SIXTY SECONDS IN TOUCH
Welcome to another edition of Sixty Seconds in Touch where the office is going crazy with NTL preparations…it’s just 10 days until teams, coaches, players, officials and spectators will be converging on the city of Coffs Harbour to compete in Australia’s premier Touch competition.
· The NTL draw has had several changes made to it after team withdrawals and so forth. Make sure you check the front page of the website again, to ensure you’ve been looking at the correct version of the draw.
Attention NTL referees: This is your last chance to purchase referees gear before the NTL. Please remember TFA will not be taking referees gear to the event, as we do not have a merchandise staff member there to sell the gear.
If you’re after some cheap socks check out the following link: SOCKS FOR SALE
If you would like to make a last minute purchase please call or email Rachel on 1800 654 951 or media@austouch.com.au with the details on what you want, credit card and postage details. Orders need to be before the end of this week, otherwise you may not receive your gear before the NTL.
· The tournament magazine is at the printer’s this week, there’s been problems as usual with teams pulling out and causing headaches as the draw as had to be re-done again, but we’re hoping the magazine will still be bigger and better than ever and with final proofing tomorrow, we’ll be looking to pick up any final mistakes and try to ensure the draw is 100% correct.
· TFA is looking for a Player Representative to join the TFA Rules Sub-committee. Expressions of interest are welcome from any current player. We would like to appoint somebody to the role prior to the NTL, so please submit your proposals to ptopp@austouch.com.au and include a brief summary of your playing career, together with any information considered relevant.
The role includes meeting 1-2 times per year to consider submissions, reviews and any refinements to the playing rules. Other members of the sub-committee come from the referee, coach and administration arms.
· Touch Victoria is holding their 2006 Country Knockout on April 8 and 9 at Sale. Check out www.victouch.com.au for more info.
· In other Victorian news… Triton Touch Club gathered at the Parkview Hotel in Richmond on Friday last, to reminisce & celebrate the season that was summer 2005/06, and to present the annual awards at the clubs Presentation Night.
Summer 2005 Award winners:
WOMENS B
MVP – Bree Watkins
Coaches Award – Rach Herdmann
MENS B
MVP – Rob Mair
Coaches Award – Damien Curran
WOMENS A
MVP – Christine Massa
Coaches Award – Carmen Dean
MENS A
Stuart Davis Shield - Jason Kaiwai
Coaches Award – Chris Katal
The Triton Mens A side won their third consecutive premiership in the Elwood Park Touch Association competition, bringing the club to an impressive total of 16 titles in their short history.
Led by Clinton Burke, Jason Kaiwai, Gareth Royal and Vu Le, the side claimed with a tough 6-4 win over Bro Town. Clinton Burke has now collected 13 premierships (from 15 attempts) in Mens and Mixed A grade since 1999. A very impressive effort indeed from Clinton and his Triton team mates.
· QTA are holding a level 1 coaching course on April 1 and 2 in Brisbane. Check out http://www.qldtouch.com.au for more information.
· NSWTA are calling for suitably qualified applicants to be State assistant coaches and managers for the 2006 State Of Origin series. In a significant change to previous appointments applicants will not apply for a division, they will apply for a position and the NSWTA Coaching Panel will appoint applicants where they believe they are best suited to the needs of the state. For more info contact NSW Touch on (02) 9558 9333
· A Special General Meeting of the South Australian Touch Association Inc. will be held on Saturday 1 April 2006 at 10.00am in the Tattunga Park (City Touch) Clubrooms, Park 17, South Parklands, Adelaide.
· WA and the Northern Territory will compete in Men's, Women's and Mixed Open later this year in a selection tournament for the 2007 NTL Barbarians Open division teams.
The event, to be held in Perth on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th August will mark the return of the WA Open teams to regular competition. It will become the event where players from both WA and the NT push their claims for selection with NTL teams. The tournament will be rotated annually between Perth and Darwin and promises a top level of competition. For more info see http://www.touchwest.com/
· In other TouchWest news, the Perth Brothers have enjoyed a memorable Grand Final day of the Super League competition, winning all three open divisions.
After defeating Southern in both the Men's and Women's Finals and then Bunbury in the Mixed, the Brothers will no doubt be hoping to repeat the performance at the State Championships next week.
Brothers captain Armis Black was named the Keith Harris-Walker Medal winner for the series, while Fremantle's Tanya Mitchell received the Karamea Dorset Medal as Women's MVP. The Super 6 for the Mens and Womens Open were also announced:
Women's Super Six
Tanya Mitchell - Fremantle
Zoe Dacey - Northern
Shelley Matcham - Southern
Taima Komene - Brothers
Charli Simpkins - Brothers
Toia Anderson – Northern
Men's Super Six
Armis Black - Brothers
Andrew Knox - Southern
Mike Tan - Rosalie
Craig Boston - Southern
Glen Godecke - Northern
Trevor Twose - Rockingham
· Remember, if you have any information for the TFA Sixty Seconds in Touch column, contact Rachel on media@austouch.com.au
