The might and force of the Hills Hornets IPL team rolled into Queensland for the inaugural Border Challenge hosted by QLD Touch, Touch Football Specialised and the Burleigh Bears Rugby League Club on the Gold Coast. Specialised teams from around NSW and QLD converged to play in an interstate challenge consisting of both Specialised and All Abilities teams.

The team superbly organised and led by Greg Brown coming off a stellar season in 2016 after winning the Vawdon Cup title submitted two teams into the contest. In the first division the team went through undefeated beating Palm Beach, Penrith, Burleigh Bears and Ipswich Jets. In an amazing statistic the team only conceded only 2 tries and scored 30 throughout the rounds.

The team matched into the semi finals playing Nerang, winning convincingly 8-1 and demanding a Grand Final appearance. The GF was a great game and hard fought against a Newcastle team but ended up winning 5-3. We are sure that this will be the start of a long running rivalry between these two great clubs who will hopefully meet again at the NSW State Cup…hint hint NSWTA.

Player of the tournament was Zac Jones who scored an amazing 16 tries over the competition with fantastic contributions from Chris Smith and Nathan Nunn.

In the All abilities competition the boys played close games all the way through beating the Seagulls 4-3 and Burleigh Bears 6-5 and drew with the Tigers 7-7. The character of the team was first class as they showed determination every time they took the field. In the semi Hills defeated the Palm Beach team by 2 and then in an amazing grand final that went try for try prevailing 9-8 against Nerang Roosters who unfortunately dropped the ball over the line as the final hooter went.

The next day in the origin games the Hills boys Zac Jones, Nathan Nunn, Chris Smith and Ben Taprell represented NSW with style to win comprehensively over their Queensland counterparts. It was great reward for these boys to not only represent the Hornets but to wear the blue for NSW.

As with all events in Touch Football the agenda is for the participants to enjoy the game and make new friends throughout the tournament. I’m sure the team has achieved this goal and will be the first team to nominate in 2018.

On behalf of the club and Hills community we would like to thank and congratulate each player, coach, supporter and organisers for these teams. You are an inspiration to us all and we look forward to cheering you on once again as you defend your title at Vawdon Cup 2017 and beyond.