Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Saturday was the Grand Final for the Far North Coast Rugby Union. The game was played at Crozier Field, Lismore, and went down to the wire. Wollongbar-Alstonville took on Byron Bay in a hard-fought match. When the final whistle blew, the Wollongbar-Alstonville Pioneers had defeated Byron Bay by 40 points to 36. It was the first time in the Pioneers' history that they have won consecutive premiership. To top it off, this season they were undefeated—the first time this has been achieved in the competition.

The team that won the premiership consisted of Matthew Wright; Bill Johnston; Joel Crowther; Matt Scott; Steve Mason; Lloyd Morgan; Vaughan Sandal—who is still a school student at St Johns College, Woodlawn—Jerry Faifaise; Justyn Keir; Ben Damen, the captain; Vinnie Leatigaga; Nat Regueira; Jack Downie; James Vidler; Sam Kerry; Nick Jones; Gavin Short; Tim Ellis; Josh Herne; Rhys McNaughton; Jason Higgins; Reece Brown; and Jarrod Wyllie. They are coached by John Jenkins and the team manager is Dave Hoskins.

The point-scorers were Ben Damon and Vinnie with two tries each, with one try each to Lloyd Morgan and Joel Crowther and Sam Kerry kicking five conversions. Once again, congratulations to Wollongbar-Alstonville for an outstanding year.