2020-21 summer touch season resumes | PHOTOS

Narrabri Touch Inc’s 2020-21 summer season returned in style on Monday evening with 10 entertaining matches.

The ladies’ competition teams contested their round 10 games, while men’s teams lined up for the first of their graded rounds following their nine-week ungraded campaign prior to the Christmas/summer break.

In round 10 on Monday, the two undefeated ladies’ teams went head-to-head. A hard-fought 3-1 win saw Agies Ladies claim outright first position on the ladder from Specialised Civil Services.

In another highly-anticipated match, third-placed Xtra took on fourth-placed Redbacks. An even closer contest was won 3-2 by Xtra.

In the other ladies’ matches, Blue Birds beat Hounddogs 12-1, BPR Tourist Hotel outscored OneDay Gals 6-0, and The Emasculators scored their first win of the season when they downed The Rippers 3-1.

In the men’s A-grade competition, Platform X Studio downed Win Or Booze 8-4, and Gee Bangers beat Damien Chiplin Plumbing 5-2.

In the men’s B-grade competition, DTA Lumberjacks outscored Mowley’s Maniacs 7-1, and a closer contest saw Stylies defeat Ballbusters 5-3.

Hounddogs’ Ashleigh Rose throws a pass. Hounddogs’ Ashleigh Rose throws a pass.

Gee Bangers’ Hayden Bell, left, throws a one-handed pass in his side’s 5-2 win against Damien Chiplin Plumbing on Monday after drawing out defender Shaun Fogarty. Gee Bangers’ Hayden Bell, left, throws a one-handed pass in his side’s 5-2 win against Damien Chiplin Plumbing on Monday after drawing out defender Shaun Fogarty.

Blue Birds’ Amy Baguley runs the ball upfield. Blue Birds’ Amy Baguley runs the ball upfield.

Ballbusters’ Jimmy Ward makes a line break as Stylies trio Jeremy and Wayne Saunders and Michael Haire watch on. Ballbusters’ Jimmy Ward makes a line break as Stylies trio Jeremy and Wayne Saunders and Michael Haire watch on.

RSL Roulettes’ Alex Reed (right) and Brooklyn Cooper race to the tryline. Reed eventually threw a pin-point pass which saw Cooper score in the corner. RSL Roulettes’ Alex Reed (right) and Brooklyn Cooper race to the tryline. Reed eventually threw a pin-point pass which saw Cooper score in the corner.

Ballbusters’ Geoff Artis dumps the ball as Stylies’ Jeremy Saunders makes the tag. Ballbusters’ Geoff Artis dumps the ball as Stylies’ Jeremy Saunders makes the tag.

Agies Ladies’ Alisha Conomos, left, made a run into the in-goal aread out of dummy half, then threw a pass to Bella Cruickshank, right, who scored before Specialised Civil Services’ Abby McClure, centre could make the tag. Agies Ladies’ Alisha Conomos, left, made a run into the in-goal aread out of dummy half, then threw a pass to Bella Cruickshank, right, who scored before Specialised Civil Services’ Abby McClure, centre could make the tag.

Damien Chiplin Plumbing’s Toby Bentley throws a pass. Damien Chiplin Plumbing’s Toby Bentley throws a pass.

Gee Bangers’ Todd Nichols dives to tag Damien Chiplin Plumbing’s Jayden Hayne. Gee Bangers’ Todd Nichols dives to tag Damien Chiplin Plumbing’s Jayden Hayne.

Blue Birds’ Taylah Fogarty runs the ball as Lara Richardson offers support. Blue Birds’ Taylah Fogarty runs the ball as Lara Richardson offers support.

Platform X Studio’s Brenton Cochrane wrong-foots Win Or Booze’s Brock Schwager. Platform X Studio’s Brenton Cochrane wrong-foots Win Or Booze’s Brock Schwager.

Xtra’s Georgia Rogan passes to her teammate Emma Cain. Xtra’s Georgia Rogan passes to her teammate Emma Cain.

