CONGRATULATIONS to A Bit Touched on winning the 2018-19 A grade touch football premiership last Sunday when they defeated Vikings 5-2 at John Oxley Sportsground. ABT have won the last three minor premierships but haven't been able to convert it into major premiers until now.
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LAST season, ABT went down 2-1 to Sprayers while the previous season, they finished undefeated minor premiers before they were rolled by Newie Rednecks 3-2 in the competition decider after Steve Eveleigh sealed the deal for Rednecks with a try in the final minute of the game.
SINCE best and fairest awards were introduced in 1996, only four players have won the A grade Player of the Season multiple times. Last Sunday, Vikings team member Jason Latham collected his third best and fairest trophy, while Chris Robson and Jhorden Coulter have two to their credit.
COUGARS veteran Barry Hoy won the inaugural award and backed up again in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 to give him five of the first seven handed out. Barry tied with Chris Robson in 2002, the only time two players have shared the A grade best and fairest in 24 seasons.
JUST for good measure, "Bazza" was also named grand final Player of the Match in 1996, 1997 and 2002 during Cougars run of nine A grade premierships straight between the years of 1993-94 and 2001-02.
LAST Sunday, Wizards played in their 11th consecutive grand final and won their fourth in the past five years when they defeated Shags 6-2 in the C grade decider. Since 2009, Wizards have won six grand finals and been runners-up on the other five occasions. They also won in 2005.
WALCHA Touch started in 1976 and although Bernard Lynch has missed a few games while he was gallivanting around the world, he is the only player remaining after 43 seasons and played with Shags last Sunday. Bernardo was 14 years old when he played that first season as a Rabbitoh and made the first ever grand final, only to be beaten by the Panthers in the competition decider.
JUNIOR Walcha cricketer Will Hall scored over 400 runs for his U12s team in the Armidale and District competition which entitled him to a batting trophy on presentation day. Will was also named Armidale U12 representative player of the season. Good on ya, Will.
Time for 2019 campaigns
BOTH footy codes kick off their 2019 campaigns this weekend, with the Roos and Jillaroos heading to Woodville Oval tomorrow evening, while the Rams travel to Narrabri on Saturday for what is usually a tough encounter first up in the season. All the action in Uralla commences at 6pm.
THE majority of the Jillaroos team from last season are backing up, including co-coaches Robyn Broadbent and Bonnie Brown who will be joined by the Hoy sisters Bec, Jordie and Nic, Rachel and Annabelle Green, Bonnie Smith, Ellen Dunger, Hannah Byrne, Chloe Carter, Ruth France and Shae Partridge.
NEW faces in the Jillaroos squad are: Maddi McGovern, Amanda Gleeson, Haley Cox and Chloe Swanton whereas Lacey Latham and Alysha Laurie return after a spell.
THE Roos have all but filled their playing roster of 25 players with the core of last year's team pulling on the green and gold again. Steve and Mitch Eveleigh, Josh Gollan, Harry King, Dean Kelly, Josh Lordanic, Jack McAlister, Brody Smith, Jhorden Coulter, Jeremy Bullen, Harley Cox, James Tisdell and Drew Bird are back for another season.
NEW faces in the Roos team are: Colin Levingston, Jayden Rossiter, Jackson Laurie, Toby Reid, Daniel "Zampa" Pascoe, Tristian Flower, Josh Eveleigh and Tim Partridge. The return of experienced trio Glenn Olrich, Jason Latham and Riley Gibson is an added bonus to the squad.
