Up Starts go back-to-back
Up Starts held off a gallant but undermanned Bootleggers team to win back-to-back premierships in Kununurra's Touch Football Association at the weekend.
In slippery conditions on Friday night, Up Starts scored the winning touchdown with less than two minutes on the clock to complete an unbeaten season with a 6-5 win.
Bootlegger Dylan Lodge was named man of the match for his four touchdowns and several line-breaking runs, despite playing in the losing team.
The dominant team all year, Up Starts were in danger of stumbling at the final hurdle when scores were level late in the second half.
Bootleggers had entered the match without several key players who were away on a rugby trip in Broome, but combined well as a team to remain a chance of winning until the dying stages.
A tied result would have seen the competition's first "drop off", where extra time is played with one player removed from each team every minute until three a side remain.
Dallas Anderson provided strong leadership for Up Starts while Andy Gilmour and Teresa Anderson scored two touchdowns each and Jaygen Saunders and Rachelle Cox one a piece.
In the plate final, Red Rebels snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Black Team, scoring five touchdowns to two after half-time to prevail 9-7. The teams had been locked in a tight battle until a breakaway run from Red Rebels' Tegan Oliver put her side ahead, while another from James Edwards on the buzzer sealed the result.
Edwards scored three touchdowns in his team's victory while Nick Allan (one), Amber Briggs (one) and Bridget Johnston (one) crossed and scored.
Trent Thomas (three touchdowns), Ben Farquhar (two) and man of the match Hamish Ross (one) were strong players for Black Team.
Ty McRae was named the men's most valuable players for the season and Laura McDonough the women's award.
Teenager Jesse Shaw was awarded official of the year and Ryland Hawes-Wright junior player of the year.
The competition returned to an eight-team fixture at the beginning of this season with four new teams.
Association president Sam Bodycoat said it was great to see the sport thriving in the town with the next season set to start at the end of this month.
Touch football is held on Monday nights at Kununurra Town Oval from 6pm.
