IN GOOD TOUCH: Orange High’s Haley Butcherine takes the ball up during her side’s Western Combined High Schools final win over Parkes. Photo: PETER WHITING
ORANGE and Parkes showed off their strength in touch football by dominating the Western Combined High Schools competition at Mudgee last week.
Eight teams each contested the boys’ and girls’ competitions on Friday at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sports Complex.
Orange High and Parkes fought out the boys’ and girls’ finals after the round-robin matches and semi-finals.
Orange High came out on top in the girls’ final with a thrilling 3-1 win over Parkes.
In the boys’ final, Parkes celebrated an 8-5 win over Orange High.
Orange and Parkes had been the dominant sides through the tournament.
In the girls’ pool matches, Orange went through their three games undefeated, including a 7-1 win over Parkes.
It was the same in the boys’ pool matches where Orange beat Parkes 4-3.
In the girls’ semi-finals, Orange downed Dubbo 5-1 and Parkes beat Mudgee 4-2.
In the boys’ semi-finals Orange had a 3-2 win over Mudgee and Parkes edged out Dunedoo 4-3.
In the next round of knockout matches, the Orange High girls will play the runner-up from the Hunter region, while Parkes will take on the winner from Sydney West.
In the boys’ games, Orange go up against the winner from Sydney North and Parkes will play the runner-up from Riverina.
Following the competition, the Western sides were also selected to play in the NSW CHS touch football championships.
Orange High was rewarded for their strong performance in the girls’ competition with Drew Alexander, Haley Butcherine, Emma Dillon, Tash Rudd and Alex Kennedy being selected.
They will be joined by Canobolas Rural Technology High’s Jacqui Harris.
In the boys’ Western side, Orange High’s Keegan Harding, Matthew Boss and Michael Dillon earned places along with Canobolas High’s Liam Broderick.
The girls’ CHS championships will be played at St Mary’s from June 19-21.
The boys’ CHS championships will be held at Milperra from June 26-28.
