CPS touch football coach Jade Bell said that she was “so proud of [the girls].

“It’s the furthest we have got in the competition for many years, particularly with girls’ touch football, so it’s a real credit to them.”

Bell added that Crookwell’s burgeoning enthusiasm for touch football and the team’s improved commitment were the two biggest factors in the team’s success. 

“It think it’s the growing interest [in touch football], I think it’s also the girls’ commitment to the sport,” she said. 

“Just that passion for touch football and the sport is infectious, it rubs off on the kids.” 

The team’s last match was in Shellharbour against Shell Cove Public school, which they lost. 

Despite the defeat, Bell was immensely proud of the effort that her team put in and is sure that they can carry their confidence from 2018 into the next season.

“You can just see so much growth in that amount of time in their skills and their confidence in the sport,” Bell said. 

There were many highlights for the young Crookwell side throughout the season, but Bell pointed out their win over Queanbeyan as a particular high point in the year. 

“One of the highlights for me, watching the girls, was when we travelled to Queanbeyan, a school who’s quite renowned for good touch football results,” Bell said. 

“[It was satisfying to play] a team who was quite level to us in the competition and skill-based. It was quite a tight game, and just seeing the girls focus on the game … I could really see the improvement there.

“Touch football is quite a rigorous game … it’s a tricky game to play and some of our girls have never played before, which is pretty amazing from them.” 

Bell also thanked Liddy Skelly, a parent coach who has past experience in touch football and who was able to pass much of her knowledge on to the team. 

“We wouldn’t have got as far as we did if it was for … a really great parent coach,” Bell said. 

“She just made it so enjoyable for the girls and I think that boosted their confidence throughout the whole competition.”