THE Wollongong Devils have completed a strong warm-up to this year's NSW Touch State Cup in December, after taking part in the NSW Country Championships on the Central Coast.
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Due to COVID-19 protocols, all teams played back-to-back games on Saturday, split by a midday break, then back for two straight games in an afternoon session.
The Sunday was an even bigger test with sides playing three straight matches to complete the round games.
"That was a huge test on the bodies, especially the three games in a row," Devils mixed open's captain/coach Tim Robinson said.
"Unfortunately, injuries struck across all four of our teams.
"As expected, the tournament ended as a battle of the fittest, which was a great test for State Cup in six weeks time, as it will probably be the same setup."
The mixed 30s side, playing in the open's competition and featuring Nowra's Sam Watts, Berry's Ruby Nicholson, Ulladulla's Ben McClennan and Vincentia's Kate Milani, won three of six round games to finish fourth, before crossing into top of the table Mudgee in the semi-final.
"We lost 2-1 but it was the best game of our tournament," Robinson said.
"We lost a key player in Ben McLennan to injury in the last round game but the rest of the team lifted and we got edged in the dying minutes."
The Devils men's open one team were the walking wounded before the tournament began and lost more players to injury on day one.
They battled on though, reaching the final and going down 3-2 to arch-rivals Doyalson in a brave effort.
While the men's two and youth boys team had a tough weekend against strong opposition but fought hard in every game.
The Devils will now continue the Vawdon Cup with the youth boys, men's two and women's open all playing big games at the halfway point of the competition this weekend.
The focus also turns to State Cup on the first weekend in December, where Wollongong is hopeful of sending a record seven teams.
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