NELSON Bay’s Mick Lennon and Martin Shiner have returned home with international gold medals from the 2026 Asia Pacific Seniors Touch Cup in Japan.
The Port Stephens touch football wizards were part of the triumphant Australian Emus Men’s 55s team that toppled traditional rivals New Zealand 6-2 in the championship decider.
Staged in the city of Utsunomiya on Japan’s main Honshu island, the tournament proved a huge success with the Emus bringing back seven gold and three silver medals in a meritorious achievement.
Australia was represented across 10 divisions with every team progressing to their respective grand final in an impressive display of talent, experience and determination on the international stage.
Lennon and Shiner played key roles as the Emus delivered plenty of memorable moments, from dominant attacking performances to tightly contested trans-Tasman battles, across the four-day event.
Emus’ star Mark Leonard took out the Men’s 55s Player’s Player award with David Merrill earning the Coaches award.
Australia’s Men’s 30s produced one of the stand-out performances of the finals, defeating New Zealand 11–3 to claim gold and complete an undefeated tournament campaign.
Jayden Love, Matteson Gear and Nick Grant each recorded doubles in the decider, while Nicholas Foxcroft capped an impressive campaign as the team’s leading try-scorer with 14.
Australia’s Senior Mixed team was equally impressive, posting an emphatic 12–3 victory over the Philippines to secure another gold medal.
The victory capped an unbeaten campaign for the Emus with Cassandra Feldman among the stand-out performers throughout the competition, finishing with an impressive 18 tries.
Australia’s success extended across the remaining divisions with the Men’s 35s clinching a dominant 7–0 victory over New Zealand while the Men’s 40s (5–3), Men’s 45s (6–5) and Women’s 40s (3–1) also secured gold medals against their trans-Tasman rivals.
The Women’s 27s, Women’s 35s and Men’s 50s added to Australia’s medal tally with silver medals, ensuring all 10 Australian teams finished on the podium.
Several Australian players chalked up milestones during the event with Men’s 50s representatives Tony Eltachki and Tim Kitchingham reaching 100 international games and team-mate Garry Sonda achieving 75 matches for the Emus.
Milestones were also registered by Jamie Stowe (Men’s 50s), Derek Duguid (Men’s 55s) and Kelly Kennedy (Women’s 35s) for 50 international caps with 12 other Emus racking up 25 international appearances – Women’s 35s player-coach Jay Miller; Men’s 30s coach Nick Pecchiar; Luke Simmons (Men’s 30s); Kelly Goodwin and Cassandra Vincitorio (Senior Mixed); Tommy Quinlivan (Men’s 35s); Michelle Evans and Tahney Luck (Women’s 35s); Davina Galetto (Women’s 40s); Brad Lugg (Men’s 40s); Paul MacPherson (Men’s 50s) and James Marks (Men’s 55s).
By Chris KARAS
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