Touch Football Australia brings you the latest edition of “A Set of Six" with this week's rapid-fire news 'plays' from around the Country.
TFA's National Media Coordinator Karley Banks and TFA's Media Intern Henry Holland bring you up to date every week with a selection of six 'plays' on the latest news, views, and events nationally.
Welcome to Touch Football Australia's a Set of Six – Volume Twenty Three.
VICTORIA (VIC)
Play: # 1
Victoria excel at 2007 X-Blades Queensland State Regional Championships
Victoria completed a successful venture to Sunny Queensland where they competed in the 2007 X-Blades Queensland State Regional Championships that took place last weekend (5th – 7th October) in Toowoomba.
The Victorian Women’s Open team did their home state proud, showcasing some brilliant and competitive Touch Football.
Scott Langdon’s women fought hard through their six games and impressed on several occasions against teams with current Queensland State of Origin and Australian Open Women’s, Mixed, and Youth representatives.
The standard of Victorian Touch is set to improve with affiliate, A-grade, VT League, “Trans Tasman” challenge and National Touch League experience available to the players.
Players weren’t the only ones to taking part in the event.
Victorian referees Sally Melzer and Aaron McRoberts attended the tournament.
Sally had the honour of refereeing the Women’s Open Grand Final, whilst Aaron did the Men’s Over-35 Grand Final.
This is great recognition of the standard and quality of Victoria’s referees.
Finally there was also a Victorian in the coaching ranks.
Mick Lovett coached the South Queensland Sharks’ Open Men to the X-Blades State Regional Championship title.
The involvement of all the Victorians at one of Queensland’s premier events is a testament to the talent and growth in Victorian Touch Football.
Other events:
The ongoing drought has forced Borderline Touch Association to start its season one week early. The use of JC Lowe Oval has only been guaranteed until December 17 so the competition will tap off on October 15, 2007. The competition will finish with a Gala Grand Final day on December 16. The Moira Shire is trying to obtain water to ensure competition next year. If this is possible a second 10-week summer competition will begin on January 14, 2008. Registration is $500 for a senior team and $250 for juniors. Anyone wishing to enter a team or play as an individual is welcome to contact Wayne Demery on 0438 644 505.
The Victorian Touch website: www.victouch.com.au
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT)
Play: # 2
Junior Touch Showcase and Super League Doubleheader
This Sunday 14 October 2007 sees a doubleheader round of the ACT Super League Series.
The series kicked off in the new Thursday night format last week. There were some great matches, including a surprise upset by the Tuggeranong Vikings over Canberra City in the Women’s Division.
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The special Sunday doubleheader round will be played at Deakin. The Under-12 and Under-15 ACT Boys and Girls teams will play a series of round-robin games in between the Super League fixtures as final preparation for their tour to Melbourne for the School Sport Nationals next week.
The day provides the opportunity for the ACT’s talented juniors to see elite level Opens players in action, demonstrating that there is a pathway of Touch participation ahead of them.
It also provides ACT Touch the chance to showcase the junior players who have developed through the ACT junior programs.
Following the fixtures, the junior players will be presented with their representative uniforms. There will be a BBQ and social get together to allow players of all ages to mingle and talk Touch.
For more info visit www.acttouch.com.au or phone (02) 6212 2880
Other events:
Why not bring your team to the 2007 CANBERRA CUP?
November 2nd – 4th Deakin Fields – Canberra ACT
- All TFA affiliated players/teams welcome
- Nomination Fee: $350/team including GST
- Divisions: Men’s, Women’s and Mixed (Both Social and Competitive)
- A great hit out for Sydney teams prior to NSWTA State Cup
- Prize money in the competitive divisions
Enquiries to ACT Touch Association on (02) 6212 2880 or info@acttouch.com.au
The ACT Touch Association website: www.acttouch.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA (WA)
Play: # 3
Western Australia’s online forum "The SuB BoX" is back!
After several months off the scene, the "SuB BoX" forum has returned just in time for a big summer of Touch Footy action.
The forum is a great way to share news, views and ideas with the Touch Football world, so visit the SuB BoX today and have your say.
There will be plenty to discuss on the forum with Brothers (Saturday), Northern (Monday and Wednesday), Southern (Monday and Wednesday), Fremantle (Monday and Wednesday), Tompkins Park (Tuesday) and Rosalie (Thursday) competitions all commencing this week.
Other events:
- It was an action-packed weekend with WA staff hosting a successful “Chew The Fat” gathering on Friday afternoon. Staff members, administrators, referees, coaches, players and the State Council were all represented at Kings Park. The Western Australia Touch Association hopes to hold another “Chew The Fat” event just prior to Christmas.
- On the weekend, a Referee Presenter course and Referee Coach course were also held. 10 individuals were present at the courses that will greatly assist associations in being able to further develop referees as well as take some pressure off the State Referee Panel. WA refereeing identities John Bedford, Annabelle Connolly, Henry Dos Santos, Brendon Hill and Grant Hill conducted the courses.
WA Touch would like to thank all the individuals who participated and assisted in the weekend’s activities.
The Western Australia Touch Association website: www.touchwest.com
SOUTH AUSTRALIA (SA)
Play: # 4
2007 Australasian Masters Games
The 2007 Australasian Masters Games are underway in Adelaide, running from the 5th – 14th of October.
