If it’s December in Port Macquarie you can bank on two things – touch football’s jewel in the crown, the State Cup.
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The second is related ... traffic jams near Tuffins Lane!
You could probably throw a third into the mix, too – rain.
And visitors – thousands of visitors from across the state.
Let's focus on the tournament that brings thousands of touch football players to town. Here's how it’s panning out:
Before the whistle
Check out some pre-event coverage from Fairfax mastheads across the state.
Gunnedah
Two women’s teams from Gunnedah are ready to put their best foot forward in the NSW Touch Football Association State Cup at Port Macquarie from Friday to Sunday.
Port Macquarie
Scottish couple Rowan Chillingworth and Frankie Alcock have already represented their country, with Alcock claiming a gold medal in the mixed open’s division at a European tournament in 2012. But it’s the State Cup on the agenda this weekend.
Dayna Gibson will run out in her first senior State Cup for Port Macquarie on Friday in the women’s 20s division. Gibson and teammate Larissa Ward have already had representative experience after being members of the Northern Eagles team.
Western Suburbs will use the disappointment of not meeting expectations 12 months ago as a motivating factor at this year’s NSW State Cup. The Magpies will head into the open men’s division as one of the competition favourites.
Mudgee
Mudgee will be hoping lightning can strike twice at NSW Touch Association premier event, the State Cup. In 2015, the Mudcrabs won their first state title in the open division when they won the B-grade mixed open division.
Taree
Taree Touch will send five teams – one more than last year – to the State Cup. The association will be hoping to replicate last year’s effort when Taree sides won three of four divisions it entered.