It was almost a washout but East Blaxland's Leah Opie was delighted to see the Australian Touch Football World Cup played earlier this month, giving her a chance to play a vital role in the winning grand final match.
Despite torrential rain, lightning and storms at Coffs Harbour earlier in the week, Opie, 24, and her squad of 16, saw off a determined defence from New Zealand to win 8 to 5 in the Mixed Open division.
Playing in the worst weather conditions of her career in the lead-up to the finals, matches had to be suspended on the Friday (May 1) due to a severe weather warning from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Participants at the 2015 Federation of International Touch (FIT) Touch World Cup were seen almost surfing on the bogged fields at the stadium the day before matches were shut down.
"It was completely flooded, it was all just mud," Opie said.
At the time Touch Football Australia chief executive Colm Maguire told media that "lightning is a major concern, it's one of the key issues that causes us to cease play immediately".
"Obviously our staff and organisation has been working on it for four years, as have Destination NSW, and the local council."
But the weather gods shined on the C.ex Coffs International Stadium by the weekend.
Games were shortened from 40 minutes to 25 and played throughout the Saturday to make up for the lost day, with the main grand final pitch left clear for the final match on Sunday, May 3.
"It had been pretty horrible, just absolute slush ... we all filled our shoes with newspaper, sat them on heaters and put them in dryers as well to dry them [for the grand final match]," Opie said.
Australia is an international powerhouse in touch footy, dominating the event since its inception. They have been crowned world champions in the Open divisions at each of the seven World Cup events held since 1988, winning 42 of the 48 divisions offered since 1988, with New Zealand claiming six divisions in that time.
Opie said they were told teams would be "absolute rubbish".
"Being my first world cup I had no idea what to expect. It was pretty insane, we were told the teams would be absolute rubbish, other than New Zealand, but some of them were really good.
"Scotland [host of the 2011 World Cup] were really decent, Japan was really quick and some of the Papua New Guinean team played in Australian competitions."
Many were now using Australian coaches to improve their world standings, she said.
The talented winger made a number of vital touches during the week's games and also scored more than 10 tries.
"But we won some games 20-nil," she added modestly.
In the grand final match the team were down at half time by one and were even with five minutes to go. But they dug deep offensively and piled on four touchdowns.
"It's just about mateship, trusting each other, working with each other," Opie said.
"There are so many different tackles and plays you've got to know what all the calls are.
"I'd love to repeat the whole event, but with better weather."
More than 2000 players from 90 teams from 25 countries competed in the world cup and Australia again wiped the floor, winning eight of the nine divisions on offer, including retaining the Opens and Masters World Cup trophies.
The casual PE teacher at Springwood High will take a few weeks off training and then begin preparation in earnest for the next trans-Tasman event in February next year. Opie also hopes to be in contention for the open division at the next world cup, tipped to be in Malaysia in four years' time.
