Helping the Tigers players develop their skills and fitness is Touch Plus, the closest form of non-contact rugby league available in Ipswich.

Touch Plus is the safest yet most exciting game of modified rugby league that both men and women can play no matter what skill level, ability or fitness.

The autumn season will kick off on Monday 23 February at Norths Leagues Club (Pelican Street, North Ipswich). This season will run for just eight weeks and is easily the cheapest social sport at barely $6 per player per week.

President of the Senior Rugby League Club, Wayne Middlemiss, is looking forward to an exciting upcoming season.

“It’s great to have people come together socially and play footy. It’s obviously non-contact, and we grade the teams accordingly so we can cater for all abilities and provide enjoyable games for everyone.

“The mixed competition has always been popular as the girls can have a run around with their girlfriends or partners and enjoy playing a form of rugby league themselves.

“It’s only an eight week season, which is designed to finish before the weather gets cooler and also so people don’t get burnt out by a long season.

Norths have featured a team from each of the juniors, seniors and women’s rugby league programs over the past years, however Midlemiss points out league clubs haven’t always had success.

“The game is certainly the closest thing to rugby league but that doesn’t necessarily mean rugby league teams have an advantage. Girl’s tries are worth two points and some teams are very good at getting their female players over the line, while traditional touch football players can be a bit quicker than your average league player.

“It’s just an exciting game that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, irrespective of age, athletic ability or league background.

With the competition to starting Monday 23 February, teams need to register online or contact Steve on 0428 178 522. Registration is just $450 per team for the 8 week season, making it the most affordable social sport in Ipswich!

We look forward to seeing you all again in 2015.

Here are our trading hours over the Christmas and New Years festivities:

Open 22/12, 23/12, 24/12 4pm – 6pm.

Closed 25/12 and 26/12.

Open 29/12, 30/12, 31/12 4pm – 6pm.

Closed 01/01/15.

Please be safe this holiday season.

The Norths Tigers A-Grade side celebrating their Grand Final win.

THE 19-year wait for a Northern Suburbs premiership title is over.

The Tigers have built through the season and chose the perfect time yesterday to put together their defining performance – a 42-16 grand final win over Brothers.

There wasn’t a poor player on the field for Norths but the one person who took them from excellent to sublime was captain and five-eighth Josh Roberts.

Roberts setup Norths’ first two tries, one with a cut-out pass, the other with a step and acceleration through a gap to give them a 12-0 lead.

But Brothers were never going to go down without a fight, bursting back into the match with two tries of their own.

Norths weren’t going into their shells and halfback Ritchie Lowe put second rower Brent Newton over for an 18-10 half-time lead.

There were signs Brothers were spent when Norths prop Brad Oddi dived over from dummy half four minutes into the second half.

Then Roberts took the game by the throat.

Three times in quick succession he stormed on to the ball on the right edge, sending panic through the Brothers’ defence, eventually laying on a try for centre Tonga Mounga.

A couple of minutes later, Roberts did it all himself to score and the hesitancy in the Brothers defence was a sign the fight was over.

“It’s hard to explain it really,” Roberts said of how it felt after the game. “It was hard work.

“The score didn’t reflect how hard.

“We were gone at some stages, they were gone at stages.”

They are a loyal bunch at Norths, none more so than Roberts.

He has seen his title hopes dashed many times in his career.

But he always believed he could be part of the team that ended Norths’ title drought.

“I can’t wait to get back to the club, get a team photo and put it up on the wall,” he said.

For Brothers it was a disappointing end to a season in which they won the minor premiership despite a mass exodus of players from the club after last season.

The Brothers’ bench yesterday told the story of a team that had limped into the decider and had nothing left to give.

Prop Jack Boettcher was ill before the game and his front row partner Jake O’Doherty broke his wrist in the first half and played on.

Fellow senior forwards Elijah Umu, Josh Afoa and Troy Sharpe all spent extended periods on the bench when they were wanted on the paddock.

“I think everyone was injured in the end,” Boettcher said.

“I wouldn’t say we played our grand final last week.

“But that took it out of us.

“But Norths were too good so full credit to them.”

State of play

A grade grand final: Norths 42 (Tonga Mounga 2, Andrew Campbell, Brent Newton, Brad Oddi, Josh Roberts, Jarrod Biggs tries; Jarrod Biggs 7 goals) def Brothers 16 (Shane Picker, Elijah Umu, Damien West tries; Shane Picker, Cameron Picker goals).

Key moment: 49th minute. With Norths up 24-10, Josh Roberts moved in for the kill. Three times in quick succession he took the line on, once busting through and twice slipping passes in tackles that led to a try to centre Tonga Mounga, which broke Brothers’ resistance.

The Norths Leagues Club is hosting a lunch from 12pm and is inviting all Tigers friends, family and fans to enjoy a warm meal at the club before venturing down to watch the game.

Download the flyer below and present it at the bar to receive member’s discounts on meals and drinks!