Submitted by dj on October 3, 2005 - 9:33pm
The Grand Finals of the Waite Touch competition produced several close games and a couple of upsets. We have been fortunate this season, losing no games to rain and with the Summer being quite mild, the revamped hot weather policy did not need to come into effect.
Blue Jays played MFF in the H grade final. Although Blue Jays had finished higher than MFF in the regular season, MFF had defeated Blue Jays on both occasions that these teams met. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, MFF made it a clean sweep for season 2004-5, with a 6-4 victory.
In G grade, the Short Blacks were looking to release their big steps on the Black Antz.' In this first versus second clash, the game looked to be over for the Black Antz, as the Short Blacks sliced through the defence. However, the Black Antz put up a spirited performance and made a late comeback, with the final siren being the Short Blacks best friend. In the end, the Short Blacks had too much firepower for the Black Antz, running out winners 7-5.
G/H MVPs: Jason Cuthro (Short Blacks), Tanya Day (Team Yoda)
The Wild Turkeys had clawed their way up to the Grand Final from last position and with their comfortable defeat of AUTC Debt Collectors the week before, looked as if they could defeat AUTC Achilles. Unfortunately for the Turkeys, they could not quite bridge the gap between themselves and Achilles, who went one better than their namesake and won this contest of two opponents, 4-2.
The E grade final saw a rare lopsided score line. The Penguins and Mixtures had shown throughout the season that they were the teams to beat in this division. In their previous encounter, the Mixtures had defeated the Penguins 6-5, so this promised to be a close game. Unfortunately for the Mixtures and their supporters, this expectation was not to prove correct, as the Penguins produced their best result of the season to take victory 9-3.
E/F MVP: Grey Olding (Pigs of Death) Belinda Rawnsley (AUTC Achilles)
Stoneys would have been comfortable favourites for their D grade final against AUTC Jumbo Sponge, after finishing 8 points ahead of their opponents at the end of the regular season. However, those who had seen the last encounter between these teams would have known the game could always produce a result that could go either way. This previous encounter proved an accurate form guide, as AUTC Jumbo Sponge found the scoring power to overcome a determined Stoneys side 7-5.
The C grade final promised not only a close result but an entertaining game. Coming away from their high-scoring victory over Debacle, the Soaks knew they had the scoring potential to upset the all-conquering Coopers. Previous encounters between these teams (a draw and a narrow victory to Coopers) suggested Coopers could not rest easy though and they didn''t, taking the game to the Soaks and showing some attacking skills of their own in their 8-5 victory.
C/D MVP: Gerard Treloar (Revheads) Lesley Jones (Fiasco)
Botanics had narrowly missed out on making the A grade finals and were out to prove a point to seasoned Waite veterans the Dodgers. This was a flowing game, with both teams rucking the ball well to gain good field position when they completed their sixes. While Dodgers showed moments of brilliance (including one excellent diving touchdown), Botanics had too much strength across their team, taking the game by three touchdowns (7-4).
In the lead up to their game against top-of-the-table Slack Dogs the AUTC Disco Bandits had indicated that if they put in a solid game, the result could be close. With Slack Dogs missing several good players, the Disco Bandits put themselves right in the game at half-time. Slack Dogs, who had been slightly on top in the first half, paid the price of weary legs as the faster AUTC players made a half-run and two individual breaks to put themselves ahead. Despite the efforts of the experienced female players of Slack Dogs, the female players of the Disco Bandits held firm and did not let a try in as the game drew to a close, leaving Disco Bandits ahead by one at the final siren (4-3).
A/B MVP: Darren Jones (AUTC Disco Bandits) Corinne McNamara (Botanics)
