Open Trans-Tasman Series: Day 3 Results

The Athelite Australian Emus have completed a series clean sweep after emerging victorious in the Mixed Open on the final day of the 2025 Open Trans-Tasman Series (OTTS), reinforcing their position as the benchmark of international Touch Football. Australia produced dominant performances to win all three division games on the final day of competition – with their record showing only one loss over nine games played this weekend.

An inspired performance from Luke Osborne lifted Australia to Champion status in the Mixed Open decider against New Zealand with a final 7-4 score. Dubbed the tallest man in Touch, Osborne scored the first try of the game off a Blaise Prendergast assist who made an instant impact from his substitution. The duo made some crucial plays on both attack and defence as the Australian game plan stifled the Kiwis to grant the green and gold the series victory.

Defensive structures were on display in the first half of the Women’s Open, with both teams held scoreless until the fifteenth minute when Sammi Stanton crossed for the Touch Blacks. The match opened up in the second stanza with Australia shifting gears to pile on five tries, including a double to winger Caitlyn Blade, to close the game 5-2 and remain undefeated in the division.

The Australian Men's Open side blitzed New Zealand in the first half of their final match with an 8-2 scoreline at halftime thanks to slick attacking plays on the edges. The Touch Blacks fought back gallantly in the second half to close the gap, but it was the Emus' day with Bailey Assay, Malcolm Kenny, and Harrison Griffin all scoring doubles – sweeping the series with an 11-6 scoreline.

Australia will meet New Zealand again next month in the returning Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup (APYTC) to be hosted in Redcliffe, Queensland. The APYTC will feature a celebration of youth talent with the best emerging Touch Football players from across the South Pacific region – with ten nations to compete.

If you missed the action, all 2025 Open Trans-Tasman Series footage can be accessed via the Touch New Zealand YouTube channel.

Day 3 Results

Mixed Open – Athelite Australian Emus 7 defeated Touch Blacks 4

Women’s Open – Athelite Australian Emus 5 defeated Touch Blacks 2

Men’s Open – Athelite Australian Emus 11 defeated Touch Blacks 6

Open Trans-Tasman Series Results

Mixed Open – Athelite Australian Emus 2-1 Touch Blacks

Women’s Open – Athelite Australian Emus 3-0 Touch Blacks

Men’s Open – Athelite Australian Emus 3-0 Touch Blacks

Emus Series Try Scorers

Mixed Open

5 – Kate Hammond

3 – Zachary Bouzounis, Luke Osborne

2 – Tim Baartz, Stephanie Maiolo

1 – Zayne Cox, Keesha Kapea, Joshua Moffitt, Zara Nicholas, Jade Pond, Blaise Prendergast, Bradley Russell, Mitchell Wilton

Women's Open

5 – Caitlyn Blade

4 – Olivia Goodsell

3 – Tiarni Bryce

2 – Lucia Fildes

1 – Isabella Fildes, Rebecca Mi Mi, Marama Thomas, Rachel Walsh

Men's Open

4 – Bailey Assay, Malcolm Kenny, Hayden Moffatt

2 – Luke Cain, James Courtney, Jack Edwards, Harrison Griffin, Christopher Lennon, Corey Russell, Kai Simbolon

1 – James Hegedus, Jake Notley