NORTHERN Junior League began its new season with a central venue weekend in Tamworth Sports Dome on the weekend and, while teams from all over the region played in Under 12, 16 and 18 boys’ and girls’ age divisions, it was also a busy weekend for young referees such as Tamworth’s Nathan Paff.
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The 17-year-old Year 12 McCarthy Catholic High School student is in his sixth year of refereeing.
While he hardly plays anymore, he was at the Sports Dome officiating and helping out the young refs coming through.
He’s also returned from a recent trip to New Zealand where he was selected as one of two NSW referees to control games in a Pacific Rim Tournament in Auckland.
“It was exciting to go there let alone to control the 17 Girls International Final,” Paff said during a break on Saturday.
“I wasn’t expecting to referee the final. It was a bonus.”
Paff had earned that trip after officiating at the Country Cup in Albury where four refs, two from NSW, were selected to attend and officiate in Auckland.
Back home he’s slotted back in to refereeing Tamworth games during the week.
“I really enjoy it,” he said.
“I don’t play that much any more. I try to come out here and help out the up and coming younger refs.
“They’re all going very well – just need a little work.”
Teams from Armidale and Quirindi joined the local Thunderbolt sides in Under 12, 14, 16 and 18 games against teams from Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Lismore, Grafton, Kempsey, Gosford, Newcastle and Bellingen.
Armidale Lions had 18 and 14 boys competing, the 18 boys beating Port Macquarie Dolphins Blue 67-17 but losing to Maitland Mustangs (69-47) and Tamworth Thunderbolts (79-35).
The 14 boys won three of their games and lost one, beating Coffs Harbour Suns (70-43), Grafton Vikings (48-47) and Port Macquarie Dolphins (52-45) but losing to the Thunderbolts (53-47).
Quirindi also fielded an 18 boys’ side and it also won one of its three games, tipping out the Kempsey Seahawks by a point (78-77) but losing to Port Macquarie Dolphins (81-23) and Lismore Storm (74-34).
The Quirindi 12 girls also won one of their three games, beating the Gosford City Rebels 38-22 but losing to Maitland Mustangs (72-15) and Newcastle Hunters (49-17).