Touch Football will be played from the 11th – 14th, with 38 teams from around Australia and two Papua New Guinea teams registered for the extravaganza.
There will be a ‘Meet and Greet’ BBQ function on the first night of Touch Football competition.
Finals will be held on Sunday 14th October.
Good luck to everyone involved.
Other events:
Nominations for the City Touch Summer Season are closing soon. Contact Renee on 0401 999 715 if you are interested in taking part this summer.
The Touch Football South Australia website: www.touchsa.com.au
NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT)
Play: # 5
The Darwin Touch Competition gears up for the final half of the season
Dream Team has had a dream run in the first half of the Darwin Touch Men’s Division 1 season, winning all of its games to date.
Crocs are in second, having suffered their only loss at the hands of Dream Team.
Crocs also drew with Incredibles earlier in the season.
Palmerston Bulls are in third position in front of Bundy Bears.
Just outside the top-four is new team Incredibles, who have given the top teams some good challenges.
Honkers have struggled with consistency so far this season, and sit further down the ladder.
In the Women’s Division 1 competition the table is extremely tight.
Palmerston Bulls are in top spot on 25 points ahead of Scorpians on 22.
Crocs are in third position on 21.
All About Us and Diva’s round out the competition.
Diva’s are a new team with a lot of young players.
They are improving each week and are challenging the top teams in all their games.
We can expect some competitive games in the coming weeks between the Women’s teams as they fight it out for the top position on the ladder.
Other events:
Darwin Touch will be conducting a Level 1 Referee course on Saturday 13th October 2007 commencing at 9.00am.
The Northern Territory website: www.touchnt.com.au
QUEENSLAND (QLD)
Play: # 6
SQBD and Border Districts dominate X-Blades State Regional Championships
South Queensland & Border District have taken out the 2007 X-Blades Queensland State Regional Championships with strong performances in the Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Open divisions.
The Sharkies were also successful in Women’s 20s, and 35s categories.
Brisbane Cobras finished second, while host region South West Queensland placed third with strong showings across all 13 contested divisions.
65 teams attended the Championships with more than 1500 players, coaches, spectators and officials converging on Toowoomba for the event.
At the conclusion of the tournament Queensland squads were selected across all 13 competing divisions for the 2008 State of Origin series, which set to take place in August in Sydney next year.
In the near future, Queensland State squads will be ratified by the Queensland Touch Association, and letters will be sent to selected Squad members.
Following acceptance of positions, State squads will be announced on the Queensland Touch web-site
Results: X-Blades State Regional Championships 2007
Men’s Open
South Queensland and Border Districts (8) def Central Queensland (5)
Player of the Final: Damien Moar (SQBD)
Player of the Series: Drummayne Dayberg-Muir (SQBD)
Women’s Open
South Queensland and Border Districts (3) def Brisbane Cobras (2)
Player of the Final: Teena McIlveen (SQBD)
Player of the Series: Peta Rogerson (SQBD)
Mixed Open
South Queensland and Border Districts (7) def Brisbane Cobras (4)
Player of the Final: John Andrews (SQBD)
Player of the Series: Ben McCullen (SQBD)
Men’s 20s
Brisbane Cobras (8) def South Queensland and Border Districts (4)
Player of the Final: Brendan Andrews (BC)
Player of the Series: Karl Skinner (SQBD)
Women’s 20s
South Queensland and Border Districts (7) def Sunshine Coast (4)
Player of the Final: Jessica Shaw (SQBD)
Player of the Series: Jessica Shaw (SQBD)
Men’s 30s
South West Queensland (10) def Brisbane Cobras (6)
Player of the Final: Neil Ward (SW)
Player of the Series: Alex Hinch (SW)
Women’s 30s
South West Queensland (7) def North Queensland (5)
Player of the Final: Karyn Murphy (SW)
Player of the Series: Dione Kelvin (NQ)
Men’s 35s
South Queensland and Border Districts (10) def South West Queensland (3)
Player of the Final: Peter Tong (SQBD)
Player of the Series: Shane Rigby (SQBD)
Women’s 35s
South West Queensland (4) def Central Queensland (2)
Player of the Final: Lorelle Sankey (SW)
Player of the Series: Lorelle Sankey (SW)
Women’s 40s
South Queensland and Border Districts (4) def North Queensland (2)
Player of the Final: Terri Kronk (SQBD)
Player of the Series: Lynette McCall (NQ)
Men’s 45s
Sunshine Coast (4) def Brisbane Cobras (3)
Player of the Final: Stewart MacCarther (SC)
Player of the Series: Andrew Hooper (SC)
Men’s 50s
Brisbane Cobras (4) def Sunshine Coast (2)
Player of the Final: Don Baartz (BC)
Player of the Series: Terry Ford (SW)
Other events:
The Queensland Touch Association has employed a new Game Development Officer in the Central Queensland region. Clint Whithers will be based in Rockhampton and will assist the regional administrator as well as providing technical and administration support to affiliates in the CQ region.
The Queensland Touch web-site: www.qldtouch.com.au
That’s it for this week’s edition of “A Set of Six”.
Please be sure to check out each State’s web-site for all the latest news and information about Touch Football from around the nation.
