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The PIRANHAS (Australian touch football team)

The Piranhas are an open-age mens Australian touch football team based in Brisbane, which is located in the Australian state of Queensland. Started in October 1986 by surveyor and former Port Of Brisbane Authority employee Phil Duncombe, the Piranhas essentially started as a social work team playing in a summer competition within the Brisbane suburb of Newmarket. Although the Piranhas did participate in the 1992 winter season, they essentially only play during the summer competition, allowing their players the opportunity to participate in different teams, attend university, or be involved in other winter sports, all without interfering with their Piranhas playing commitments. Since their first season (1986/87), the Piranhas have played 385 matches, fielded 216 different players, played against 182 different teams, worn seven different uniforms, and played official competition at seven different Brisbane venues. The Piranhas have also NEVER forfeited a match, nor have they ever conceded a penalty try, both being records they are immensely proud of. There is also no record of any other single touch football team in Australia, that has been playing non-stop for 25 years, or has an accurately maintained historical record such as that of the Piranhas. Although the game has changed dramatically over the years, the Piranhas still participate to this day, and are one of the longest-surviving teams in Australian touch football history.

From humble beginnings ….
It has become local touch football folklore that the Piranhas touch football team came into being when team founder Phil Duncombe simply discovered an advertisement attached to a light pole, while driving home from his workplace at the Port Of Brisbane Authority. The advertisement was for teams interested in playing in a touch football competition held at the Newmarket Soccer Football club on Tuesday nights, which commenced in just a few weeks time. As there were a number of young sports-minded male Port Of Brisbane Authority employees at the time, interest in participating was high, even though just one player (Mike Higgison) had actually played touch football previously. So hastily organised was the team, that the team uniform was not brought along to the game, but rather a box of fluorescent orange safety vests was brought by mistake. These vests were actually worn for the Piranhas first-ever match.

The PIRANHAS name
With the inaugural team only comprising current employees at the Port Of Brisbane Authority, a team logo commencing with the letter "P" was sought. With very few suitable logos suggested, the 'Piranhas' moniker was selected by Phil Duncombe due to the piranha being an aquatic creature, and therefore the Port Of Brisbane Piranhas were born. "Pigs", "Pirates" , and "Porcupines" were the other suggestions for the team name, with Pirates being the only other name given serious consideration. With the importation of a number of new players for the team's second season who were not Port Of Brisbane Authority employees, the "Port Of Brisbane" part of the team name was then officially dropped permanently. Since the inception of the Piranhas, there have only been four other recorded occasions where touch football teams have also used the name 'Piranhas' - an open mens team and over-35's team at the Redlands touch football competition, a mixed team at the BMTA competition, and the Peninsula Touch representative team from NSW.

Team colours
Officially, the Piranhas team colours are registered as royal blue and gold. A number of various uniform designs have been adopted over the years, including an all-gold shirt with royal blue shorts back in 1987, to the current royal blue and gold design shirt with black shorts. The blue and gold colours were chosen as they are the colours of the Parramatta Eels NRL team, who were the reigning premiers in the NSWRL competition at that time. In the Piranhas inaugural season of 1986/87 though, fluorescent orange vests were worn by mistake for the first game only, with navy blue singlets (without numbers) being worn for the remainder of the season. In 1991, heavy consideration was given to changing the team colours to a maroon and gold design, similar to that of the high profile Brisbane Broncos rugby league team that were the sole Brisbane club playing in the then NSW rugby league competition. However, the design change was deemed unnecessary, with the blue and gold colours being kept.

Competition venues
The Piranhas touch football team has participated in formal competition at seven separate venues around the city of Brisbane. The venues are as follows: (1986/87-1993/94) Newmarket Soccer Football Club, (1994/95 & 1999/00-2000/01) City Touch competition at Commercial Hockey Club based at Newmarket, (1995/96) City Touch competition at Wilston-Grange Australian Football Club, (1996/97) Bayside Touch competition at Tingalpa, (1997-1999, 2001/02 & 2003-current) BMTA competition at Whites Hill Sports Reserve, (22/3/98) Premier Touch competition at Mt.Gravatt Australian Football Club, (2002/03) Unitouch competition at the University of Queensland, St.Lucia. During seasons 1992 and 1993, the Piranhas also adopted a weekend training venue at the former Hamilton football ground in Brisbane, located on Kingsford Smith Drive.

Overall playing record
Up to and including the completed 2009/10 season, the Piranhas have participated in a total of 385 matches. This comprises 176 victories, 176 defeats, 23 drawn matches, 6 wins by forfeit, and had 4 cancelled (incomplete) matches. The Piranhas have also scored a total of 1593 tries, and conceded 1749 tries. Prior to the 2009/10 season grand final, the Piranhas had played in one more victory than loss, and this was the only occasion (for one week) where the Piranhas have actually held a positive all-time win/loss record. An accurate record of full details from every match the Piranhas have participated in is maintained.

