19.3 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Understudies show the way for dispirited Devils

Latest News

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Other News

Roller derby rocks the Cavanbah Centre

The Red Kennedys have once again dominated the Northern Rivers Revolt Roller Derby Tournament held at the Cavanbah Centre over the weekend of March 16-17.

A health check as Medicare turns 40

If you’ll forgive the earnest tone, I’d like to propose a toast. To a friend who’s almost always there when you need them most. To a system that aims to treat people fairly and respectfully. 

Casuarina cricketers too strong for Mullumbimby Brunswick in grand final

Mullumbimby Brunswick Cricket Club (MBCC) had a very successful season finishing second on the ladder at the end of the home and away season with 13 wins and 4 losses, but fell short of winning the grand final against the Casuarina Crocs.

Dynamic, rustic yet polished

Animal Ventura is the brainchild of Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Fernando Aragones. Growing up playing punk and reggae in noisy garage bands in Southern Brazil, Aragones ventured to Australia where the eclectic sounds of the Sydney music scene beckoned.

Coveted Wollumbin Art Award open for young and old

Are you an artist in the Northern Rivers? Now is the time to get your art ready and submitted to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre’s coveted biennial Wollumbin Art Award.

Byron Council staff baulk at councillors’ promise of free parking for locals

Will Byron Council deliver on its pledge to make parking permits free for locals across the Shire when paid parking comes into force in Brunswick Heads?

If looks could kill… Byron’s Chris ‘Jawbone’ Coleman rips into the defence at Red Devil Park on Sunday.
If looks could kill… Byron’s Chris ‘Jawbone’ Coleman rips into the defence at Red Devil Park on Sunday.

Story & photo John Campbell

Telling it like it is can too easily be counterproductive.

The Byron Bay Red Devils are at a psychological low ebb and the last thing they need is for the boot to be put into them. But to sugar the pill could do even more harm, so, being brutally honest, the Bay’s first half in Sunday’s NRRRL clash with the Tweed Coast Raiders was the worst forty that they have produced this season.

They were never in the hunt.

Lucky to be trailing by only 16–0 at the break, they ended up being smashed 36–6, and the score was fair enough.

In the preliminary bout, however, the reggies made it four wins from four starts, and the contrast between the two sides could not be more glaring.

The B-graders are playing with confidence, unity and a steadfast belief that they will get the bikkies if they just keep at it. A-grade are like a rudderless ship.

It was a hot afternoon (will the weather never cool?) and most of the estimated crowd of 3,702 turned up expecting the home side to break their duck against the equally under-performing visitors.

The early exchanges were tough, but the Devils, if holding their own, seemed uncertain of themselves and uncommunicative – to the extent that ‘talk, boys!’ was a repeated cry from the bench.

When the Raiders’ former Devil, Jared De Thierry, sent one of his forwards through a yawning gap to score the simplest of tries, a pall fell over the ground. ‘Here we go again’ was the fear that filled our hearts.

The boys struck back with vigour, but whenever they got a set close to their opponents’ line they found some way of surrendering the pill.

Their current form gives the impression that they practise poor passes at training… or are unaware that it is the six-tackle rule that applies, not the four – or two.

Byron managed a few raids in Tweed’s twenty, but a lack of penetration was almost as worrying as their regular inability to execute their work with any finesse – Tweed weren’t that good, but the Devils were making them look like champions.

That man De Thierry laid on a perfectly weighted chip for the Raiders’ second try and, though still early in the piece, pessimism took a stranglehold – the Old Bloke, making a welcome return to the outer but disappointed at the no-show of the lady linesman, was already talking about going home.

The game irretrievably drifted further from the Bay’s grasp, but when winger Alex ‘the Goanna’ Packer scored after a fantastic 70-metre break by centre Cameron ‘Jack’ Gibson, there was a fleeting sense that maybe, just maybe, the boys would show us what they are really capable of.

Coming back from 20–6 down with plenty of time to go is doable – but only if you’re playing well. Byron weren’t, and in the blinking of an eye the Raiders had buried the contest.

Glaring deficiencies in footy can be compensated for by the proper execution of the basics. The Devils at no point stopped trying, but their lack of concentration on the straightforward things was self-destructive.

If they are to succeed at Kyogle next week – and they must – they might follow the reggies’ example of refusing to drop their bundle. Go, the Bay!


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.

A health check as Medicare turns 40

If you’ll forgive the earnest tone, I’d like to propose a toast. To a friend who’s almost always there when you need them most. To a system that aims to treat people fairly and respectfully. 

Byron Council staff baulk at councillors’ promise of free parking for locals

Will Byron Council deliver on its pledge to make parking permits free for locals across the Shire when paid parking comes into force in Brunswick Heads?

Carrying and passing the torch

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit.