7 Sig Regt takes out relay rac

By WOFF Terry Connor

The ADF Touch Association (ADFTA) recently competed at Australia’s premier touch event – the National Touch League Championships in Coffs Harbour.

The ADFTA took four ‘Defence Warrior’ teams (a men’s over 30s, 35s, 40s and 50s) to this world-class event, taking on teams from all over Australia, including the very strong franchises from NSW and Qld.
All players met at RAAF Base Williamtown for a very limited two-day training camp on March 5-6 before moving up to Coffs Harbour for the actual tournament from March 7-10.

Although none of the four teams made it close to getting into the finals, all performed admirably given limited overall fitness, training and skills in comparison to the big gun teams from the main franchises out of Qld and NSW.

The Gold Coast Sharks had easily the best performing sides at the event, making four of the five grand finals and winning two championships.

ADFTA had approximately 65 members on the tour, including a dedicated tour manager and two medical support staff.
Former Australian and Northern Eagles rugby league player Cliff Lyons showed he had lost none of his silky ball skills with a dominant display in the men’s over-40 division.

This was fairly typical of the standard of touch throughout all the divisions.

Coaches agreed that given the right balance in retaining a core of experienced players, regular exposure to top level touch and the ‘blooding’ of a number of rookies, the Warriors will be on the improve at next year’s carnival.