From The Sideline - Country Week Championships.
Our Ballina Seahorses Far North Coast Dolphin representatives. Stan, Ants, Sam and Wilson.
REFLECTIONS
The Division 1 Far North Coast competition had a general bye last weekend due to the Country Championships being held at Tamworth. Congratulations to the following Ballina players who represented the Zone. Ant Lolohea, Stan Lolohea, Sam Pearce and Wilson Lovokuro. Sam Giltrap was a late withdrawal due to injury.
Due to a referee shortage our Division 2 fixture against Kyogle was postponed at short notice. Withdrawal symptoms intensified on Friday, and hasty plans to revisit Scully Park after 31 years were scuttled. Stan and Gem would have to fill the void.
Seven Ballina players were members of the 1991 FNC zone team which was coached by Chris Hickey and won the Richardson Shield for the first time. The team was hungry or one could say thirsty for victory in the final under lights at Scully. Growing unrest developed in the motel when the team manager mentioned to the players that only $200 was left in the kitty to celebrate should victory ensue. A brisk three kilometre walk to the RSL TAB, $200 on the nose at $8 on the Lee Freedman trained topweight Super Impose and fingers crossed. Rounding the turn Super was eight wide and twenty lengths last and still an impossible seven lengths off the pace topping the rise. Beadman drove him home by a half head in the last bound, Far North Coast saluted in the final, and a very long night and bus trip home followed.
This year from scant coverage, I gather that FNC defeated Mid North Coast 29-7 and lost to eventual country champions Central Coast 39-26. In the colts competition FNC defeated Newcastle Hunter 25-5 whilst Central North defeated the women 41-0.
Legendary Ballina player Ian (Whisper) Froggatt recently presented the playing jerseys to the men’s Division I team. Prior to migrating to Singleton for whom he played between 1977 and 1983, Whisper hailed from Papatoetoe and had been selected to play for both the Auckland and New Zealand Barbarians. He joined Ballina in 1983 and played in excess of 300 games for the Seahorses. Some highlights of his illustrious career at Ballina include being awarded first grade best and fairest player 1983-1988, and being captain coach of the ‘Thirsty Thirds’ whilst winning four premierships undefeated between 1992 and 1995. Renowned for his stamina and speed in play, a never say die attitude and end of season hangis, Whisper continues to be a great club member and supporter.
Reminiscence has kept the mind occupied over the weekend, however the lads are back in action this Saturday at Casuarina against the hosts in Division I and Evans River in Division II. Women’s 10’s will be playing against Casuarina at Casuarina. Our next and last home games are against Bangalow and Mullum on 16th of July.
Pictures of ‘Whisper’ presenting match jerseys to Ryan Biscoe and Mark Pitt.
