Dogwhistle
The Byron Bay Rams enjoyed a heartening return to form this week, thanks in no small part to the emergence of an exciting new generation of football talent.
Backed by the skills and determination of club veterans, the youngsters including Otis Adlington, Rick Muir, Jack Martin, and Zac Miletic took full advantage of their opportunity to shine.
In the Anzac Cup semifinal against the Richmond Rovers the Services Club Rams put in an inspiring performance that helped drive the side to a 2–0 victory.
Goals to Ethan Archer and Simon McCarthy secured a berth in the Anzac Cup final at Crozier Field in Lismore on this Saturday April 27. The Rams will take on the Bangalow Bluedogs with all the action from 4pm.
The pre-Easter game in round three of the regular season against Goonellabah produced more outstanding performances from Byron’s young recruits. The reserves set the tone with a strong 3–2 win over their Goonellabah counterparts. The young Premier Division side then hit the ground running.
Three minutes into the opening stanza, 17-year-old Zac Miletic cut through the Goonellabah defence and curled a stunning strike inside the near post to give the Rams an early lead.
Stung into a vigorous response, the Hornets fought back for the remainder of the first half and for much of the second, but were unable to penetrate James Tomlinson’s back line.
With young legs showing little sign of tiring, Jonno Pierce came off the bench late in the match to reinvigorate the Byron attack. Young Jack Martin broke away from the Hornet’s defence and, after a solo sprint towards the Goonellabah goal, slotted home number two for the Rams.
Close to the end Pierce out-flanked the Goonellabah defence to deliver a superb cross from out wide as Martin and Miletic stormed into the box. A cool-headed move saw Martin step over the ball to allow Miletic a clean strike into the Hornets net, sealing a much needed 3–0 win.
The victory, the first for the season, lifts the Rams from the bottom of the table and has them fired up for the next round in Alstonville on Wednesday, May 1. Reserves kick off at 6pm and the premier divisions at 8pm.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
