News - Oceania

When one thinks of Touch, thoughts generally turn to the traditional powerhouses of Australia and New Zealand, and the myriad of Rugby playing nations such as South Africa, Wales, England & Scotland. The last place to arguably spring to mind is an island nation dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the equator, and bordering the International Date Line at its easternmost point in the central tropical Pacific Ocean.

Touch NZ would like to congratulate the following personnel on their appointments and wish them well for the 2012/2013 campaign leading up to and including the Super Trans Tasman Test Series to be held in Auckland in February 2013.

The Solomon Islands has just completed their Inter-bank competition last weekend, with the finals won by ANZ in a sudden death drop off. All the banks, plus some corporate businesses, are now working with Solomon Islands Touch to submit an application for renewed FIT membership, in conjunction with also launching a corporate competition, proudly sponsored by ANZ.

Australia has claimed the 2012 Trans Tasman series after a hard fought battle against neighbouring rivals, New Zealand.The aussies opened their card on day 1 with an impressive 8-4 win over NZ in the Mixed Open division, before the kiwis struck back in the Womens Open to clench a tight 4-3 victory over the competition favourites. The Australian Mens Open ensured the day belonged to the green & gold though, sneaking home in the final minute 5-4 to give the hosts a 2-1 lead in the 9 game series.Day 2 saw the aussies take a 5-2 lead at half-time in the opening Mixed Open clash, only for the Kiwis to take the lead (for the first time since early in the first half) when it mattered most - in the final minutes of the match - and claim a 10-9 win to keep the series alive. After NZ shocked the hosts in game one of the Womens Open, it was up to the World Champions to step up to the challenge and try and tie the series on day 2. The result was another nail-biting match between the two teams, with Australia winning 4-3 in a high quality matchup. After winning the first game in the dying seconds on Thursday, Australia put in an impressive attacking array in the second half of Friday's Mens Open match to take the win 8-5, and the series 2-0 with one game to play. With the kiwis stranglehold on the Mixed division loosening, Australia took out the third game, and the series, of the Mixed Open division with a 10-8 win on day 3; Kylie Hilder, Michael Law & Trent Touma all bagging doubles for the victors.

The Federation of International Touch is pleased to announce the appoinment of their Board for the year going forward, following the 2011 annual General Meeting this week.