SOUTHERN Beaches remains the only club to have ever won the Gunnedah Tens Tournament after taking out the second annual Tens for Ten Thousand day at Rugby Park on Saturday.
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The Newcastle-based club walked away with $8000 in prizemoney after coming from behind to beat Avondale in the final.
Convener and Red Devils co-coach Tim Walsh said the day was another huge success, despite Central North sides missing out,
“Yeah it was a great day,” Walsh said.
“All the clubs said the same and we will look to improve it again for next year.”
When Engadine pulled out late on Friday the pool was reduced to 15 sides, which were split into four pools with only the top side from each pool going through.
Gunnedah entered two sides that joined fellow Central North clubs Pirates, Moree, Narrabri, Inverell and Tamworth in the competition, although Walsh said early-season form was hard to read.
“I know a couple of the squads weren’t full of first graders,” Walsh said.
“Our seconds beat Moree so I am not sure what they brought.”
While Pirates were the only club to push Southern Beaches all day, only losing by a try in the pool rounds, it was Inverell who flew the flag for CNRU in the semi-finals.
Unfortunately it wasn’t for long, as Southern Beaches absolutely mauled the Highlanders to win 58-nil in a 20- minute match.
The other semi-final saw Walgett take on Avondale, with Avondale scoring a 25-5 victory.
They then came out in the final and surprised Beaches, going up a try early and shortly after adding a penalty to that to be leading 10-nil at one stage.
Beaches didn’t take long to turn it around and then came romping home to win their second Gunnedah title 24-10.
“Once again, Southern Beaches were just another step above our standard,” Walsh said. “They were very fit, big and fast.”
Next year they might not have it all so easy, with the prizemoney turning some heads around the state and some Shute Shield sides already approaching the Red Devils about entering next season.
“There were plenty of footballers here and plenty of people watching,” Walsh said.