Sydney Scorpions 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.
Elite Eight Men: New South Wales Scorpions 7 defeated by New South Wales Mets 6
Scorpions: Jonathan Palau, Daniel Barton, Maurice Kennedy, Sam Brisby, Simon Lang, Daniel Chiddy, Nathan Wong
Mets: Anthony Ziade, Ben Moylan, Scott Buckley, Trent Touma, Tim Good, Steve Roberts
