Orange Thunder Southern Conference Gala Day success

The gala day was put together by the Thunder, Vipers and two Canberra clubs as a hit-out before the Christmas break and February's run of carnivals and the chance to play against other sides in the southern conference, with Sunday the inaugural event.

Orange Thunder representative coordinator Joel Begnall said it was great to see the carnival coming together, and hoped other sides in the Riverina and western regions would jump onboard.

Hosting rights would be rotated, with the Thunder hopeful of jagging the event over the next few years.

"The idea is for a new host each year to give the clubs the chance to run a canteen and bring some money in," Begnall said.

"As a concept were were unsure about how successful it would be but it came together really well."

The carnival, with five games on the Sunday, was also a chance for sides to put tactics into practice on the field.

"As a gala day it was more about the tactics and skills than the results but if you get those things right the results normally look after themselves," he said.

And that they did.

The Thunder's under 16s took the combined under 16s and 18s girls' competition after an unbeaten run through their four games.

They pipped the Wagga Wagga Vipers on goal difference, and finished one game ahead of their under 18 Thunder clubmates, who racked up three wins from four starts.

The Thunder 18s and 16s claimed the top two spots in their combined competition, with the older age group going through undefeated.

The under 14s finished second despite winning each game, with Deakin Thunder's goal difference three ahead of the Orange side's, while the under 14 boys emulated the girls' ladder position with one less win.

Under 12 girls and boys finished on top of their division, while the under 10 boys and girls both finished second in their respective competitions.

However, Begnall said the Thunder's three development sides all impressed.

"They all picked up a few wins ... we're always keen to keep kids involved in the representative level and these development squads lets them keep building up skills and pushing for those rep squads," he said.

The Thunder will now take a break before coming back to prepare and take part in regional and state championships, beginning with the Peter Wilson Championships in early February.