The semi-finals of Narrabri Touch’s 2022 season ladies’ and men’s competitions were contested at the Cooma Oval fields on Monday evening, which saw four teams progress through to grand final night, eight teams book their spots in the preliminary final games this Monday, and four other teams eliminated from their divisions.
The winners of the major semi-finals were the teams that went straight into the grand finals, which the Narrabri Touch committee announced on Monday evening would no longer be played at Dangar Park on Friday, December 9, but would now be contested on Monday, December 12, at Cooma Oval.
Those four sides were the Grumley Builders men’s A-grade, Agies Ladies in ladies’ A-grade, DTA Treated Timber Lumberjacks in men’s B-grade, and Blue Birds in ladies’ B-grade.
Grumley Builders took on Lations in the men’s A-grade major semi-final and the defending champions scored a 7-4 victory. Tom Nolan bagged a double in that win and teammates Nick Anderson, Hamish Duncan, Jydon Hill, Hamish Nolan and Toby Keys all crossed once, while Lations’ tries were scored by Declan Rooney, who went over twice, Isaiah Cochrane and Clifford Toomey Jr.
The A-grade ladies competition’s defending champions’ win was also by a three-try margin as Agies Ladies downed SPA Redbacks 5-2. The 2022 season’s leading try-scorer Bella Cruickshank came out firing for her side as she claimed three tries in that game. Teammates Teagan Conomos and Krista Zarka chipped in with a try each, and the Redbacks’ two tries were scored by Brooke Field.
The ladies’ B-grade major semi-final was an even closer contest that was decided by two points as a Rya Knox hat-trick guided Blue Birds to a 3-1 victory against CBRE. CBRE’s try was scored by Georgia Rogan.
The most comfortable major semi-final win of the evening was earned by DTA Treated Timber Lumberjacks, which outscored Cougars 9-4. Todd Farrer and Morgan Jones both bagged doubles for the winning team in that game, and its other five tries were scored by Dylan Duncan, Chase Magner, Clayton Pursche, Drew Tapscott and Lachlann Thorn. Two of the Cougars’ four tries were scored by Kaylan Murray, and the two others were claimed by Rowan Keeler and Kobe Toomey.
Lations, SPA Redbacks, CBRE and Cougars now turn their attention to their respective preliminary finals on Monday, November 9, which they will play against the teams that won the minor semi-final games on Monday.
Those teams were Win Or Booze in men’s A-grade, Specialised Quarries and Concrete in ladies’ A-grade, Ballbusters in men’s B-grade and Touch’n’Go in ladies’ B-grade.
Win Or Booze got up 6-5 following a drop-off in the men’s A-grade minor semi-final against the Wilga Pelicans. Those sides were locked at five tries apiece at the end of regulation time after Jake Brayshaw scored a double for Win Or Booze and his teammates Caleb McDonald, Cooper Brayshaw and Jakeb Nipperess all went over once each, and Wilga Pelicans players Toby Bentley, Frazer Penberthy, Sid Harvey, Lucas Middleton and James Baker all scored a try each.
Win Or Booze had camped itself on the Pelicans’ tryline midway through the two-minute drop-off period and the side created an overlap, which led to Connor Hill diving over into the right corner. Win Or Booze then managed to hold on in defence and forced an error as the siren sounded to win the game and progress to the preliminary final.
The ladies’ A-grade minor semi-final was never any chance of going to a drop-off as Specialised Quarries and Concrete downed Wilga Westies 14-0 to set up a preliminary final contest against the Redbacks. Abby McClure was superb in that game as she went over for six tries. Her teammates Gerri Cruckshank, Zoe Campbell and Cassidy Staines all scored doubles, and Jessie Schwager and Bec Armstrong crossed for a try each.
The B-grade men’s minor semi-final was won by Ballbusters, which have joined Cougars in the competition’s preliminary final.
Ballbusters scored a 9-3 win against NFC after Jack Pixley scored a hat-trick, Matt Hall bagged a double and teammates Ken Nolan, Paul Bushby, Murray Scott and Scott Rickard added a try each. NFC’s three tries were scored by Seamus Hunt, Michael Haire and Mark Rottger.
Joining CBRE in the B-grade ladies’ preliminary final is Touch’n’Go after the side won its minor semi-final 5-1 against Hounddogs on Monday. Caitlin Evans scored twice for the winning side, and her teammates Alex Bennett, Brooklyn Cooper and Zara Foley all crossed once each. Hounddogs’ try was scored by Emily Colless.
Meanwhile, Monday’s decision to reschedule the 2022 season two grand final night was made by the Narrabri Touch committee, which said that a fantastic night of touch would still be expected come December 12.
“All players, referees and spectators please be advised that, upon committee discussion, the decision has been made to move the touch grand final date from Friday, December 9, to Monday, December 12,” a Narrabri Touch statement announced.
“This will also mean a change of venue back to Cooma Oval.
“This will still be a fantastic night of touch with some very high-quality games, and we still can’t wait to see everyone down there.”
The preliminary final fixtures and referee appointments for Monday, December 5, are as follows:
6pm:
B-grade men’s preliminary final on field one – Cougars v Ballbusters (referees – Jakeb Nipperess, Clifford Toomey Junior and Brett Allison); B-grade women’s preliminary final on field two – CBRE v Touch’n’Go (referees – Wayne Nott, Abby McClure and Shannon Rily).
6.35pm:
A-grade men’s preliminary final on field one – Lations v Win Or Booze (referees – Tom Nolan, Craig Gleeson and Nathan Dicks); A-grade women’s preliminary final on field two – SPA Redbacks v Specialised Quarries and Concrete (referees – Ken Nolan, Brendon Warnock and Linton Grumley).
