Tallon Smith
The inaugural Reece Group Women’s Tackle premiership finals kick off this weekend, with five teams in pursuit of the same goal, being crowned the first premiers of the competition.
Headlining the opening weekend of finals is a massive Qualifying Final clash between the Junee Diesels and South City Bulls, for the right to face Estella for a Grand Final spot in next weekend’s Major Semi Final.
Saturday’s Elimination Final sees the Young Cherrypickers face the Gundagai Tigers at Nixon Park in Temora in the first-ever sudden death match in the competition’s short history.
Young captain-coach Jamila Piercy said that her side is looking forward to the challenge, with the improvement over the course of the season leading into the finals holding them in good stead as the playoffs begin.
“As a team we just keep getting better every week,” she said.
“It has been a little bit hard with the league tag because we are a small town, we do have a few girls that play both, but other than that it’s been really fun and exciting.”
Piercy said that while the competition is only in its infancy, she can already see the benefits as it continues to grow and attract more players to the game.
“It’s been good not only for our club but for our community,” she said.
“We’ve had a lot of girls who wouldn’t have sought to play football, who have seen how well we’ve been going and have been coming along now.
“We actually have 24 girls registered, last year we had half of that, so it’s been not only good for us girls playing, the community is loving it and getting around it.”
Meanwhile, as the Cherrypickers, Tigers, Diesels and Bulls battle it out this weekend, Minor Premiers Estella Storm will get the benefit of a week’s rest heading into the Major Semi Final in Wagga next weekend.
Storm captain Shanae Pope said that finishing with the Minor Premiership was reward for a good effort across a tough campaign, and that the week’s rest will ensure her side is ready to tackle the best the Group 9 has to offer.
“It was a nice result for a good effort from the team, we’ve had a new squad this year,” she said.
“We’re definitely confident, we know our potential, but we’re also aware that the other teams are hungry and there’s going to be some good games of footy.”
As for who she is most worried about amongst the four teams playing this weekend, Pope said they all pose different threats and are legitimate contenders on their day.
“I think everyone is going to bring their different game play, so there’s no one specifically that we’re worrying about,” she said.
Meanwhile, the competition is also heating up in Downer Group League Tag, with two massive games scheduled for this weekend.
After qualifying for the finals in their first year back in the competition, the Cootamundra Bulldogs will face the Gundagai Tigers in a sudden-death Elimination Final in Temora on Saturday.
Then, to kick off Sunday’s action a day after their first and reserve grade sides battle in the Elimination Finals, the Temora Dragons will take on the Tumut Blues for a spot in the Major Semi Final at Anzac Park.
Awaiting the winners are Minor Premiers Wagga Brothers, who join their tackle affiliate Estella Storm as Minor Premiers on the League Tag side of things in a fantastic result for the club.
All finals this weekend will be streamed on BarTV, which can be accessed by clicking here.
Battlers For Bush Footy 