There was a lot to like about the Tamworth Taipans' performance at the 2021 NSW Oztag Senior State Cup.
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The association took nine teams over to the rescheduled tournament and came back with division two grand final wins in the 20s men and opens men while the 30s men also competed in division two and claimed the silver medal.
In the grand finals, the 20s men beat Ryde 5-3, the opens men won 4-2 against Inner West 3 while the 30s men went down 3-2 against Central Coast 2.
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"This would have to be the best as far as getting teams through to the Sunday [finals] or at least equalled our best," Tamworth Oztag coordinator Pam Potts said.
"Eight out of the nine sides went through to the Sunday but to have three grand finals and two wins - that's our best outcome."
The postponement of the tournament at Coffs Harbour due to wet weather was a double-edged sword for Tamworth.
It meant the Taipans had an extra two months of training but it also meant a number of players were unavailable.
"The 20s men were down to 12 players about two weeks ago," Potts said.
"They were able to pick up three boys from the player's pool from Port Macquarie and one of our guys, who wasn't able to make it before, stepped up.
"They were lucky they were able to get a full 16 players."
The best performing teams in division one for Tamworth were the opens women team and last year's gold medal-winning 40s women side.
They both made the semi-final with the 40s women going down 1-0 to ACT and the opens women were defeated 3-1 by Penrith.
"It came down to the luck of the game really, the bounce of the ball," Potts said.
"The opens put in 110 per cent - same as the 40s women who were reigning champions from the last State Cup."
The Tamworth Oztag Association also had six referees represent Tamworth at the state cup with Tony Mumford and Andrew Green both officiating grand finals.
RESULTS
DIVISION ONE
Semi finalists: opens women, 40s women
Quarter finalists: 20s women, senior mixed, 50s men
30s women missed out on playing finals
DIVISION TWO
Champions: 20s men and opens men
Runners-up: 30s men