Tallon Smith
A two-try player of the match performance from winger Abbey Field helped Junee secure its first women’s tackle premiership with a 20-6 victory over Wagga Brothers at Geohex Park on Sunday.
The Diesels struck within the first two minutes of the match when an Anabelle Willis grubber found Kate Foley to open up a 6-0 lead, an advantage that was doubled 10 minutes later when Field sprinted away down the left hand touchline for the side’s second.
Brothers hit back in inventive fashion to stay in touch on the scoreboard, with an incredible last tackle play culminating in a try to Jorja Brennan following a second kick from captain Kassie Hiscock.
However, after the Diesels added a penalty goal to move beyond a converted try in front, it was Field who put the match out of Brothers’ reach with another four-pointer to seal a memorable 14-point victory.
After falling to the same opposition in the major semi final a fortnight ago, Junee coach Emma Hickey said playing the extra game helped her side stay in form and claim a premiership in the club’s centenary year, kickstarting huge celebrations.
“We had to keep playing because they did beat us, I think we were just ready and raring, we had that extra game up our sleeve, but I think the girls were just ready to go,” she said.
“When we went back to Junee everyone was just so proud.”
As for Field’s starring role in the win, Hickey said a combination of injuries and missing out on the league tag best and fairest by three votes motivated the Diesels star to produce an incredible showing.
“Ab on the day was keener than ever … she had goals to tick off,” she said.
“Ab was coming off two injuries throughout the year.
“At the Weissel Medal with us, she got runner-up [for] league tag, [and] she actually said to me she wanted to be best and fairest for the women’s tackle, because she was runner-up last year.”
The win sees the Diesels join Young as the two sides to have won a women’s tackle premiership.
JUNEE 20 (Abbey Field 2, Kate Foley tries; Emily Edson 4 goals) DEFEATED WAGGA BROTHERS 6 (Jorja Brennan try; Milly Lucas goal) at Geohex Park, Sunday September 20.
