Narrabri Touch’s inaugural Yowie Cup event a huge success

Narrabri Touch hosted its inaugural Yowie Cup touch footy tournament on Saturday at the Dangar Park fields. The event was labelled a huge success by players and committee members alike.

There were 11 teams in action in the mixed event on what was a hot day in Narrabri, and a solid platform has now been laid for an even bigger and better event next year.

Four of those teams competed in the opens division, three contested the over-35s division, and four lined up in the 16-years-and-under division.

One Narrabri side was victorious on the day as The Rolling Bones team was crowned champions of the over-35s division.

That side included Jamie Charlton, Craig Gleeson, Ken Nolan, Clayton Pursche, Nathan Dicks, Michelle O’Connor, Brendon Warnock, Tanya Nolan, Cathy Conomos, Jessica Craig, Leisa Eather and Rebecca Warnock.

There was one more local winner as Narrabri’s Ryan Williams competed in the 16-years-and-under champion team, Hornets, which was made up of mostly Tamworth players.

The winning team in the open division was Euraba, a Tamworth-based side that was started by Johnny Knox in 1989 and has seen many impressive touch players pull on its uniform over the past 34 years.

While Euraba well and truly set the standard at the tournament, all 11 teams played some fantastic touch footy on the day.

Narrabri Touch’s 2023 Yowie Cup over-35s division champions The Rolling Bones - back, Jamie Charlton, Craig Gleeson, Ken Nolan, Clayton Pursche, Nathan Dicks, Michelle O’Connor, front, Brendon Warnock, Tanya Nolan, Cathy Conomos, Jessica Craig, Leisa Eather and Rebecca Warnock. Narrabri Touch’s 2023 Yowie Cup over-35s division champions The Rolling Bones - back, Jamie Charlton, Craig Gleeson, Ken Nolan, Clayton Pursche, Nathan Dicks, Michelle O’Connor, front, Brendon Warnock, Tanya Nolan, Cathy Conomos, Jessica Craig, Leisa Eather and Rebecca Warnock.

Touchy Tourists - back, Hamish and Tom Nolan, Jydon Hill, Jacob Booby, Linton Grumley, front, Brooke Field, Emma John, Tori Allison, Hayley Lang, Miranda Hamilton and Shona McFarland. Touchy Tourists - back, Hamish and Tom Nolan, Jydon Hill, Jacob Booby, Linton Grumley, front, Brooke Field, Emma John, Tori Allison, Hayley Lang, Miranda Hamilton and Shona McFarland.

Wee Waa High School - back, Rakaia Skinner, Hayden Currey, James Williams, Lee Easterbrook, Kyne and Brock Allen, front, Matilda Currey, Georgia, Lexie and Taylor Horne and Ruby Currey. Wee Waa High School - back, Rakaia Skinner, Hayden Currey, James Williams, Lee Easterbrook, Kyne and Brock Allen, front, Matilda Currey, Georgia, Lexie and Taylor Horne and Ruby Currey.

The Untouchables - back, Gus Ford, Lennon Simmonds, Edward Bennett, Frazer Penberthy, Hunter Smith, Lincoln Saunders, front, Ava Smith, Lily McCahon, Asher Kelly, Ruby Stewart and Zoe Watkins. The Untouchables - back, Gus Ford, Lennon Simmonds, Edward Bennett, Frazer Penberthy, Hunter Smith, Lincoln Saunders, front, Ava Smith, Lily McCahon, Asher Kelly, Ruby Stewart and Zoe Watkins.

Hornets - back, Hudson Cantwell, Drew Carslake, Daniel Rushbrook, Henry Goldman, Ryan Williams, Jack Carslake, front, Mabel Tucker, Kayla Hystek, Liv Steer, Claire Dowe and Lucy Grant. Absent from photo: Jack Goldman. Hornets - back, Hudson Cantwell, Drew Carslake, Daniel Rushbrook, Henry Goldman, Ryan Williams, Jack Carslake, front, Mabel Tucker, Kayla Hystek, Liv Steer, Claire Dowe and Lucy Grant. Absent from photo: Jack Goldman.

The Blue Devils - back, Liam Nott, Tom Carlyon, Darcy Gleeson, Eamon Martin, Luke Lowick, front, Aleira and Isabel Sunderland, Tilly Gleeson, Charlie Tout and Charlee Dickinson. The Blue Devils - back, Liam Nott, Tom Carlyon, Darcy Gleeson, Eamon Martin, Luke Lowick, front, Aleira and Isabel Sunderland, Tilly Gleeson, Charlie Tout and Charlee Dickinson.

Under-16 girls’ dash for cash race winner, Wee Waa High School’s Georgia Horne, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout. Under-16 girls’ dash for cash race winner, Wee Waa High School’s Georgia Horne, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout.

Under-16 boys’ dash for cash race winner, Dreamtime Touch’s Ngulawaa Knox, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout. Under-16 boys’ dash for cash race winner, Dreamtime Touch’s Ngulawaa Knox, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout.

