Story & photos Greg Meek
The Park Hotel Byron Bay Rams showed their growing strength with a convincing 3-0 win in the 2014 Anzac Cup semifinal at Ewingsdale last Sunday.
One of the competition’s powerhouse teams, Lismore’s Richmond Rovers were no match for the blossoming Byron squad. The fast-paced match began fairly evenly, with attack and counter attack swinging the action from one end to the other.
The Rams’ back four held fast against the Rovers’ strikers and Byron quickly gained the upper hand. A cracking 30m goal from new Byron mid-fielder, Sam McIntyre off the clearance from a corner saw the Rams begin to assert their dominance.
Sam Owens finished a handy combination from Tane Meek and Jono Pierce to take the score to 2-0 at half-time. The second half saw Byron turn up the heat another notch. A superb long-range strike from Michael Kelly sealed the 3-0 Byron victory.
With plenty of depth on the bench and strength on the pitch, the Rams hammered pressure on Rovers’ goal right up the final whistle.
With four competition matches under their belt, the Rams are beginning to perform as a very impressive unit. Byron will be fired up to take home the silverware in a rematch of last year’s Grand Final against Thistles on Anzac day.
The Rams FFNC Premiership campaign kicks off at the Byron Recreation Ground this Saturday against league newcomers, Tintenbar. Reserves kick off at 1pm and the Premier division at 3pm.
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