Pictured are the winning team members, back (from left): Nicky Land, Mark Baple, Ander Batarrita and Davie Ure. Middle: Nic Somerton, Sophie Land, Arna Majstrovic (with son Hrvoje Majstrovic) and Taylor Carrington. Front: Ryan Majstrovic. Picture supplied
Old Dogs New Tricks had just enough guile to beat Just For The Beers in the final of a six-a-side football competition organised by Gisborne Thistle.
The score was 0-0 at the end of normal time at Childers Road Reserve on Thursday evening and Old Dogs won the penalty shootout
2-1.
Just For The Beers featured Lizzie and Campbell Hall and friends. Twenty teams took part in the competition, which started with round-robin play in November. Quarterfinals, semifinals and the final followed. Teams were mixed, with at least one female player on the pitch at all times. Players' ages ranged from 15 to the 50s.
Thistle committee member Eden Schollum organised the competition to keep players active with fun football in summer.
Ronnie Young organised drills and games for children so parents could play in the competition, and Candace Harding opened the Thistle clubrooms for the after-match get-together. Another competition in a new format is set to start in mid-January.
