The WA Women’s League Tag side got off to a positive start to their tour, with a strong, if not comprehensive win over a plucky and super talented NSW Outback side, 26-14 in what was a back and forth contest.
With the ladies having a day out sight seeing and acclimatising, they came to St Marys wanting to win every game they played this weekend, and this first game was no exception.
A brilliant venue, both teams were very thankful of the St Mary’s Leagues Club and Stadium for hosting this whole weekend, in what is a brilliant facility.
With access to amazing facilities and stadium, both teams were in good spirits when they arrived, with both sides coming a long way. Some ladies for NSWRL had travelled for two whole days on buses from Broken Hill and we ready for some rugby league action.
With the warmups commencing amongst some laughter and eagerness from both teams, the lights came on in the afternoon to add a bit of magnitude to the affair, with a small but energetic and loud crowd coming out to watch, which included quite a few supporters from the WA contingent.
With NSW Outback winning the toss, it was WA’s receiving running from south to north, with a strong wind in favour of the Outback side.
But it would be the Western Australian girls who dictated early, with captain Michaela Turner-Wallace, and her vice-captains in Sandy Tau and Grace Smith who controlled the game. And they would strike first through Rebecca Mann, who beat two defenders on her way to an early score.
Zarah Suamili was causing havoc on the edge with Aimee-Rose Wood and Teana Jenkins combining with ease. And when Imogen Howes made a big line break, it seemed the WA girls would go in again, only to be held out by desperate NSW defence.
The remainder of that half was an arm wrestle with both sides going back and forth, but as mistakes started to creep in NSW Outback started to gain the ascendancy. With a big kicking game, they drove into the WA territory and kept the pressure high.
And five minutes from halftime they struck, through a beautiful shift play, which unleashed their outside backs to put the ball down in the corner. With the score locked at 4-4 and momentum with the Outback ladies, WA needed to hang on until halftime.
But on the stroke of halftime, the Outback Fullback, who quickly achieved the nickname “Blue Lightning” got on the outside of the WA defence and streaked away for a big score. At halftime, it was NSW Outback in front 8 – 4, with the WA girls needing the reset.
There was no panic from the team, with Coach Sean Terrell just telling his troops to just hold onto the footy and let their play speak for itself. Controlling the middle of the field was the priority as they needed to just make sure they stayed in the contest.
WA kicked off and immediately went onto the attack after the Outback ladies made a mistake coming out of territory. And the ladies from the other side of the country didn’t miss. Sandy Tau took control of the left edge, and delivered a gorgeous short ball to WA player of the match Tamika Millard, who hit the line at pace and touched down under the sticks. With Millard also kicking the conversion, it was WA in front by two at 10-8.
NSW Community RL Manager Peter Clarke, Tamika Millard & Regional Manager Tim Del Guzzo
But our ladies got the restart wrong and their lead was short lived. With NSW Outback showing a great set of hands and some fast feet to immediately get the lead back through a quick try and conversion, and they led 14-10
With the game in danger of getting away from the ladies, the NSW Outback team put the foot down, and if not for the desperate defence of Imogen Howes and Tamika Millard, the WA would have found themselves in a deeper whole.
But the ladies then found their stride, with middles Claudia Wood and Lauryn Stephens making their presence felt, and Grace Smith & Joanne Lynch injecting themselves and energy into the game. When Rebecca Mann broke through on a 40 metre run, and then offloaded to Simone Johnson who stole another 20 metres, the WA girls were on the attack again.
Up stepped captain Grace Smith. Beating no less than 4 defenders, she stepped and swerved her way to a scintilating solo try, and put all the momentum in WA’s corner. At 16-14, the WA girls had the energy and that is where it stayed for the remainder of the match.
Another scything run from Teana Jenkins, resulted in a long shift where Sinead Loundes got outside her defender and put Imogen Howes away and she made no mistake. A crucial score to lead 20-14, the Outback girls then went searching for a another blow, with NSW player of the match Natalie Johnson causing all sorts of headaches.
NSW Community RL Manager Peter Clarke, Natalie Johnson & Regional Manager Tim Del Guzzo
But the WA girls held firm and with the game still on the line, it was Millard who stepped up and put the game to bed. Getting the ball on the 40 metre line, she accelerated through the middle of the field, and beat the fullback, to score a beautiful solo try and basically secure the win for Western Australia.
A great game for League Tag, and a great day for both teams, with brilliant rugby league, it was a good omen for tomorrows game, as both teams dusted off the cobwebs in what should be an exciting day of women’s league tag.
Congratulations to all the players on the day. Both teams will be looking forward to the carnival tomorrow. Coach Sean was happy commenting that “We got rid of alot of cobwebs and found out a bit about ourselves. They were a hard side to defend”.
NSW Community RL Manager Peter Clarke addressed the girls, with both “Western teams” both travelling big distances to be a part of the weekend and thanking them for a quick game of league tag and presenting the player of the matches for both teams.
A wonderful night, which finished with a meal with the Outback Team inside the St Mary’s Leagues Club, watching the rugby league on the big screen. It doesn’t get much better than that.
NRL Western Australia 26 – NSW Outback 14
Tries – Rebecca Mann, Tamika Millard (2), Grace Smith, Imogen Howes
Conv – Tamika Millard (2), Grace Smith
