NSW Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Team wins 2009 National Title.
The NSW team showed early on Friday night that they would be a major force in this year?s race for title but how much of a force was yet to be seen.
The NSW team boasted 6 players who played recently at the ARAFURA games for the Australian team where they won silver. They were Chris Pyne, Sam Larkings, Brett Cross, Brett Fairhall, Ben Atkins and Pat Grant.
The NSW team could also boast as they had 2 other players who played for Australia over the past 12-18 months and they were Chris Restall and Jamie Laybutt. The other members of the team were Aidan Bennison and Daniel Berry who are in the National Squad along with Kyle Schaeberg who was playing in his first tournament for NSW.
On the Friday night they took on the combined states team and came away with an impressive 7-nil result. Scorers being Jamie Laybutt (3), Brett Fairhall (2), and one each to Ben Atkins and Chris Pyne.
On the Saturday they had to play three matches throughout the day, which is a big ask for any team.
First up were last years winners of the National Title Queensland and it was obviously early on that the NSW team wanted their title back after having lost it in 2008. The NSW dominated the Queensland side with an impress 8-Nil win. Scorers for the match were Chris Pyne (4), Brett Fairhall (2) and Ben Atkins (2).
Next up the NSW team then took on the combined states team with another impressive performance winning 9-Nil. Goal scorers were Kyle Schaeberg (2), Jamie Laybutt (2), and one each to Aidan Bennison, Daniel Berry, Brett Cross, Chris Pyne, and Chris Restall.
NSW then took on Queensland for the second time in the day and once again came away with a big win. Score being NSW 9 def Queensland 0. Scorers were Jack Williams (3), Ben Atkins (2) and one each to Chris Pyne, Kyle Schaeberg, Brett Fairhall and Chris Restall.
The Queensland team had defeated the combined team in the earlier matches to earn the right to play NSW in the final.
The NSW team were focused on the final determined to get over the only hurdle left between them and their 5th title in 6 years. With last years loss still in their memory, the NSW team came out firing and were brilliantly lead by the NSW team captain Chris Pyne. NSW scored their first goal 5th min of the game through some excellent build up work. From there on the team continued to pressure the Queensland team and goals started to come at regular intervals. NSW lead at the break 5-Nil. The Queensland side came out in the second half more determined and held NSW scoreless for the first 20 mins of the second half, but it was only a matter of time before the NSW team would find the back of the net, which they did 3 times in the last 10 mins of the match. Final score being NSW 8 defeated Queensland 0. Scorers were Brett Fairhall (3), Chris Pyne (2), Ben Atkins (2) and Chris Restall (1).
The NSW team ended the tournament with 5 wins from 5 matches, scored a total of 41 goals and did not concede a single goal.
NSW Team:
Chris Pyne (Captain), Sam Larkings (Vice Captain), Aidan Bennison, Daniel Berry, Jack Williams, Brett Cross, Brett Fairhall, Kyle Schaeberg, Ben Atkins, Pat Grant, Chris Restall, Jamie Laybutt
Coach ? Ian Menzies, Assistant Coach ? Bill Gurney, Manager ? Roy Williams, Physio ? Ed Davidson
QLD Team:
Jeremy Thorpe (Captain), Jarrod Larkins-Law (Vice Captain), Mason Ollernshaw, Daniel Davis, Dusty Douthat, Jared Eiby, Andrew Pope, Jamie Paulsen, James Beringer
Coach ? Jay Larkings, Manager ? Stewart Upton
Final Standings:
Gold Medal & National Title Winners New South Wales
Silver Medal Winners Queensland
Bronze Medal Winners Combined States
Player of the Tournament Jack Williams (NSW)
George Tonna Medal Winner (player of the final) Brett Fairhall (NSW)
