THE value of sport as a tourism tool has been reinforced by the success of the NSW PSSA Girl's Touch Championships in Wagga.
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With hundreds of children and their parents converging on Wagga for the three-day touch tournament, the city has been showcased to a new market.
Event manager Rhiannon Dolahenty yesterday revealed the championships had been an eye-opening experience for visitors.
Speaking to The Daily Advertiser after the completion of the second day of competition, Dolahenty said Wagga had received glowingly positive reviews.
"I've spoken to parents, and lot of them have never been down this way before," Dolahenty said.
"They said most of the time they travel to Sydney for sporting events or they're in their own area.
"The reaction (to Wagga) has been really enthusiastic.
"They've (visitors) been really happy with the city, and how the tournament had gone."
Staged on a rotation basis around the state, the NSW PSSA Girl's Touch Championships have attracted upwards of 300 visitors to Wagga this week, providing a boon for motels and eateries.
First held in 1996, the championships have grown in stature, and now involve teams from 13 regions in the state, including the Riverina.
After two days of inspiring competition, Sydney North, Polding and MacKillop are the front runners for the coveted title this year.
Dolahenty said Sydney North had beaten Polding and MacKillop in preliminary games yesterday, but both results had been tight.
"There was nothing much in either of the games," she said.
"They were both close and went down to the wire."
Sydney North edged out Polding 2-1 in a thriller and also accounted for MacKillop (4-2) to remain unbeaten at the tournament.
In contrast, Riverina struggled on day two, losing its four games.
After opening with a 9-0 drubbing from Sydney North, Riverina also crashed to Polding (5-0) and North Coast (8-0).
Amid the carnage, Riverina managed a creditable 2-1 loss to Western.
The championships continue today with further preliminary games before the finals starting at 11.15am.
NSW PSSA GIRL'S TOUCH CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Jubilee Park
Day 1
Polding 8 d Western 0, Sydney North 7 d North Coast 0, Sydney East 2 d Sydney West 1, Hunt 5 d CIS 0, South Coast 3 d Riverina 2, North West 2 d Sydney South West 0, CIS 2 drew with Sydney West 2, Sydney North 6 d Sydney East 0, Polding 3 d North Coast 0, MacKillop 6 d Sydney South West 0, Riverina 2 d North West 1, Hunter 6 d South Coast 1, MacKillop 3 d Western 0, Polding 3 d Sydney East 0, Sydney North 6 d CIS 2, Sydney West 4 d South Coast 1, Hunter 4 d North West 0, Riverina 2 d Sydney South West 0, Sydney North 4 d South Coast 1, Polding 6 d CIS 1, North Coast 3 d Western 1, MacKillop 5 d Riverina 0, Hunter 6 d Sydney South West 0, Sydney West 5 d North West 0, MacKillop 4 d South Coast 2, Sydney East 2 d Western 0, Polding 5 d South Coast 0, Sydney North 10 d North Coast 0, Sydney West 4 d Sydney South West 2, Hunter 4 d Riverina 0, Polding 10 d North West 0, CIS 2 d Western 0, North Coast 3 d Sydney East 2, MacKillop 3 d Hunter 1, Riverina 3 d Sydney West 2, Sydney North 9 d Sydney South West 0
Day 2
MacKillop 4 d Sydney East 2, North Coast 2 d CIS 1, South Coast 1 d Western 0, Polding 4 d Sydney South West 0, Sydney North 9 d Riverina 0, Hunter 3 d Sydney West 0, MacKillop 4 d Sydney West 0, Sydney North d Hunter 0, Polding 5 d Riverina 0, North West 0 drew with Western 0, North Coast 3 d South Coast 1, Sydney East 3 d CIS 2, Western 1 drew with Sydney South West 1, Polding 2 d Hunter 0, Sydney North 5 d Sydney West 0, MacKillop 7 d CIS 0, Sydney East 1 drew with South Coast 1, North Coast 6 d North West 0, Sydney North 4 d MacKillop 2, Polding 4 d Sydney West 1, Western 2 d Riverina 1, North Coast 3 d Sydney South West 1, Sydney East 6 d North West 0, CIS 2 d South Coast 1, North Coast 8 d Riverina 0, Hunter 3 d Western 0, Sydney North 2 d Polding 1, MacKillop 4 d South Coast 1, CIS 2 drew with North West 2, Sydney East 2 d Sydney South West 1