore take advantage of a lopsided penalty count to run in a further 5 tries to nil in the dominant win.

There were plenty of positives for both sides, with Lismore fielding a young side, with a backline who can score points, and enjoyed a win in front of a home crowd and the Gold Rats returned to First Grade with solid defence through the middle and plenty to work on at training this week.

Wollongbar defeated Casuarina Beach 40-22, Ballina took the win 22-17 over the promoted Richmond Range, and Lennox Head triumphed over Evans River, who played their first ever game in the top grade, 24-7.

Next week will see a number of the promoted sides play each other, prior to taking on the stronger sides in the coming weeks.

FAR NORTH COAST RUGBY UNION                                            

Round 1 Results 27th April 2024

First Grade

Byron Shire Rebels 62(John Turagabeci 2, Joel Little, Oliver Shakeshaft, Angus Wilbourn, Oisin Canney, Benji Clarke, Darcy Woods, Darius Towers, Ethan McDonald Tries, Joel Little 6 Conversions) d Casino 0

Half Time: Byron Shire 28 – Casino 0 

Wollongbar Alstonville 40(Bodi Smith, Ben Damen, Matt Nean, Matt Scott, Josh Galbraith, Connor Storck Tries, Bodi Smith 5 Conversions) d Casuarina Beach 22(Jem MacDonald, Mason Duke, Daniel Raye Levi Dangerfield Tries, Webb Lillis Conversion)

Half Time: WAR 33 – Casuarina 10

Ballina 22(Lachlan Johnson, Stephen Paskins, Harry Bungate, Wilson Lovokuro Tries, Pierce Bryers Conversion) d Richmond Range 17(James Pankhurst, Brock King Tries, James Pankhurst 2 Conversions, Penalty Goal)

Half Time: Ballina 17 – Richmond Range 7

Lennox Head 24(Atzin Jacobson, Jacob Creagh, Hayden Blair Tries, Martin McNamara 3 Conversions, Penalty Goal) d Evans River 7(Zane Gaiter Try, Michael Miskle Conversion)

Half Time: Lennox Head 10 – Evans River 7 

Lismore 45(Motuliki Tukuafu 2, Mitchell Fawcett, Gus Leju, Soren Webster, Andrew Jordan, Branden Harrington Tries, Braeden Williams 5 Conversions) d SCU Gold Rats 0

Half Time: Lismore 14 – SCU 0 

Point Score – Byron 5, Lismore 5, Wollongbar 5, Ballina 5, Lennox 4, Richmond Range 1, Casuarina 1, Evans 0, SCU 0, Casino 0

2nd Grade

Lennox Head 19 d Evans River 5

Byron Shire Rebels 30 d Casino 0

Wollongbar 29 d Casuarina 13

Ballina 25 d Kyogle 0

Lismore 27 d Mullumbimby 7

Point Score – Byron 5, Ballina 5, Lismore 5, Wollongbar 5, Mullumbimby 5, Lennox 4, Evans River 4, Yamba 1, Casuarina 0, Casino 0, Kyogle 0

Women’s

Byron Shire Rebels 15 d Casino 10

Lismore v Evans/SCU – Match Postponed

Next Week’s Matches Saturday 4 May

1^st Grade

Ballina v Byron Shire Rebels

Casuarina Beach v Lismore

Evans River v Southern Cross Uni

Lennox Head v Richmond Range

Wollongbar Alstonville v Casino

2^nd Grade

Ballina v Byron Shire Rebels

Casuarina Beach v Lismore

Evans River v Yamba

Lennox Head v Kyogle

Wollongbar Alstonville v Casino

Mullumbimby – Bye

Women’s 10’s

Casuarina v Lismore

Evans/SCU v Byron Shire Rebels at Ballina

Under 18’s

Casuarina Beach v Lismore