James Daly of Kennett Rural Supplies lets one fly in his match against Twomey Wii Not Fit. 

The Semi-Finals of the Harden Touch Football Competition kicked off last Thursday, with five teams eliminated from the competition.

Jackson’s Bakery have secured a spot in the A Grade Final, dispatching Delta by one point 5-4. Jamie Cantrill score two tries for Jackson’s, and he was joined by Tyler Allen, Jacob Prosser and Trent Jackson on the scoresheet. Maryanne Fitzgerald, Charlie Lucas, Billy Bolger and David Bolger each scored for Delta, who now have a second chance against the Binalong Boozers next week.

Beau O’Mara was a one-man try scoring machine, crossing the line for all five of the Binalong Boozers’ tries against Average Joes. Average Joes could only respond with four tries through the efforts of Patrick Smith, who crossed twice, Emily Quinn and Alex Ryan. The Boozers now take on Delta for a Grand Final position.

In the B Grade Major Semi-Final, Rodney Cooper’s try was not enough to stop Johnno’s Painting from going down to the Bindon Bruisers. Ben Davis, Greg Brown and Maddy scored three tries to avenge their loss to Johnno’s in Round 3. The Bruisers now advance to the B Grade Grand Final, whilst Johnno’s get a second chance next week against the Garangula Grizzlies.

Kyle Martin scored an intercept try in drop-off time to secure the Garangula Grizzlies spot in next week’s B Grade Semi-Final. The game between the Garangula Grizzlies and Got The Runs finished at four tries each, with two tries to Marty Smith and one try each to Harry Forsyth and Jeffrey Brown providing the points for Got The Runs. Kyle Murray, Jack Fuller, John Quinn and Graham Murray scored the tries in regulation time for the Carrington Crusaders, who now take on Johnno’s Painting for a B Grade Grand Final berth.

Demondrille Merino Stud are through to the C Grade Grand Final after defeating the Binalong Bangers with a scoreline more akin to a soccer than touch football, 2 points to 1. Paddy Davis and Hamish Minehan scored Demondrille’s tries, with J Bannister scoring the Banger’s only point. The Binalong Bangers now take on the Originals for a place in the C Grade Grand Final.

The Electric Septics are now out of commission, despite straining hard against The Originals in their one try loss. Clint Stevens, Max Spackman, Nathan Schofield and Brodie Schofield did their best to keep the Septics in action, but The Originals proved too much. Two tries to Jeremy Martin and Ben Logue, as well as one to Kyle Martin, secured The Originals a Semi Finals birth in the Semi-Final Round next week.

In the D Grade Major Semi-Final, Twomeys Wii Not Fit were led from the front by the ‘A’ team of Abbey & Adam Wade, who both crossed the line for their team. They were joined on the scorecard by Matthew Murray and Tim Dumbrell to put on four tries to Kennetts two. The much younger team couldn’t handle the experience Twomeys brought to the field, but were still able to cross twice courtesy of John Manchester and Jack Kennett. Kennetts have a second chance for the Grand Final against the Romani Wranglers.

The Romani Wranglers were carried into next week’s Semi Final by Charlie Butt, whose three tries secured the win in the D Grade Eliminator. The Carrington Crusaders were only out of touch by one try, with Doug Lynch and Tom Grace crossing for one each. But it was not to be, with Charlie Butt ending the Crusaders’ season.

Hard Rock Gym 2’s Joie Whybrow led a blitzkrieg against Fit’n Well, who were unable to cope with the onslaught without the speed of Ian Mergard. Jen McKay and Donna Tyrrell scored the only tries for Fit’n Well, with Joie Whybrow destroying their team with five tries. He was joined in the try scoring effort by Jared Innes, Gary Doohan and Cory Doohan. Hard Rock Gym 2 now advance to the E Grade Grand Final, whilst Fit’n Well are playing for their chance next week against the Jugiong Jackasses.

The mullets dominated again for the Jugiong Jackasses’ match against Hard’n Fit, with three tries going to Lui Polimeni, and two to his brother Joey. Huw Robb also snuck in for Jugiong to make sure that Jugiong’s tries were not all in ‘the Family’, whilst husband and wife David & Mellissa Ings’ tries were not enough to keep Hard’n Fit’s season alive. The Jugiong Jackasses now play Fit’n Well for a chance at the E Grade Grand Final.