2020 will be the year we all remember in sport, not just our sport but community sport as a whole. The year where the games were on, they just looked and felt a little different.
Our numbers for Country Championships may have been lower than past years, but our Country Affiliates were more than happy just to be back playing weekend representative Touch.
The weather was a mixed bag, games were fast, intense, and heated, and the passion for the title was there for all to see.
It was déjà vu in the Men’s Open with defending champions Wollongong (who won their semi-final in an exciting drop off against Newcastle) up against the boys from Doyalson. Coach Karley Banks has always stated that the boys from the Gong were always the ones they had to watch and would always bring out the best of her players when push came to shove. In a tough grind, the Doyalson boys were able to get over the line and take the win 3-2. With their 5th Country Championships title in 6 years and with State Cup potentially (we did say potentially) 6 weeks away, could this be s sign of things too come?
In the Women’s Open Division, Central Coast and Wallsend took to the field just as the afternoon storm hit. With both teams filled with young talent and Coaches with years of experience and wisdom, you knew this game would go down to the wire. And it did. With players exhausted a drop off was to decide the winner with Wallsend taking the win 3-2.
From all the staff at NSW Touch, we would like to thank all the players and coaches who abided by the Covid-19 Rules in place for our events in 2020.
We would also like to thank the parents who abided by the 1 parent only rule and no spectators.
Thanks also go to our Referees who were running 5 games a day over the weekend.
RESULTS 2020 COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEN’S
Doyalson 3 def Wollongong 2
Player of the Final – Mitch Wilton
WOMEN’S OPEN
Wallsend 3 def Central Coast 2
Player of the Final – Matilda James
MIXED OPEN
Wallsend 5 def Mudge 4
Player of the Final – Kurt Grogan
MEN’S JUNIOR
Peninsula 4 def Port Macquarie 3
Player of the Final – Tom Sawyer
MEN’S MASTERS
Deakin 4 def Newcastle City 2
Player of the Final – Brad Squires
MEN’S SENIORS
Central Coast 3 def Newcastle 2
WOMEN’S SENIORS
Mudgee 4 def Wallsend 1
Player of the Final – Peta Newsome
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Wallsend – 75
Newcastle – 70
Mudgee/Central Coast – 35
