The tournament debutantes ended Tamworth’s two year reign in a tight title race with just two points separating their Orange side and third-placed Tamworth Green.

Manning Valley Red were sandwiched in between, after the final positions were determined by the final round of matches.

That round pitted Newcastle and Tamworth against each other with the Novacastrians taking the honours 2-nil, while Manning Valley edged out New England 1-nil.

Tamworth were also narrowly denied a York Cup title defence, with the Frogs being pipped by Sydney (1) by a solitary point.

The Sydney side returned home with double success after their twos finished on top in B Division.

Tamworth Green were positioned sixth and Tamworth White seventh, while Inverell were fourth and Moree runner-up.

The hosts were similarly placed in the Kim Small Shield with the Tamworth Maroon side placing 10th, the Blue’s eighth and White’s seventh.

New England came in fourth, just ahead of the second Newcastle (Green) side.

It was the association’s first appearance in the Kim Small Shield after only learning of its existence this year, and one of many firsts for the weekend.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever had two U11 (girls) teams,” Newcastle Orange coach Robyn Skene said.

That was a win in itself, one that was only topped by the undefeated title-winning weekend from the Orange side.

“We had no goals scored against us,” Skene said.

“It was a brilliant effort from the girls. They’re a wonderful bunch of girls.”

The two sides were made up of players from five different clubs, and had been training for two months.

The Orange side had several close tussles over the weekend, highlighted by 0-all draws against Tamworth Green and Manning Valley Red.

“The two games against Tamworth Green, the standard of hockey for an U11s carnival was exceptional,” Skene said.

She was unable to just single out one standout for the weekend, with the whole side performing well, she said.

Scone’s Alice Arnott received the Matthew Smith award for player of the Kim Small Shield tournament.

• For more on the weekend action turn inside to page 25.