It was Ayr who had the last laugh on Sunday, 19 October, after defeating cross-town rivals Home Hill in a three-sport series as part of the Home Hill Harvest Festival's esteemed Town of Origin series.
The well-attended event drew hundreds of locals to Home Hill State High School grounds for the 11th instalment of the series, with Ayr's 2-1 victory across junior cricket, netball and rugby giving it a 6-5 historical lead and temporary bragging rights over its local counterpart.
Beyond the on-court and on-pitch action, Harvest Festival president Mark Vass said the event was a win for the entire Burdekin community.
"There's always a lot of banter out there, a lot of banter on the sidelines and it's just a good atmosphere," said Vass. "People are very passionate about it, and as long as people continue to support it, we'll keep it going."
Ayr hit the ground running in the early afternoon, claiming a narrow, hard-fought 60-59 victory in the junior cricket showdown, with Kip Nicholas named Man of the match for his dominant performance. Home Hill bounced back with a commanding 40-17 win in netball, with Krystel Kerr named player of the game for her outstanding exploits. But it was Ayr that finished strongest, sealing the series with a comprehensive 32-4 rugby league victory to clinch the 2-1 series win.
With Ayr fans celebrating and Home Hill supporters already plotting next year’s comeback, the Town of Origin once again proved it’s as much about community as it is about sport.
Photo credit: Melanie Napier Memories & Photography