An opening intercept has cost Port Macquarie victory in the grand finals of the Country Championships representative competition in Tuggerah.
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The NSW Touch Football event was held on October 17 and 18 at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex, with two Port Macquarie teams competing for titles.
Under 20s coach Peter Vincent said the team fought well in the men's junior division but were defeated by Peninsula (4-3) in the grand final.
"The competition was running consecutive games, we played on Saturday with three games in a row," Vincent said.
"I know my boys initially thought that was going to be really tough, but it's tough on everyone. We played two games on Sunday morning before two final games that afternoon.
"We took 13 boys along after one of my players broke his collarbone a few weeks before in the Port touch competition. The boys were pretty fit and pretty quick, they are mostly 17, 18 and 19 year-olds.
"Peninsula took an early intercept in the final game when we were running a play in the first touch of the game. We threw the ball to score but one of theirs intercepted and ran the length of the field, that hurt us.
"We didn't execute our plays as well in the final as we did in the other games. But I was very proud that they kept their heads and showed they could play under pressure.
"The boys felt that they should have won that game and they've got that potential to improve before the NSW State Cup."
Doyalson claimed their fifth Country Championships title in six years after winning the men's competition by defeating Wollongong (3-2). Central Coast defeated Newcastle in the men's seniors grand final (3-2), while Deakin defeated Newcastle City (4-2) in the men's masters.
Wallsend collected a last-minute victory in the women's open division with a drop off deciding the match against Central Coast (3-2)
Wallsend also collected the mixed open title against Mudgee (5-4), while Mudgee claimed the win against Wallsend for the women's seniors victory (4-1).
The club championship was won by Wallsend, ahead of Newcastle and Mudgee/Central Coast.
Mr Vincent said the Port Macquarie women's 20s team secured three wins and made progress as a new side facing more experienced teams in the women's open division.
It was a good test run for the State Cup competition in Port Macquarie.
"I've made our players aware that fitness will be vital alongside diet and recovery," he said.
"This has been a trial run before the NSW State Cup. It will have to be the same way with four precincts of 500 people, temporary barriers for the 280 teams. People will have to play two or three games in a row then get out and go."
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