Inaugural match
The Piranhas first-ever match commenced at 8:10pm on 7th October 1986 (field 2 at Newmarket Soccer Football club). The result was a 12-0 thrashing at the hands of the SBD team, which wasn't surprising given the Piranhas lack of experience, and the fact that they played the match one player short of the then-required seven players. Also playing for the SBD team were state-of-origin rugby league players Peter Jackson and Steve Stacey. The first-ever Piranhas team to take the field that night comprised Phil Duncombe (capt), Mike Higgison, Shayne Taylor, Warren Wood, Gunay Kayahan, and Paul Watson.

Current day
The Piranhas continue to play in the Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association (BMTA) competition at Whites Hill Sports Reserve, on Wednesday nights during the summer competition. Having played in eight premiership grand finals and one knockout carnival final during their 25-year history, the Piranhas have three grand final victories to their credit (seasons 1997/98, 1998/99 undefeated, and 2006/07).

Piranhas silver anniversary (1986 to 2011)
October 2011 will be 25 years since Piranhas touch football commenced, and celebratory plans for the occasion are already well underway. A book on the team's history, two dvd's of matches played nearly twenty years ago (including their first-ever grand final), a huge player reunion, the announcement of a Piranhas Legends team including presentations to each player, and a social touch football challenge match between the current Piranhas team and a Piranhas 'Old Boys' team, are all currently being organised. This massive event is set down to be held at the Newmarket Soccer Football Club, the venue of the Piranhas first-ever match, and the team's home for their first 8 years. Details will be made available as the time approaches. Should you happen to be a former Piranhas player, or wish to know more about the silver anniversary celebrations, the Piranhas team management can be contacted via email at qrl_brl@hotmail.com

Legends team
Part of the Piranhas silver anniversary celebrations in October 2011, will be the naming of a Piranhas 'Legends' team. Some of the nominees for the final team of 14 include Mike Higgison, Shayne Taylor, Ron Greentree, Robert Bowes, Rod Nelson, Steve Cornish, Brett Waterson, Rob Fox, Michael Finch, Gordon Triplett, Joe Vecchio, Ross Murray, Lester Baird and Murray Ballantyne. There are a number of other players to be added to this list, before the final vote will be conducted, and announcement made at the reunion.

Annual player awards
Shayne Taylor Trophy

The SHAYNE TAYLOR TROPHY is a perpetual trophy awarded annually to the Piranhas best player each season. The recipient of this award is selected by the players themselves using a 3-2-1 points system for voting, after the final regular season match has been played. Players eligible for the award and those eligible to vote, must have played at least half of that season's matches. Steve Cornish and Michael Finch have each won this award on four occasions. The trophy was donated by inaugural Piranhas player Mike Higgison. The following is a list of all the winners of this award. (1986/87) not awarded, (1987/88) Shayne Taylor, (1988/89) Rod Nelson, (1989/90) Steve Cornish, (1990/91) Steve Cornish, (1991/92) Rod Nelson, (Winter 1992) Brett Waterson, (1992/93) Robert Fox, (1993/94) Robert Fox, (1994/95) Robert Fox, (1995/96) Michael Finch, (1996/97) Steve Cornish, (1997/98) Michael Finch, (1998/99) Karl Nogaski, (1999/00) Steve Cornish, (2000/01) Michael Finch, (2001/02) Michael Finch, (2002/03) Craig Robson, (2003/04) Ross Murray, (2004/05) Ross Murray, (2005/06) Troy Robbins, (2006/07) Dave Peiniger, (2007/08) Tainui Kingi, (2008/09) Trent Black, (2009/10) Joe Vecchio.

Mike Higgison Trophy

The MIKE HIGGISON TROPHY is a perpetual trophy awarded annually to the Piranhas top try-scorer each season from the regular season games (excluding finals & playoffs). The trophy was donated by inaugural Piranhas player Shayne Taylor. A full record of every match the Piranhas participate in is kept, with all try-scorers also recorded. Gordon Triplett and Joe Vecchio, have won this award on four occasions each. The following is a list of all the winners of this award, including the number of tries each winner scored during the entire season. (1986/87) Mike Higgison 3, (1987/88) Shayne Taylor 9, (1988/89) Rod Nelson 14, (1989/90) Steve Cornish 5, (1990/91) Steve Cornish 11, (1991/92) Darren Holmes 14, (Winter 1992) Brett Waterson 11, (1992/93) Robert Fox 17, (1993/94) Robert Fox 16, (1994/95) Robert Fox 13, (1995/96) Michael Finch 11, (1996/97) Michael Finch 10, (1997/98) Lester Baird 14, (1998/99) Lester Baird 17 & Cliff Baird 17, (1999/00) Gordon Triplett 27, (2000/01) Gordon Triplett 21, (2001/02) Gordon Triplett 12, (2002/03) Lester Baird 11, (2003/04) Dion Alcorn 23, (2004/05) Ross Murray 8, (2005/06) Gordon Triplett 11, (2006/07) Joe Vecchio 33, (2007/08) Joe Vecchio 25, (2008/09) Joe Vecchio 25, (2009/10) Joe Vecchio 30.