Gee Bangers’ James Thomas throws a pass. Gee Bangers’ James Thomas throws a pass.

Agies Ladies’ Tashanny Clark dumps the ball as teammate Teagan Conomos prepares to keep the play rolling at dummy half. They are flanked by Specialised Civil Services defenders Natalia Smith and Gerri Cruckshank. Agies Ladies’ Tashanny Clark dumps the ball as teammate Teagan Conomos prepares to keep the play rolling at dummy half. They are flanked by Specialised Civil Services defenders Natalia Smith and Gerri Cruckshank.

The Emasculators’ Emma Haggerton stretches to tag The Rippers’ Emmjay Baker. The Emasculators’ Emma Haggerton stretches to tag The Rippers’ Emmjay Baker.

Ballbusters’ Ken Nolan throws a pass. Ballbusters’ Ken Nolan throws a pass.

Agies Ladies’ Martha Harvey races away towards the tryline. Agies Ladies’ Martha Harvey races away towards the tryline.

Phoenix Two390’s Holly Ford scores one of her four tries. Phoenix Two390’s Holly Ford scores one of her four tries.

Damien Chiplin Plumbing’s Ryan O’Neill throws a pass. Damien Chiplin Plumbing’s Ryan O’Neill throws a pass.

The Rippers’ Lucinda Coffey runs the ball upfield. The Rippers’ Lucinda Coffey runs the ball upfield.

RSL Roulettes’ Britt Young calls a try-saving tag as Phoenix Two390’s Miranda Hamilton went for the corner. RSL Roulettes’ Britt Young calls a try-saving tag as Phoenix Two390’s Miranda Hamilton went for the corner.

Agies Ladies’ Cathy Conomos throws a pass. Agies Ladies’ Cathy Conomos throws a pass.

Win Or Booze’s Connor Hill passes to his teammate Cooper Brayshaw. Win Or Booze’s Connor Hill passes to his teammate Cooper Brayshaw.

Specialised Civil Services’ Clare Larkin runs the ball upfield. Specialised Civil Services’ Clare Larkin runs the ball upfield.

Phoenix Two390’s Cassidy Staines races away towards the tryline. Phoenix Two390’s Cassidy Staines races away towards the tryline.

Platform X Studio’s Nathan Dicks throws a pass. Platform X Studio’s Nathan Dicks throws a pass.

Agies Ladies continued its impressive winning streak to 36 games with its top-of-the-table victory against Specialised Civil Services. Nine of those have been earned this season which has seen the side secure outright first position after 10 rounds, one of which saw no games played due to extreme heat.

Agies Ladies remarkably extended its for and against difference to 100 with its round 10 win. It has now scored 108 tries this season while conceding just eight.

With its win, Agies Ladies also took the tag of best defensive side for the season from Specialised Civil Services which now has 74 tries for and just nine against.

Agies Ladies took an early lead in the top-of-the-table clash on Monday with a try from Alisha Conomos, before Specialised Civil Services hit back when Laura Baguley dived over to even the score at 1-all.

The score remained that way for an extended period of the match, but Agies Ladies duo Martha Harvey and Bella Cruickshank crossed for a try each late in the game as their side continued its impressive unbeaten run.

In Xtra’s win against Redbacks, there were five different tryscorers. Emma Cain, Jess Craig and Stacey Galagher combined for Xtra’s three, while Redbacks’ two were shared between Zoe Campbell and Emma John.

Xtra’s win saw it move two wins clear of Redbacks, and move even with Specialised Civil Services on 27 points.

Xtra, which is now just a win behind top-ranked Agies Ladies, remained third due to the second-placed side’s superior for and against difference, while Redbacks remained fourth despite going down.

There was only one positional ladder change following the round 10 games, which saw The Emasculators leapfrog their opponents The Rippers from 10th into ninth.