Open ladies’ dash for cash race winner, Euraba’s Dhalara Knox, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout. Open ladies’ dash for cash race winner, Euraba’s Dhalara Knox, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout.

Open men’s dash for cash race winner, Moree Touch 2400’s Adrian Smith, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout. Open men’s dash for cash race winner, Moree Touch 2400’s Adrian Smith, with NNW Training’s Louise Tout.

Yowie Cup announcer Daniel Kahl with Narrabri Touch’s long-standing committee member and life member Joan O’Neill. Yowie Cup announcer Daniel Kahl with Narrabri Touch’s long-standing committee member and life member Joan O’Neill.

Narrabri Touch president Mereka Gleeson told The Courier that she was thrilled with how the day ran and said she was impressed with the standard of touch on display.

“It was really good,” Gleeson said of the event.

“It was really hot, but other than that we think it went well.

“I was really impressed (with the standard of touch played), especially in the opens division. The Moree and Tamworth teams, and our Narrabri team, all set a very high standard and it was very good to watch.

“There were 11 teams all up, which is a good starting point, and we are hoping for it to grow in years to come.

“We received lots of good feedback and people were really happy with the day.

“We’ll have a meeting soon and go through a few things, and I think that we’ll definitely be able to improve on it for next year.”

Narrabri’s open division side was the Touchy Tourists, which included Jydon Hill, Hamish Duncan, Linton Grumley, Toby Keys, Emma John, Tom and Hamish Nolan, Brooke Field, Tenayah Woodward, Harry Pattison, Shona McFarland, Miranda Hamilton and Tori Allison.

They did not win a game on the day but had two close losses as they went down 6-5 against Tamworth-based side Dreamtime Touch in round one and then 5-4 against Moree Touch 2400 in round three.

They were beaten convincingly 10-4 by the eventual champions, Euraba, in round two.

Euraba prevailed in all three of the pool games and Moree Touch 2400 won two of its three, meaning those two teams qualified for the decider. It was played under lights and was the final match at the 2023 event. The two teams produced a highly-entertaining game, and it was Euraba that ran away with a 4-1 win.

In the over-35s division, two local sides went head-to-head in the first round and it was The Rolling Bones that were victorious as they outscored Kamilaroi Krew 11-2.

Rolling Bones then downed Moree Tradies 6-3 in round two to secure a spot in the decider, which meant that the round three contest between the two winless sides would determine the other finalists.

Kamilaroi Krew edged out Moree Tradies 6-5 to claim that spot, but The Rolling Bones were too good in the final as they won 5-2.

Alongside Hornets in the 16-years-and-under division were two Narrabri teams, Untouchables and The Blue Devils, and also a Wee Waa High School side.

Wee Waa High School went through the pool games undefeated as it beat Hornets 6-5 in round one, The Blue Devils 8-5 in round two, and then The Untouchables 9-2 in round three.

Hornets bounced back from the loss in round one to beat the two Narrabri teams in rounds two and three to earn a spot in the final.

Hornets flipped the script on Wee Waa High School in the decider as they scored a 6-5 victory.

The Yowie Cup also hosted four dash for cash races, which saw some explosive speed on show. The under-16s girls’ race was won by Wee Waa High School’s Georgia Horne, the under-16s boys’ race was won by Dreamtime Touch’s Ngulawaa Knox, the open ladies’ race was won by Euraba’s Dhalara Knox, and the open men’s race was won by Moree Touch 2400’s Adrian Smith.

Gleeson said that Narrabri Touch appreciated the support of the local community and everyone who helped make the day a great success.

She thanked all of the hard-working Narrabri Touch committee members, who she said put in a huge amount of effort to make the day a great success.

That included Craig Gleeson, Linton Grumley, Joan O’Neill, Nathan Dicks, Lorraine Scott, Brett Allison, Steffi Lilliebridge and Emily McFetridge.

She also thanked Narrabri Rugby Club especially its president Mick Coffey, for the use of the facilities at Dangar Park, as well as Tianne Parker from MTEE who ran the bar, Ashley Kneale from Thyme 2 Eat who ran the canteen, Daniel Kahl who was the announcer, Tom Nolan who was the DJ, and Matt Roberts from Moree who conducted the refs course before the Yowie Cup and refereed multiple games throughout the day.

She also thanked all the teams and players who competed on the day, both locally and travelling, as well as the referees and the spectators.

She then acknowledged the Local Sport Grant Program from the NSW Office of Sport, which gave the Yowie Cup a major boost.

Finally, Gleeson thanked all of the generous sponsors who supported the 2023 Yowie Cup.

They included Narrabri Farm Centre, Carla Baxter Real Estate, Specialised Quarries and Concrete, Narrabri and North West Training, Hennessy Real Estate, Blooms on Maitland, Tapscott Services, The Grayhound, Barrakets, T-Table, Endulge Beauty, Narrabri RSL Sporting Body, Logan & Co, J&D Weed Management, Print Anything/Hip Pocket, and Now FM/2VM.