Miscellaneous competition awards
Piranhas player Ron Greentree was selected as the best player of the grand final in season 1997/98, while Wayne Green was selected as the best player of the grand final in 1998/99. Brett Waterson was awarded a competition player-of-the-season award by Bayside Touch Association in season 1996/97.

Players
Following the completion of the 2009/10 summer season, a total of 216 players had played for the Piranhas team. A full playing record of every player to have appeared for the Piranhas, is meticulously maintained. Mike Higgison currently holds the record for playing the most games for the Piranhas (358), and has not only played in and scored during every season of the Piranhas touch football team, but is the only inaugural player still participating. It should be noted that Shayne Taylor, another inaugural Piranhas player, is still an active player in a Sydney competition, and occasionally makes cameo appearances for the Piranhas. Piranhas 'centurion' Rod Nelson, also participates in a social competition on Brisbane's northside. Although a mens team, the Piranhas have occasionally been permitted to field female players, of which there are a total of six females who have played.

Representative players, alternate sports, and famous players
The Piranhas have been fortunate enough to have sporting greatness both within their playing ranks, and on opposition teams. During the team's history, seven players have represented NTRA Australia in touch football, six have represented NTRA Queensland, and two have represented NTRA New Zealand. Also, Trevor Schodel has played NSWRL rugby league for the Canberra Raiders. On opposition teams, the Piranhas have played against famous rugby league players Steve Stacey, Peter Jackson, Greg Oliphant, and Warren Boland. Piranhas player Rick Taiapa had also previously been a Junior (NZ) All Black in rugby union. On a completely different note, one opposition team included Bruce Paige, a well-known ABC-tv and QTQ-9 television news reader in Brisbane.

Piranhas "Centurions"
The rare honour of becoming a Piranhas "centurion" (a 100-game player), has only been achieved on eight occasions. Those players are listed here, along with the number of games played to date. (358*) Mike Higgison, (190*) Robert Bowes, (182) Rod Nelson, (181) Ron Greentree, (166) Michael Finch, (159) Steve Cornish, (133) Brett Waterson, (101) Robert Fox. It is anticipated that Piranhas stalwart Robert Bowes, will become only the second Piranhas "double-centurion" during the upcoming 2010/11 season.
 * represents still active

Piranhas standing records
Individual Player Records

Most games played: 358 Mike Higgison (at completion of 2009/10 season)

Most consecutive games played: 98 Mike Higgison (at completion of 2009/10 season)

Most games played without scoring: 31 Leon Halliday

Most tries scored during career: 124 Joe Vecchio (at completion of 2009/10 season)

Most tries scored during a season: 33 Joe Vecchio (2006/07)

Most tries scored in a single match: 7 Dion 'shaggy' Alcorn (4/2/2004) Joe Vecchio scored six on 2/12/2009, and Dave Peiniger scored six on 29/9/2010

Most tries scored on debut: 4 Gordon Triplett (1/11/1999) & Waimana Kingi (7/2/2007)

Most consecutive games played in which a player has scored: 12 Gordon Triplett (1999/00-2000/01) and Joe Vecchio (2009/10)

Players dismissed during games: Mike Higgison (2), Ron Greentree (2), Brett Waterson (1), Gordon Triplett (1), Justin Nickerson (1)

Team Records

Highest score in a match: 20-1 (4/2/2004)

Biggest win in a match: 19 (4/2/2004)

Lowest score in a match: 0 (has occurred on 22 occasions)

Biggest loss in a match: 16-0 (23/12/1986 & 21/11/1989)

Lowest score in a victory: 1 (22/3/1998 & 24/2/1999)

Highest score in a loss: 8 (28/10/1987 & 29/9/2010)

Most tries scored in a half: 11 (6/12/1994)

Most tries conceded in a half: 10 (21/11/1989 & 10/3/2010)

Most consecutive victories played: 18 (18/10/2006 to 31/10/2007)

Most consecutive losses: 36 (6/1/1988 to 7/11/1990)

Most wins in a season: 13 (2006/07)

Most drawn matches in a season: 5 (Winter 1992) one drawn match was fully played before being cancelled from the competition

Overall PIRANHAS playing record (up to season 2009/10)
385 games - 176 wins - 176 losses - 6 forfeit wins - 23 draws - 4 cancelled - 1593 tries scored - 1749 tries conceded

(tries scored includes 30 tries awarded for six forfeit wins)

Season-by-season history
Coming soon ....