It was the Royal Australian Air Force who walked away from this year’s Port Stephens NAIDOC Touch Football Championship carrying the winners trophy.
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For the second year, RAAF and Worimi played off for the championship trophy, called The Cup.
And for a second year it was strong RAAF contingent that won.
Worimi, runners up, won The Plate.
“They [RAAF] knew they were in for a fight,” Worimi man and one of the event organisers, Justin Ridgeway, said.
“They played the indigenous community in the first game and absolutely smashed us.
“But come the final of The Cup, it was a tough one.
“At stages there it was both ways.
“One minute you were winning the game, you were on top of the other, then it went the other way.”
The round robin touch football tournament, the brainchild of the Port Stephens Police and Aboriginal Consultative Committee, was held at Lakeside Leisure Centre last Thursday.
The NAIDOC Week event, in its third year in 2017, involves teams from the police and emergency services, Port Stephens Council, RAAF and Worimi.
While the football is competitive, it is also friendly.
“It was a very successful day,” Mr Ridgeway said.
“I can see it growing, getting bigger.
“We had quite a few community players that turned up for a run. There was just too many.
“Some of them did opt to go play for the police side.
“It was good to have some RAAF personnel come play with community. I think it's a good way of coming together.”
Earlier, Thursday:
The third annual Port Stephens NAIDOC Touch Championship is underway in Raymond Terrace today.
Police, emergency services, Port Stephens Council, RAAF and the Worimi community are going head-to-head in a friendly but competitive round robin touch football tournament at Lakeside Sporting Complex.
Football will be played until Thursday afternoon, followed by a presentation.
The winner will have their name etched on the championship trophy.
More to come.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
