Dubbo Touch Football Association has walked away from the 2015 NSW Country Championships with one grand final win after a hugely successful tournament played over the weekend.
700 players converged on Dubbo for the two days of action and the finals on Sunday afternoon produced some classic matches.
The Dubbo Devils Women’s 30s side were standouts all competition and they were celebrating by the end of it after a convincing 4-1 win in their decider against the Newcastle City Knights.
While it wasn’t the dream result for the Dubbo Devils open women’s side, who went down to an incredibly talented Berkeley Vale Panthers in the grand final, it was still a successful tournament and Dubbo Touch Football Association’s Mandy Turner, who also played in the opens side, was delighted with the weekend.
“Dubbo really went awesome, we haven’t made a final in a long time and for a lot of those 30s girls it’s their first time together,” she said, before speaking about the continued growth and improvement of the sport in Dubbo.
“I know when I first moved here about eight years ago we’d only send a couple of teams to the Country Championships and would get beat convincingly every game but now we’re putting it to every team.”
The healthy crowds at Riverbank Oval were treated to some entertaining play while also getting to see some Australian players in action during the 49 teams played during the two days.
The Newcastle City Knights club had a stellar weekend with eight sides making their respective grand finals and three of those went on to claim the silverware.
The Doyalson Dragons proved to be too strong in the Men’s Open division showing their class with a standout 11-1 victory over the Newcastle City Knights.
The Jerrabomberra Storm also won two grand finals and Turner admitted it was pleasing to be in such a well run tournament that Dubbo should be proud of.
“While it was a hot weekend there were a lot of spectators and there was a good vibe around,” Turner said.
“In the Country Championships people travel from all over and bring their families so it’s a good carnival and there’s lots of camaraderie.
Results
Men’s 20
Referees: J.Taylor, D.Cuppit, Z.Schembri
Result: Beresfield Bandits 8 Def Newcastle City Knights 2
Player of the final #2 Harrison O’Brien Beresfield Bandits
Women’s 20
Referees: P.Balcombe, A.Faulkner, N.Dickson
Result: Newcastle City Knights 5 Def Wagga Wagga Vipers 4
Player of the final #12 Kelsey French Newcastle City Knights
Women’s 30
Referees: V.Costigan, N.Scarfone, P.Keyte
Result: Dubbo Devils 4 Def Newcastle City Knights 1
Player of the final: #2 Rachelle Darcy Dubbo Devils
Men’s 30
Referees: J.Banfield, J.Schumacher, J.Frost
Result: Newcastle City Knights 5 Def Wagga Wagga Vipers 4
Player of the final: #14 Emmanuel Conde Newcastle City Knights
Women’s 40
Referees: J.Powyer, F.Scarfone, G.Oaten
Result: Jerrabomberra 4 Def Newcastle City Knights 3
Player of the Final: #15 Julie-Ann Craig Jerrabomberra
Men’s 40
Referees: P.Millington, I.Gimarco, T.Bradley
Result: Jerrabomberra 3 Def Newcastle 1
Player of the Final: #2 Todd Mills
Men’s 50
Referees: R.McKechnie, S.Harris, T.Ahsee
Result: Newcastle 5 Def Wollongong 4
Player of the Final: #8 Doriano Meta Wollongong
Mixed Open
Referees: J.Davis, P.Costigan, N.Altin
Result: Wollongong Devils 11 Def Doyalson Dragons 3
Player of the final: # 21 Benjamin McLennan Wollongong Devils
Women’s Opens
Referees: S.Clark, C.Reynolds, Amanda Draper
Result: Berkeley vale Panthers 11 Def Dubbo Devils 1
Player of the Final: #1 Madison Crowe Berkeley Vale Panthers
Men’s Open
Referees: T.Calabria, K.Skelly, D.Baggio
Result: Doyalson Dragons 11 Def Newcastle 4
Player of the Final: #12 Dylan Thompson Doyalson Dragons
