Narrabri Touch’s 2023 season mixed competition grand final teams put on a show at Hogan Oval on Monday night as the season wrapped up in style.
There were three deciders played on the night and they were all tight contests, with three points being the largest winning margin.
Sprayerbarn Spinouts were crowned the A-grade champions after Tradies and Ladies won the B-grade final and Specialised Quarries and Concrete prevailed in the C-grade decider.
The A-grade final promised to be close after the Spinouts and Cougars finished the regular season locked on 35 points at the top of the ladder after 10 wins, a draw, a washed-out draw and a loss each. It was the Spinouts that claimed the minor premiership as they had a superior for and against difference, but the Cougars won the semi-final contest between the two sides 7-6 in a drop-off last month.
When the two sides met for just the second time this season, the Spinouts got the job done by one point as they prevailed 6-5 to claim the title.
It was a close match from the first minute as the two sides went try for try. The Spinouts led 6-4 late in the contest after Toby Keys had crossed for his side’s final try of the night, and then Cougars’ Isaiah Cochrane went over to make it a one-point ball game.
However, the Spinouts got the job done as they defended their narrow lead in the final five minutes.
The Spinouts’ tries were scored by Tori Allison, Nick Anderson, Abbey Anderson, Connor Hill, Jock Small and Keys, while Cochrane bagged a double for the Cougars and his teammates Chris Condran, Rya Knox and Clifford Toomey Junior all scored a try each.
The B-grade grand final was won 5-3 by Tradies and Ladies over Win Or Booze.
James Baker and Georgia Hunt scored two tries each for the winning side and their teammate Hayden Bell crossed for the other try, while Win Or Booze’s tries were shared between Brooklyn Cooper, Caleb McDonald and Jonty Schwager.
The C-grade grand final teams were separated by three tries as Specialised Quarries and Concrete downed Wilga Pelicans 6-3.
Abby McClure and Drew Tapscott both bagged doubles for the winning side and their teammates Scott Purcell and Clayton Pursche went over for a try each.
Wilga Pelicans’ Jack Pixley claimed two tries and Emma Whitton scored the other for her team.
A presentation was held after the A-grade grand final had concluded, where awards were distributed by the Narrabri Touch Committee.
The teams were presented with their prizes and the winners collected the trophies, and there were three player-of-the-final awards, which were won by Sprayerbarn Spinouts’ Toby Keys (A-grade), Tradies and Ladies’ Jacob Nichols (B-grade) and Specialised Quarries and Concretes Clayton Pursche (C-grade).
The non-playing referees this season were thanked for their efforts. They included Wayne Nott, Pat Mowle, Jakeb Nipperess, Matt Roberts and Larry Scott. Nott was then announced as the recipient of the competition’s referee award.
Narrabri Touch president Mereka Gleeson was thrilled with the quality of the three grand finals following an enjoyable mixed season.
“It was a really good night,” Gleeson said.
“There was a great atmosphere and there was some really exciting touch played.
“It was really good to see that the three games were all close and they were played in good spirit.”
Gleeson added that the 2023 mixed competition was a very enjoyable and competitive one.
Narrabri Touch’s 2023 season men’s and women’s competitions will likely get underway late next month and will run through to December.
Those details were to be discussed at Narrabri Touch’s annual general meeting last night.
