16.5 C
Byron Shire
July 15, 2026

Byron Shire Rebels secure second consecutive clean sweep

Latest News

Renewables and battery storage stable amid global uncertainty

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in partnership with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) today released the GenCost 2025–26 Final Report, finding renewable energy supported by storage is helping to protect Australia against global energy shocks and continues to provide the lowest cost pathway for Australia’s electricity system to achieve net zero emissions.

Other News

A place that has stayed

Byron Bay has always been a place that draws people in. Some come for a weekend, others for a season, and many end up staying for a lifetime.

Ocean Shores man charged with advocating terrorism online

Police say a 20-year-old Ocean Shores man is behind bars (refused bail) and will face court in Tweed Heads Local Court on 18 September, charged with advocating terrorism.  

From refugee to community contributor – a personal story

When I first arrived in Australia from Syria, I carried many emotions with me. Like many refugees and newcomers, I was grateful to be safe, but I was also overwhelmed by the challenges of starting over in a completely new country.

Music comes to Mullum this weekend!

Wild Rocket blast into Mullum as Mullum Roots Festival lights up the town this coming weekend. Three venues around Mullum will host music, while songwriting workshops will happen at the Drill Hall Theatre on Sunday.

Energy savings

Two exciting developments will lower household electricity bills, strengthen the local grid, and help power-up our renewable energy. First,...

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

With a government agency now investigating the alleged clear felling of natives on a large private block in Lennox Head, Ballina Greens councillor Kiri Dicker has told The Echo that contractors were felling trees all morning, ‘trying to get the job done’.

Rebels players celebrating a try. Photo supplied

Hywel David

The afternoon kicked off with a dominant performance from the Men’s Rebel Colts, who defeated the Moonshiners 53–6.

The Rebels’ attack proved relentless, crossing for nine tries in total. George Morgan and Tucker Groves both secured doubles, while Quinton James, Chase Wilson, Ewan Murgha, Hunter Moon, and Guy Henry all added to the scoreboard. Aiden Broadhurst capped off the effort with four successful conversions.

Winning women

The winning streak continued with the Women’s Rebels, who recorded a 36–5 victory over Mullumbimby. The Rebels’ backline showed impressive depth, with tries coming from Indigo Simpson, Faith Taylor, Claudia Gonzales, a second from Faith Taylor, followed by Rosalie Trainer and Evie Eastwell. Kari Massey converted three tries to seal the win.

The Men’s First Grade fixture against Lennox Head was defined early by the Rebels’ scrum dominance. After winning an early opposed scrum, the home side pinned Lennox in their own half. Prop Oisin Canney opened the scoring with a pick-and-go try, followed by a second identical effort shortly after. Samuel Valpy converted both.

The pressure remained constant, and Canney secured a first-half hat-trick after scrum-half Ben Wright found him with a sharp pass to hammer through the Lennox line. Valpy again added the extras. Despite the Rebels winning another opposed scrum, Lennox Head managed to build their way to the Rebels’ try line and find their first points through a try from a lineout. The conversion was missed, leaving the score 21–5 at the half-time whistle.

The second half began with rising tensions as a show of pushes and pulls briefly stopped play. Afterward, Luc Lévêque extended the lead with a try scored directly from a scrum, followed by a second effort where he pushed past several defenders to cross. Captain Will Hawkings successfully converted the latter.

Lennox Head began to build momentum following the restart. After a period of sustained pressure on the Rebels’ 22 line, the visitors crossed for their second try, which was successfully converted. The match took a physical toll on the home side, as a series of head knocks and injuries reduced the Rebels to just 12 men on the field. Lennox soon added a third try out wide after a shift through their backline.

Despite being three men down, the Rebels’ defence showed immense grit. Lisandro ‘Lichi’ Ardeti prevented a score with a vital try-saving tackle, and the remaining defenders managed to hold Lennox up over the try-line during a subsequent attack. However, with the defence stretched thin, Lennox eventually broke through for their fourth try in the final minutes.

Man of the match

The Rebels’ early lead proved insurmountable, and the home side held on for a gritty 33–22 victory to complete the sweep. Luc Lévêque was awarded man of the match for his relentless work both in defence and attack.

 



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.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Lismore Boulevard Project announced

Design concept plans for the Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path project are now available for community consultation, following Lismore City Council securing $2,383,030 in funding through the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program, administered by Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

Community responds to detention dams proposal

More than 110 residents gathered at Rock Valley Hall on Sunday 12 July and rejected claims that the recently released CSIRO report on flood mitigation was informed by strong community consultation.

Data shows biggest danger to wildlife is people, not cats

Human-created hazards are responsible for most wildlife rescues in New South Wales, and researchers are calling for more prevention strategies to save threatened species.

Try pickleball and support a great cause

Northern Rivers Pickleball Club are holding a marathon day of pickleball on Sunday, 19 July at the Goonellabah Tennis and Pickleball Club on Reserve Street, Goonellabah.