On Friday 17th November, NSW Touch Football hosted the 2017 Year 7/8 All Schools State Final at Penrith Touch Grounds.
With schools from all over NSW coming together at Penrith, it was clear that we had the best of the best from each of the regional qualifying events at the State Final.
18 teams made up a very strong Girls division and 16 teams in the Boys saw 86 games played throughout the day, with the winners needing to surpass 7 schools, to take the title of State Champion.
For Bankstown Girls High School and Casula High School Boys Team, they were both first-timers attending the State Final. Although they didn’t make the final rounds of their divisions, it was great to see some new talent coming through from the Bankstown regional schools.
Goulburn regional winners in both divisions, Young High School, showed their continuous development from previous events, with their Girls team making the Finals series for the first time at the Year 7/8 State Final.
Patrician Brothers Blacktown Boys team were in fine form at the State Final, coming in as 2 times defending Champions in their division, and the pressure was on to regain the title. The Parramatta regional champions won each of their round games, plus the qualifying and semi-finals to face off against Narrabeen Sports High School, in the Grand Final.
It was sure to be a battle for the Boys title with both Narrabeen and Patrician Brothers remaining undefeated throughout all of their previous games. The Grand Final lived up to its expectations with touchdowns far and few in between as a tight defence from both sides saw the score staying close till the end, but Patrician Brothers were just too good on the day taking the championship title 2 – 1 over Narrabeen Sports High School.
St Joseph’s Regional College Girls team came in to the State Final undefeated from their Taree regional event. They continued their streak throughout the day, finding themselves in the Grand Final against NBSC – Mackellar Girls, who were crown the Manly Regional Champions.
Both teams took on the challenge of meeting their opponents touchdown to keep the score close the entire game, but with a few minutes left St Joseph’s RC made a game-saving touch on their opponent to hold them out for the overall win which saw St Joseph’s RC taking the crown over NBSC – Mackellar Girls 4 – 3 with . This saw St Joseph’s RC’s take out their first ever State Champion title (in any division).
The Player of the Finals went to Cuban Porter-Sheen from Narrabeen Sports High School in the Boys; and Chloe Eichmann from St Joseph’s Regional College in the Girls. Both players were exceptional, not only in the final, but throughout all of their games on the day.
Congratulations to all the players, coaches and teachers who participated in the day; a big thank you to Penrith Touch Association for hosting the event, and Jackson Mills (Australian Mixed Open Player) for awarding the players with their champions and runners up medallions.
This event concludes the 2017 School Event season, and as we finalise the 2018 dates, keep your eyes peeled on our NSWTA School Event Page for updates of when we will be coming to a town near you next year.
