Karratha Touch Association target final and the ‘W’ at State championships

The Karratha Touch Association are confident heading into the State championships and believe the title may soon be theirs.

A 30s men and 30s women team will head to Perth to represent Karratha and compete in the Touch Football WA State Championships running from January 11 to 13.

Karratha Touch Association president Arthur Ramirez said he was optimistic for the competition, with the teams having spent countless hours preparing since October last year.

“The men’s team pushed the five-time champions last year 9-7 in the first game they played against them so I’m really hoping the men’s 30s side do make it to the finals, if not take it out,” he said.

“And our ladies team, that’s more of a three-year journey so it’s just about the ladies getting down there, getting exposed to the tournaments and the quality of play down there.”

In preparation, the teams have been focusing on fitness and plays during their thrice weekly training sessions.

Ramirez said he had high hopes for the future of the teams and the players in the association.

“You go back to 2010 and they were actually the State Open mixed champions so a lot of the players who were on that team are actually over 30 years old now so the quality and calibre of players we have got up here is pretty good,” he said.

“We are hoping out of the association, it will filter down into some of the junior players coming through in the next few years.”

In 2011, KTA defeated Wanneroo in the final by five points, 11-6, the last time the title was won by a Pilbara team.

Ramirez said the support of local businesses made it possible for the players to travel down to Perth.