Cool and windy conditions failed to deter South Australia's top Touch Footballers and the first State Cup run in South Australia in five years on the weekend.
With modest team entries it was always shaping to be a battle between powerhouse affiliates Adelaide University Touch Club (AUTC) and City Touch. With both clubs represented in both final, they failed to disappoint.
When the dust settled however it was the AUTC who came out on top. The AUTC Women’s 27’s demonstrated their experience claiming an exciting Women's Open title 7-3 over City Touch. With scores locked away at 2-all at half-time, the game was poised for an exciting finish however the AUTC women broke the game open early in the second half and City Touch could not reel them in.
In the Men's Open Final it was again a battle between City Touch and AUTC and again the game lived up to all the hype. Both teams traded blows in the first half and at the main break both sides were locked away at 2-all. In the second half both teams played tight defence which limited the scoring options with each side only able to break through once. At the end of regular time scores were deadlocked at 3-all and the first State Cup Men’s final in five years was headed to a drop off. AUTC then scored within seconds of the restart and managed to hold their nerve for the next set of six, claiming the Men's Open title.
In the Bronze medal match, AUTC Men's 30’s defeated a gallant Mallee Touch Association 6-4 to claim third position.
The final standings were:
Men’s Open
Champions - AUTC
Runners Up - City Touch
Bronze - AUTC Men’s 30’s
Fourth - Mallee Touch Association
Fifth - Mount Gambier Touch Association
Women’s Open
Champions - AUTC Women’s 27’s
Runners Up - City Touch
Third - AUTC Women’s Open
Fourth - Mount Gambier Touch Association
With AUTC claiming both divisional titles they also took out the overall champion affiliate for the tournament. Mallee Touch Association capped off their visit to Adelaide, taking home the Country Champion Award.
Individual award winners included Sharon Gray (AUTC) Women’s 27’s Most Valuable Player, Sarah Meyerhofer (AUTC) Women’s Open Most Valuable Player and Gino Geracitano (AUTC) Men’s 30’s and Matt Mitchell (City Touch) Men’s Open Most Valuable Player. Josh McCormack (Mallee) was awarded Country Referee of the Tournament, while Indy Garner received the MVP referee award.
TFSA Business Operations Manager, Tim Wyld was pleased with the event.
“Even though team numbers were down on expectations, this event and weekend has been a resounding success," Mr Wyld said.
"The immediate outcomes from this event include the vast number of referee and coaching assessments and feedback provided over the course of the tournament. This is invaluable to South Australia. Some of the country guys have already mentioned to me that they have learnt a lot about themselves in terms of playing but also refereeing and coaching which is what this event is all about."
"The event also made a few more people put their hand up for different roles which is a really positive outcome."
Other outcomes include a number of registrations from (new) participants to trial for SA Heat teams in the coming weeks. Mr Wyld stated he believed the event has reinvigorated many players to participate in representative Touch Football.
"Most of the teams I spoke to post event have stated they will be back bigger and better next year which is very heartening indeed," Mr Wyld said.
TFSA would like to acknowledge all of the people that made this event possible and make special mention to Mr Greg West, National Director of Referees, for assisting with the assessment of the referees. To Damien Carlson and the entire network of referees, Mick Gray and Mark Jones for their work performing coaching assessments and Jane Russo and all selectors for their work performing Talent Identification. Finally thank you to the participants and affiliates for your support of this event.
Touch Football South Australia looks forward to seeing everybody again at next year's bigger and better State Cup.
Touch Football South Australia also held its Awards Dinner on Saturday, 30 October 2010. Damien Carlson has been honoured as the 2010 TFSA Volunteer of the Year at the 2010 TFSA Awards Dinner.
The TFSA Volunteer of the Year is the most prestigious award any volunteer can receive from Touch Football South Australia. Reintroduced in 2010, the award recognises a certain individual who has exceeded the boundaries of their duties and worked tirelessly and far beyond the expectations of others for the betterment of the sport.
The recipient of this year's award epitomises exactly what the award represents. Damien Carlson works tirelessly in his role as South Australia Director of Referees. He coordinates an ever growing panel of referees and oversees all TFSA's referee courses and assessments. Through his role Damien also organises referees for all TFSA events and he himself actively referees at all tournaments and several affiliates. As a Level 6 referee, Level 3 referee Coach, Level 4 course presenter, Damien is one of the state’s most qualified individuals. Having dedicated many years to developing referees in SA and as a committee member of Botanics Touch Club, Damien Carlson is a very deserving winner of the TFSA Volunteer of the Year.
In other award categories, Adelaide University Touch Club was announced as Affiliate of the Year for their innovative family division, which increases junior participation at their Waite competition by enabling children to play with their parents/family under modified rules.
The Kildare Reick Scholarships for 2010 were awarded to Mark Jones and Madelaine McGinty. Both Mark and Maddie are current SA Heat Coaches and have assisted office staff on numerous occasions, often at their own expense. The scholarship will be utilised to subsidise Mark and Maddie's attendance at a predetermined tour (i.e. National Touch League)
The Administrator of the Year Award was presented to Gerard Treloar (GT) for his dedication towards re-establishing and growing the Flinders Touch competition and his recruitment of several new volunteers to assist with the management of the competition.
The Annual Awards Dinner was held at the Saracens Head Tavern with some 40 people attending the evening. Like the State Cup, TFSA is confident that the awards night will become an annual tradition.
TFSA 2010 Annual Award Winners
Volunteer of the Year - Damien Carlson
Affiliate of the Year - Adelaide University Touch Club
Kildare Reick Scholarships - Mark Jones & Madelaine McGinty
Administrator of the Year - Gerard Treloar.
TFSA congratulates all awards recipients on receiving these prestigious awards.
