The Gunnedah Goannas had a title-winning team, a runner-up team and two quarter-finalists, as eight Goannas junior representative touch football teams took part in last weekend’s Northern Eagles Junior Championships.
Played at the Coffs Harbour-based C.ex Coffs International Stadium fields, Gunnedah won the U18 boys division and finished second in the U18 girls division while the U10 boys and U14 girls reached the quarter-finals.
The Goannas also fielded U12 boys, U12 girls, U14 boys and U16 boys teams, with each team playing at least four games while more than 100 Gunnedah players played valiantly throughout the two days.
Gunnedah’s U18 boys began with a 5-1 win against Grafton before losing 6-3 to Macksville and drawing Port Macquarie 6-all.
Following narrow wins against Glen Innes and Ballina, the Goannas outfit turned the tables against Macksville with a 6-4 semi-final win before the Gunnedah team edged out Port Macquarie 3-2 in a nail-biting decider.
Gunnedah’s Matthew Poss was named player of the U18 boys grand final, following a great team effort. Many of the players had played together for many years under a range of different coaches, before Ezra Gibson took over as coach only recently after moving to the region from Port Macquarie.
Ballina was Gunnedah’s biggest hurdle in the U18 girls division, with Ballina beating Gunnedah twice.
Following a first-up 5-1 win against Grafton, Gunnedah’s U18 girls went down 6-3 to Ballina before enjoying wins against Coffs Harbour and Tamworth.
The Goannas were again too good for Grafton, with Gunnedah winning the semi-final 6-2 before Ballina was too strong in the decider, scoring four tries to one.
Despite being on the beaten side, Gunnedah’s Audrey Hannaford was named player of the grand final.
Gunnedah’s U10 boys had three wins and one loss but didn’t progress beyond the quarter-finals, while the U14 girls had three defeats, a draw and a victory.
The Goannas U12 boys began with a win but they lost their other three fixtures, while the U12 girls recorded a win and a draw before having back-to-back
losses.
Gunnedah’s U14 boys didn’t win any of their four games but they were competitive in all of them, while the U16 boys also had four defeats.
Gunnedah’s U10 boys, and U18 boys and girls teams now turn their attention to the Junior State Cup, scheduled for Dubbo from February 19 to 22.
Gunnedah’s U18 girls runner-up team. Back: Renee Torrens (manager), Claire Dowe, Katie Spinks, Lara Torrens, Shiloh Moore, Imogen Torrens, Lacie Kleinschafer, Arlie Torrens, Macey Carlyon, Casey Hatch (coach). Front: Kayla White, Jazmin Hobden, Audrey Hannaford, Sarah McInerney, Tyla Hinchcliffe, Tahni Bush, Beck Henderson (assistant coach).
Gunnedah’s U18 boys champions. Back: Ezra Gibson (coach), Mayse Frey, Max White, Matthew Poss, Mitchell Passfield, Charlie Barnes, Chas Jaeger, Lachlan Gurney, Tyler Scott, Daniel Poss (assistant coach), Christy Barnes (manager). Front: Nash Carlyon, Hudson Cantwell, Harry Ryman, Daniel Rushbrooke. Photos: Supplied.
