Tallon Smith

West Wyalong has secured the first place in the 2025 Group 20 League Tag Grand Final after a 22-12 win over the Leeton Greenies in the Major Semi Final at the Darlington Point Sportsground on Sunday afternoon.

A final minute try to halfback Kady Amarant sealed the deal, with the dashing run under the posts earning a third shot at success for the Mallee Chicks.

West Wyalong opened the scoring through Charlee Jones, who stepped past multiple defenders to cross the line, before Ava Lemon made a line-break down the short side, linking with Caitlin Kelly who extended West Wyalong’s early advantage to 10-0.

Leeton hit back soon after, with Elli Gill scoring a simple try from dummy half despite the best efforts of the Mallee Chicks in defence to bring the score back to 10-6 at half time.

The Greenies took the lead after the break, with Jessica Curran crossing under the posts after an inside ball from five-eighth Jamie Taylor.

However, just as Leeton started to look towards a Grand Final berth with six minutes remaining, Janae Downey received a pass from dummy half and stepped off her left foot to beat the Leeton defence and race in for a match-turning try.

With a 16-12 lead and a minute remaining, Amarant’s try sealed the deal, sending West Wyalong to a third-straight Group 20 League Tag Grand Final with a week’s rest.

The Mallee Chicks will now await the winner of the Leeton versus Griffith Black and Whites Preliminary Final in the big one in Griffith on September 28 as they look to avenge losses to Leeton and Yenda in the past two deciders.

The Black and Whites booked their place in the Preliminary Final after an 11-2 win over the TLU Sharks in Yanco on Saturday.

Two tries to Shailyn Williams and Leilah-Jane Little was enough for the Griffith side to progress through to the Preliminary Final and earn a shot at the Minor Premier Greenies.

The Preliminary Finals are set for next Sunday, with the venue to be confirmed.