The 2022 Hornets Champs were finally back on the agenda at the weekend with 32 teams converging on a new location for touch football in the Hunter-Western Region, the Mallabula Sports Complex. Port Stephens Council are to be commended for their commitment to helping the Hornets put on an event in the Nelson Bay area, after the original field booking at Tomaree Sporting Complex was deemed unplayable due to excessive water on the playing surface. An event that would not have gone ahead without the tireless work of the Hornets Committee, as well as a big effort by Nelson Bay Touch Association in getting the fields marked on a rainy public holiday leading into the event.
The Hornets committee would like to thank the affiliates and participants (players/coaches/referees) for supporting the event and hope that everyone enjoyed the event as much as we enjoyed hosting. Hornets were also blessed to have the support of Rotary Raymond Terrace in running the BBQ for the event and we thank participants for supporting them by purchasing food from them.
Over the course of the tournament we saw 9 affiliates competing across 8 divisions of male, female and mixed teams of all ages from 14 to 60+. With 89 games being played over the two days in what was a welcome and enjoyable return to representative touch football for our senior players and teams.
The Newcastle City Knights were crowned Club Champions, after winning 4 divisions, and having teams performing well in every division played. Maitland and Wallsend were not far behind, despite having fewer teams competing. There were also teams from Nelson Bay, Beresfield, Mudgee, Doyalson, Dubbo and Peninsula that performed admirably over the weekend and will be better prepared for future representative tournaments as a result.
This years Finals results can be seen below, as well as players of the finals and Club Championship points.
Grand Final Results
Womens Open
Newcastle City Knights (8) def Wallsend Wolves (2)
Player of the Final: Newcastle #5, Chelsea Hindmarsh
Mens Open
Newcastle City Knights (7) def Wallsend Wolves 30s (1)
Mixed Open
Wallsend Wolves (6) def Beresfield Bandits (5)
Player of the Final: Wallsend #9, Allanah Hemsley & Wallsend #44 Riley Jones
Womens 20’s
Newcastle City Knights (4) def Maitland Redbacks (1)
Player of the Final: Newcastle #9, Amali Fitzhenry
Mens 20’s
Wallsend Wolves (6) def Doyalson Dragons (4)
Player of the Final: Wallsend #3, Will Botham
Womens 30’s
Mudgee Mudcrabs (3) def Maitland Redbacks (2)
Player of the Final: Mudgee #7, Kimberly King
Mens 40’s
Newcastle City Knights (4) def Wallsend Wolves (3)
Player of the Final: Newcastle #18, Joel Williamson
Womens Over 40’s
Maitland Redbacks (5) def Newcastle City Knights (0)
Player of the Final: Maitland #16, Amy White
Men’s Over 50’s
Nelson Bay Neptunes (3) def Newcastle City Knights (2)
Player of the Final: Nelson Bay #3, Steven Meldaris
Club Championship
1st – Newcastle City Knights (125pts)
2nd – Maitland Redbacks (90pts)
3rd – Wallsend Wolves (85pts)
4th – Nelson Bay Neptunes (30pts)
5th – Beresfield Bandits (25pts)
6th – Mudgee Mudcrabs (20pts)
7th – Doyalson Dragons (15pts)
