Grenfell Rugby League players Mitchell Stevens and Madison Knight, both 18, have recently returned home after travelling to New Zealand where they participated in the 2018 Tag20 Rugby League Nations Cup.
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Mitchell joined the Under 19’s Australian boys side while Madison was a member of the Under 19’s Australian girls team.
Both enjoyed a fantastic experience and came away with a number of successes.
Sides in the competition competed against teams including Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Cook Islands and Niue, with each nation entering teams in a number of age divisions.
Madison’s team played well throughout the series making it to the semi-finals on the last day of the competition only be be narrowly nudged out by the New Zealand ladies with the final score of the match being 5-3. Madison competed in 9 games overall.
Mitchell’s team began the final day of competition in third spot on the ladder. After defeating Cook Islands they then progressed to the finals where they played an undefeated Tonga side.
Mitchell scored the first try of the finals game, however, his team were down 5-3 when right on the buzzer Mitchell made a long pass out to his teammate on the sideline who went over to score a 3 point try making the final score 6-5 to the Aussie boys which secured them the title of Tag20 Nations Cup Under 19’s boys champions. Well done! Mitchell was also awarded Players player for his efforts in the finals match. Mitchell competed in 8 games overall.
The complete Australian contingent came away in overall second place which was a brilliant outcome.
Both Mitchell and Madison have been invited to compete in the ANZAC test which will take place in Canberra in a few months time, they both look forward to attending and being a part of the competition.
About Tag20
Tag20 is the 21st century evolution in sport, the game is fast and exciting combining all of the best attributes associated with Rugby codes while eliminating the tackling.
Players can side step, kick and pass the ball while promoting the ball down field to ultimately score a try in the oppositions in goal zone.
Defenders stop the attackers progress by removing one or both tags located on the hip region on their Tag20 shorts. All players have two (2) tags one on each hip attached by velcro patches, this allows defenders easy access to the tags of the player in possession of the ball.
Seven (7) players in each team are allowed on the field at a time, Tag20 field dimensions are 70 metres long by 50 metres wide.
The team in possession have five (5) plays (or tags) in which to score points by placing the ball in the opposition’s in-goal zone. When a tag has been removed the player in possession then restarts play (at the place the tag was removed) by rolling the ball backwards between their legs to a team mate.
After the fifth tag has been removed the ball is then handed over to the opposition, who now have the five (5) plays in which to score.
Scoring is achieved by placing the ball in the opposition’s in-goal area, referred to as a try.
A three (3) point try is awarded when the ball is placed correctly in the central zone of the in-goal area. A two (2) point try is awarded when the ball is placed correctly in any other part of the in-goal area.
We wish Mitchell and Madison the very best in the upcoming ANZAC Test.