Before the players took the field, the night began with a moving commemorative ceremony led by serving members of the Australian Defence Force, with Townsville Grammar School student Jenna Curtis delivering a heartfelt performance of The Last Post during the ceremony.
The ceremony honoured the ANZAC legacy with dignity and meaning, setting the tone for what would be a special night of sport and tribute.
The Men’s Over 30s opened the series, with the Saints taking a 6–2 win in a tight, physical contest. First half tries to Joshua Hall, Mitchell Lauder, and Troy Bower gave the Saints an early edge, while Anthony Steel and a second-half double from Luke Hildebrandt sealed the result — including an exciting intercept try after the siren. Lewis White was a standout for the Crocs, crossing for both of their tries. Joshua Hall was named Player of the Match for his all-round impact and leadership on the field.
In the Women’s Open, the Saints delivered a commanding 14–1 performance, with early tries from Caydee Kyle, Rylie Dixon, Gabriella Parenti, and Layne Prince laying the foundation. Montaya Hudson and Aimee Angus both scored twice in the second half, while Mia Hayes crossed for the Crocs in the 12th minute with a strong solo effort. Aimee Angus claimed Player of the Match honours for her leadership and finishing touch.
The night closed with the Men’s Open, where the Saints produced a 17–0 win built on relentless pace and precision. Malachy Friel bagged a second-half hat trick, with tries also shared by Conor Wilson, Ryan McCarron, Joel Craperi, and several others. The Crocs showed grit and tenacity throughout the match, but struggled to contain the Saints' flowing attack. Conor Wilson was awarded Player of the Match for his composure and game control.
While the final scoreboard read three convincing wins to the Saints, all three matches were played with intensity, skill, and determination from both teams. The scorelines didn’t fully reflect the quality of the contests, with each game showcasing the depth of talent and the pride with which both sides wore their colours.
Following the final match, Defence Bank’s Rhaine Bourke presented the newly commissioned ANZAC Day Challenge Shield to Townsville Touch Football’s David Argent, with the Saints earning the honour of being the first name etched onto the perpetual trophy.
Townsville Touch Football’s Technical Director and Event Organiser, Kerrod Hall, praised the spirit in which the series was played and the extraordinary effort shown by all involved.
"Tonight's event wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the initiative of Damien Scott from the NQ Defence Crocs. This all started with a short and simple message just gauging interest, and ended in what you saw here tonight."
Hall also acknowledged the work done behind the scenes.
"Cherrie Pierce from our board was instrumental in bringing tonight together — she’s worked tirelessly for weeks now organising everything from uniforms to catering. Between the three of us — Damien, Cherrie, and myself — there have been more messages, emails and phone calls than I can count, and I’m just incredibly proud of what we’ve pulled off."
"A special thanks must also go to the coaches of both camps, especially our Saints coaches who had to name and prepare their teams with very little game time or preparation due to rain and field closures in recent weeks."
"And of course, we also need to thank our major sponsor, Colliers Townsville, for their long-standing support of the sport in this city, and Defence Bank coming on board to back this event and help us deliver something special."
NQ Defence Crocs coordinator Damien Scott, who was also a player in the Men’s Over 30s match and coach of the Defence Crocs Women’s Open side, was full of praise for the collaboration between the two organisations.
"We really want to thank Townsville Touch Football for all they’ve done in bringing this event and our community together. The results didn’t go our way, but the scores don’t reflect just how great tonight was."
"We’re proud of what we’ve started here, and we’ll definitely be back next year to try and get our name on that shield."
The ANZAC Day Challenge is already being earmarked as a permanent fixture on the Townsville sporting calendar, with both TTF and NQDFTA committed to building the event year-on-year and ensuring it continues to honour the legacy of ANZAC in a meaningful and lasting way.