By PETER ROWE
Joondalup Giants returned to the field after a four week break to cement an NRLWA Westpac Women’s Premiership finals berth on Friday evening at Treeby Oval, with a hard-fought 16-8 victory over the Fremantle Roosters thanks to a solid defence and the work of halves Annika Stephens and Jeune Biddle.
Stephens, who has missed several weeks with a broken nose, combined well with her halves partner early but it took 16 minutes to find the try line after both sides probed for an early breakthrough.
Some big hits and defence from both teams highlighted the first quarter before a charging run from Topaz Porter and a Biddle pass found Ngamata Moekaa on the right edge to score.
It stayed that way until just before halftime, when the game was turned on its head after Isabelle Bailey was on the receiving end of a long pass from halfback Beth Norton to put the Roosters on the board.
And seconds before the siren the home side took the lead, another big run, this time from forward Kateraina Horner, to go into the sheds in front.
The Roosters, buoyed by their efforts started the second half well as Joondalup’s defence was put to work, and once they had possession started to trouble their hosts.
Stephens was held up over the line and from the resulting play a clever cross-field kick saw the ball slip through Bailey’s hands for Moekaa to pick up and score.
Stephens kicked the extras, but with 23 minutes still to play Fremantle knew they had time to redress the balance.
And they tried, but it was Joondalup who scored again, in the 43rd minute, when a ball dropped backwards before held was called by referee Liam Noonan that saw another pass wide, this time to the left edge, that found winger Taryn Wylie alone and ready to score.
Fremantle had chances, they were stopped centimetres short of the line twice and thought they had scored out wide before the play was called back for a forward pass as good game management helped the Giants see out the remaining 14 minutes to secure the points.
“A grinding game, but good to get the points after so many weeks off,” coach Kurt Lahtz said.
“Our halves both had great games, but everyone had to step up – and they did.
“Defence was important and we will work more on that over the coming week as we head to the finals.”
In the late game at Treeby the Ellenbrook Rabbitohs saw off a spirited challenge from the North Beach Sea Eagles to take the points with a 22-16 win.
Skipper Kailey Thompson steered the Rabbitohs home, scoring one and kicking three conversions, with further tries coming from Huia Swannell, Tui Cope and Naomi Tiumalu.
“We led 16-6 at half-time but let them back in late in the game,” Thompson said.
“Beach are a good side and once they got some momentum going they really troubled us.
“But our forwards played a big part and our defence held firm.”
Ellenbrook will meet Fremantle next Friday in the final round of the regular season, needing a win to take out the minor premiership, while Joondalup face North Beach.
And the battle for the third spot in the finals goes down to the last game, with both the Sea Eagles and the Roosters locked at 12 points apiece.
