Try time for Byron Bay, but it wasn’t enough to win the day. Photo Alex Bartlett
Bangalow beat Byron Bay on the final bell 21–20 in front of a home crowd last Saturday after a tough and hard fought contest in the rugby union premiership.
Bangalow trailed on the scorecard for the whole game until they were able to convert
sustained red-zone pressure with a try in the final stages of the game. On the hooter the conversion went over to give Bangalow the win and joy to nervous supporters.
Muddy work
Both teams played quality rugby considering the slippery and muddy conditions after two days of rain.
Byron lead 10–0 going into the break after dominating the set pieces. They scored another try after half time, as well as two conversions to keep ahead of Bangalow who were able to keep themselves in the game with two tries, taking the score to 20–14 in the dying minutes.
Byron, with a man in the sin-bin, couldn’t withstand sustained runs at their try line, finally conceding the try and the game.
Teale Pyne, Will Latham and Jed Erickson scored tries for Bangalow and Troy Doughty converted all three.
Craig Wallace and Joe Grindle scored tries for Bangalow, and Joel Stocks converted them, along with two penalty goals.
Man of the Match was awarded to Byron Bay’s Joe Grindle.
The win puts Bangalow well out in front on the competition ladder with 34 points, ahead of Casuarina (21), Wollongbar (20), Ballina (19), Byron Bay 16, Lennox Head 1(12), and Lismore (1).
Other games in the round were postponed because of the weather.
Earlier in the day, in the second grade fixture, the Mullumbimby Moonshiners scored 55 unanswered points against Kyogle, taking them to fourth place on the ladder.
