Piranhas play in touch finals

The Peninsula Piranhas Touch Association played in the NSW Touch Association Country Championships held at Dubbo on the weekend of May 28 and 29.

The Piranhas entered two teams; Men's Over-45s and Mixed Open, with both teams finishing runners-up.

The Men's Over 45's team played solidly all weekend and found themselves up against Nelson Bay in the semi-final.

Always a danger team, Nelson Bay made the Piranhas work hard for their victory, running out 3-2 winners.

The semi-final victory resulted in a grand-final match-up against arch-rivals Wollongong and after leading for most of the match and seemingly in control, eventually went down 2-1 in a tense struggle.

"While it was a great weekend it was disappointing to finish as bridesmaids again," said the team's spokesperson Mr Tony Harris.

In the Mixed Open division, the Piranhas were looking to defend their 2010 title and went through their five round games undefeated.

In the quarter final the Peninsula outfit easily disposed of Moruya 9-2 and then suffered a slight scare in the semi final against Jerrabomberra eventually winning 6-5 after setting up an early 5-0 lead.

The Mixed Open final saw the Peninsula team pitted against the Victorian State Mixed Open representative team who were invited to participate in the tournament as a means of developing the game in the southern state.

Victoria took an early 2-0 lead but the Piranhas fought their way back to be on level terms through some great work by young gun Ben Nichols and the experienced Joel Weekes.

In a see-sawing match that went touchdown for touchdown, the gallant Piranhas eventually succumbed to the Victorian State Mixed Open team 6-5.

"It was a fantastic effort by our guys and girls, "said Peninsula Mixed Open captain Jeff Smith. "We played well throughout the weekend and really stepped up during the finals.

"It was disappointing to lose the final because we had the team to win it - but there is some consolation in the fact that it took a State representative team to beat us."

Media Release, 7 Jun 2011 Anthony McVicker, PTA