Scorpions take out Men’s Open 2010 title  15/03/10
The Sydney Scorpions have won their first Men’s Open title since 2000, beating the South Queensland Sharks by four touchdowns in the final of the 2010 X-Blades National Touch League. The Scorpions won the match 7-3, preventing the Sharks from winning their fifth title in six years. The Scorpions night continued to get better, being named the Champion Permit for the 2010 NTL. 

As the siren sounded to commence the game, the heavens opened, causing unpleasant playing conditions.  The opening exchanges were fast, with movement going from end to end, and both teams attacking in the in goal areas early. It took nine minutes before the first touchdown was scored, when the Sharks’ Kade Bonner crossed after being set up by a great cut out pass from Drumayne Dayberg-Muir. When Scorpions’ key playmaker Dylan Hennessey was taken from the field with an injury concern, things weren’t looking too good for the boys from Sydney.   But five minutes later Charbel Maroun scored for the Scorpions to bring them back into the game.   The Scorpions soon proved how quickly a game can turn around, when Nathan Wong took an intercept while the Sharks were attacking close to the line. The young Australian representative then ran the length of the field to give the Scorpions the lead for the first time in the game, and went to the half time break leading 2-1.

The Sharks hit back straight after the break, with Troy Skinner scoring in the opening set of the second half to level up the game at 2-all.  The Scorpions’ Potatau Berryman put his side back in the lead one minute later, when a spectacular dive close to the line gave them a 3-2 lead.   Young guns Jordan Marshall-King and Maurice Kennedy both scored touchdowns for the Scorpions soon after, to take their biggest lead of the game, 5-2. Australia’s new Mixed Open captain Ryan Pollock hit back for the Sharks the set after Kennedy’s touchdown, to put his side down by only two touchdowns.  But when Sharks’ captain Ben Robinson got sent to the sin bin, Maurice Kennedy capitalised, taking the Scorpions out to a 6-3 lead.  Twin brother John also got on the touchdown scorer list in the final minute, giving the Scorpions a four touchdown win and their first NTL Men’s Open title in 10 years.  Drumayne Dayberg-Muir was rewarded for his consistent tournament, being named Player of the Series, while John Kennedy was awarded Player of the Final.

The Sydney Scorpions Opens/20′s teams that competed in the NTL in March 2010 can be found below.

Men’s Opens
JAMIE STOWE
DANIEL BARTON
NATHAN WONG
HEATH COOPER
MICHAEL ABOOD
DYLAN HENNESSY
SAM BRISBY
MAURIE KENNEDY
HARRY BERRYMAN
JOHN KENNEDY
CHARBEL MAROUN
POTATAU BERRYMAN
JONATHAN PALAU
WILLIE BISHOP
JOSH GILLARD
SIMON LANG
Coach: Terry Cooper
Manager: Chris Cooper

Mixed Opens
Holly Shorter
Rachael Cleave
Jessica Beakey
Sarah Peattie
Chloe Donovan
Emily Goodsir
Mel Peters
Josh Gillard
Daniel Chiddy
Reece Jones
Simon Lang
Ricky Hetherington
Simon Kowald
Richard Foote
Joey Tarau
Tom Curtin
Elisha Dougal
Coach: Bruce Ager

Men’s 20′s
Tom Hillard
Lalakai Foketi
Peter Achmar
Brendan Laxale
Jake Pickering
Mark Roberts
Andrew Shaw
Andrew Hendra
Mitchell Mahoney
James Webb
Junior Mase
Tom Jacobson
Coach: David Nolan

The Sydney Scorpions Opens/20′s teams that competed in the NTL in March 2009 can be found below.

Men’s Opens
Adam Fahim
Charbel Maroun
David Roberts
Drew Davies
Dylan Hennessey
Harry Berryman
Heath Cooper
Jamie Stowe
John Kennedy
Jonathan Palau
Maurice Kennedy
Michael Abood
Nathan Wong
Potatau Berryman
Sam Brisby
Troy Malcolm
Coach: Terry Cooper
Manager: Chris Cooper

Women’s Opens
BRITTNEY MCLEOD
BROOKE GIBSON
CHLOE DONOVAN
CHRISTINA CLANCY
ELLE FARRINGTON
EMILY GOODSIR
GRACE RYANHART
JENNA HITCH
KATE DEVLIN
KATELYN TEALE
KELLY IRVINE
KIM KENNEDY
LAURA PEATTIE
LAURA RASO
MEGAN HAYED
MELISSA PETERS
MONICA DANN
MONIQUE MCHUGH
RACHEL CLEAVE
RACHEL JACQUELINE
REBECCA CACHIA
SALLY KEIRATH
SARAH PEATTIE
SHERIDAN LILLIMAN
SIMONE PAPPAS
TIANA WYNYARD
ZOE KOSKINAS
Coaches: Barry Gibson & Gary Croft

Men’s 20′s
Daniel Chiddy
Travis Shaw
Tom Curtin
Adrian Moussa
Sion Cousins
Reece Jones
Ryan Jennings
Joe Katia
James Webb
Daniel Springfield
Bevan De Vries
Greg Chance
Jordan Marshall
Manager: Sue Jones

The Sydney Scorpions Opens teams that competed in the NTL in March 2008 can be found below.

Men’s Opens
Adam Fahim
Adam Lollback
Charbel Maroun
Daniel Barton
David Roberts
Dylan Hennessy
Heath Cooper
Jamie Stowe
Jonathan Palau
Michael Abood
Michael Moussa
Nathan Wong
Potatau Berryman
Sam Brisby
Tim Barton
Troy Malcom
Coach: Terry Cooper
Manager: Chris Cooper

Mixed Opens
Adam Marshall
Bianca Keehn
Chloe Donovan
Darrin Foster
Jason Sscharenguivel
Kelly Nicholas
Luke Fleming
Marc Kovacic
Michael Irvine
Patricia Micchaelpoullos
Philippa Robinson
Rachael Ackroyd
Rachael Cleave
Shane Lee
Travis Shaw
Wayne Mckensie
Coach: Graham Flemming
Manager: Mick Zhurawel

Women’s Opens
Georgia Clancy
Alanna Clancy
Elesha Dougal
Mel Harrison
Kelly Irvine
Jodie Irvine
Natalie Ingram
Annie Morton
Tearoha Paki
Karen Short
Holly Shorter
Vicky Wheatley
Coaches: Jason Martin / Gary Croft
Manager: Mel Croft