Six of their eight officials were selected to call the shots in grand finals and Daven Patton was also presented the Karen Tomba award for referee of the tournament.

“It’s a big achievement,” Singleton Junior Touch president and level 4 referee Barry Nichols said.

“The whistle-blowers for the finals are allocated by Hunter Hornets based on form during the pool games and they choose from about 150 referees.” 

Level 1 referees Nick Martin, Koby Old and Patton were being assessed in Nelson Bay and were successfully upgraded to level 2.

Also representing Singleton at the tournament were Jordan Taylor, Jessie Rutter, Jake Davis, Riley Young and Nichols.

“Some of these guys have only been doing it for 18 months and are always striving to do better,” Nichols said. 

“The guys get plenty of practice on Wednesday afternoons during the

junior touch football rounds but face the challenge of controlling groups of people who are older than themselves at representative tournaments.”

Nichols said the kids get a kick of refereeing and the club was always promoting the whistle-blowing art to more juniors on Wednesdays. 

“It’s something for them to do after school and keeps them fit and off the computer,” Nichols laughs.

Senior members of the group Riley Young – level 5, one rank below the highest, and Nichols are showing the way for the next generation of referees. 

Next May, the Singleton refereeing group travels to a senior tournament in Dubbo but before then match officials Nichols and level 4 Jake Davis will travel to Coffs Harbour to referee at the Nationals in March.