The Emasculators achieved that with their first victory. In a 3-1 win, Onika McConnell bagged a double and Laura Nesbitt scored her side’s other try. The Rippers’ try was scored by Ruby Stewart.

The biggest win of round 10 was scored by the fifth-placed ladies’ side Blue Birds, which defeated Hounddogs 12-1. Taylah Fogarty, Georgia Hardman, Lidia McCauley and Anni Wenner combined for eight of those 12 tries with two apiece, while the other four were shared between Kimberley Laurie, Lara Richardson, Amanda Smith and Mikaela Woodward. Carly Baxter scored Hounddogs’ try.

That win saw Blue Birds finish round 10 with 21 points following five wins and four losses.

Fellow round 10 winners BPR Tourist and Phoenix Two390 also finished the round with 21 points but are sixth and seventh respectively due to for and against difference. Both of those sides scored comfortable victories in round 10.

BPR Tourist Hotel beat OneDay Gals 6-0, inspired by Lisa Macrae who scored four of her side’s tries. The other two were claimed by Mary Fielder and Jasmine Wheeler.

Phoenix Two390 downed RSL Roulettes 8-2. Holly Ford crossed for four tries for the winning side, teammate Miranda Hamilton bagged a double and Alex Bennett and Cassidy Staines scored a try each. Alex Reed and Brooklyn Cooper both scored BPR-Tourist Hotel’s tries.

In the first men’s A-grade match of the evening, Platform X Studio downed Win Or Booze 8-4. Daniel Kahl claimed a hat-trick of tries for the winning team, while teammates James Baker, Brenton Cochrane, Jacob Nichols, Declan Rooney and Brendon Warnock all scored one each. Win Or Booze’s Harry Pattison bagged a double for his team, and Cooper Brayshaw and Aliks Davis claimed the other two.

In the other men’s A-grade game, Gee Bangers started its graded campaign with a 5-2 win against Damien Chiplin Plumbing. Gee Bangers’ Hayden Bell crossed for four of his team’s tries and James Thomas scored the other. Toby Keys bagged a double for Damien Chiplin Plumbing.

In the first B-grade match of the evening, Stylies beat Ballbusters 5-3. Luke Flood went over for three tries for Stylies, and teammates Jeremy and Wayne Saunders secured one each. All three of Ballbusters’ tries were scored by Jimmy Ward.

In the other men’s B-grade game, DTA Lumberjacks flexed their muscles with a 7-1 win against Mowley’s Maniacs. Clayton Pursche claimed a hat-trick for DTA Lumberjacks, Matt McDonnell bagged a double and Todd Farrer and Joe Roy scored one each. Mowley’s Maniacs’ try was scored by Scott Connole.

Round 11 will be played on Monday, February 15. It will see the ladies’ teams play their final ungraded matches of the season.

The match of the round will see Xtra attempt to end Agies Ladies’ undefeated streak and join the ladder leaders at the top.

Fixtures are as follows:

6pm: Canteen duty – Tracy Warren.
Field one – Damien Chiplin Plumbing v Platform X Studio (Jydon Hill, Jess O’Neil); field two – Xtra v Agies Ladies (Wayne Nott, Lily Cruckshank); field three – Mowleys Maniacs v Stylies (David Toomey, Ken Nolan); field four – Redbacks v BPR-Tourist Hotel (Colby Davies, Kristie Toomey); field five – Specialised Civil v Hounddogs (Lidia McCauley, Gabrielle Chaffey).

6.45pm: Canteen duty – Shannon Rily.
Field one – OneDay Gals v The Rippers (Jess Craig, Teagan Conomos); field two – Ballbusters v Cougars (Clifford Toomey Jnr, Michael Haire); field three – Bluebirds v RSL Roulettes (Tori Allison, Natalia Smith); field four – Win or Booze v Grumley Builders (Ty Baker, Jacob Nichols); field five – The Emasculators v Phoenix2390 (Jon-Maree Baker, Sarah Gleeson).

Bye – GeeBangers, DTA Lumberjacks.