Wollongong Touch Association president Steve Sopher has labelled the NSW Country Championships a success as the host club took home a title and had several finals appearances over the weekend.
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Hosting the tournament for the first time since 2014 at Dalton Park, Wollongong secured a win in the men’s 50-55 competition to ensure at least one title would remain on the South Coast.
The veteran team went unbeaten throughout the group stage before beating Peninsula Pirates 6-5 in a thrilling final on Sunday.
While they were the hosts only victorious team, several of the club’s other squads put in solid performances.
The Devils open men’s 1 team were beaten in a thrilling decider after progressing to the final by defeating Wollongong’s open men’s 2 squad 6-0 in the semis.
In an absorbing final, Doyalson Dragons came up with a 3-2 triumph in a match which went to a drop-off.
Wollongong’s women’s opens side also came up just short in their decider.
After beating Wagga Wagga Vipers 6-2 in the semis, they lost 6-2 to an impressive Newcastle City Knights outfit.
One of the Devils mixed teams also featured in the semis to cap off a strong weekend for the hosts.
Sopher was rapt with his club’s performance over the weekend and pleased by how smoothly the event went.
"It was a very good weekend,” he said.
"It was a successful one for the club.
"We had really good attendance across the two days and we were really happy with it.
"I think everyone at NSW Touch was happy with how it went as well.
"Of course you always like getting more teams on board but I am sure everyone who came went away happy.
“We couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors.”
Sopher felt the standard of competition from teams all around the state was top shelf throughout a busy two-day carnival which culminated with finals on Sunday.
"There was a lot of high quality touch played," he said.
"The open finals were particularly good and the men's final went to a drop off. It's an exciting game.”
Wollongong will more than likely host the event again in 2018.
Meanwhile, the men’s division one team was knocked out of the Vawdon Cup last Friday night on game short of a grand final appearance.
The Devils couldn’t match it with Wests Magpies, who prevailed 7-4 in the preliminary final.
Wests face Central Coast Dolphins in the decider this Saturday.