Steady as she goes – one of the competitors in the women’s competiton. NSW was victorious in the final, beating North Queensland 1-0. The men’s final saw NSW/ACT Country beat North Queensland 4-2. Photo by Bill Cunneen

Can’t touch this top talent

By Pte John Wellfare
ADF personnel from NSW and the ACT blitzed the opposition at the recent Defcredit Touch Football Championships.

Teams were grouped by region rather than service, with a total of 371 participants from Navy, Army, Air Force, Australian Public Service and Defence civilians playing for ACT/ NSW Country, North Queensland, NSW, Northern Territory, Southern States and South Queensland.

According to event coordinator Maj Michelle Breen, the quality and skill level of teams and individuals in the championships was some of the best ever for the ADF Touch Association.

“We’ve seen a definite improvement on the standard of touch this year,” she said.

“There were some extremly fast games with some extremely good plays.”

Participants were blessed with excellent weather conditions for the first three days, until rain on the last day brought an extra challenge to the finals.

“Players really had to step up to the conditions. They played in the rain all day through the semi’s and the finals and had to change their style of play a little, but it was still a very exciting day.”

The games were close all through the championships leading up to the finals, where NSW/ACT Country won 4-2 against North Queensland in the men’s final, while in the women’s, North Queensland was defeated by NSW 1-0.

Pte Joshua Woo, Spt Coy 6RAR, received the best and fairest award for the men’s open and Cpl Cassandra Sutton, 145 Sig Sqn, won the award in the women’s competition.

As well as deciding the top ADF teams, the championships allowed the selection of the ADF Touch Association’s National Representative Defence Warrior Squads to tour in 2003.