Foundation 10s competition in Orange on Saturday, were helped out by four Cobar Roosterettes rugby league players along with other rugby players from Bathurst, Blaney and Gulargambone. ▪ Photo contributed
In a brave step, the Aurelia Metals sponsored Cobar Rugby Union women’s tackle team, the Bactrians, competed in the Orange Emus Tens Tournament last Saturday matching the experience and professionalism of the more seasoned opposition with unbridled enthusiasm and raw talent.
For the girls, it was a day of learning and improvement, with a few hard knocks as well.
At the start of the day, they were confronted with four games, then the possibility of semis and final football.
Cobar drew Gooseys Sports in their first game. Gooseys were overwhelming favorites to take out the women’s title, being stacked with the best from the Central West, resplendent in pink and dripping with confidence…or arrogance?
The Cobar girls had no idea how good their opponents were so tore into them without fear.
Kayla Hasson further damaged her crook shoulder against the continuous onslaught from Gooseys but with captain Jayde George leading the way, the Bactrians found a way to repel the attacks.
Class and fitness eventually took its toll on Cobar’s grim determination with Gooseys running out winners 5-0 measured on tries.
The Bactrians second game was against Molong which boasted some quick and zippy youngsters who were Rugby and “Tens” savvy.
But it was clear that Cobar had found their feet in the first game and were picking the game up with every minute.
Roosterettes recruits to the Bactrians side, Kelsey Neve, Neve Carter and Taylah Good, quickly worked out where best their talent would serve which allowed their class to overcome their Rugby inexperience.
Michelle Gillette, Samantha Ward and Jazz Beddows did well in defence against the organized Molong attack while the efforts of first timer Ayumi Edwards Hirotsu were outstanding.
The flyer, Toea Wisil, finally got her hands on the ball and after a 50 metre dash looked certain to score. A magnificent individual cover defending effort from a Molong desperate denied Toea in the shadow of the tryline.
At fulltime, Molong led 3-2 but Neve Carter had injured her ankle.
Rather than dampen their spirits, the defeats appeared to fire the Bactrians’ enthusiasm.
Their attitude morphed into a confidence which asked “Is that all we have to beat?”
Well, not quite.
Scone produced a monster of a girl at tight head prop who could run a bit.
The rest of the Scone team were well drilled and fairly handy as well.
Scone launched themselves at Cobar’s line for extended periods but the Bactrians held firm and Kelsey Neve responded with a try.
Toea Wisil continued to challenge Scone with her pace but, the longer the game went on, the more she committed to defence where she was very effective in shutting Scone down out wide.
Finally the ball found its way to Kelsey Neve at outside centre who got outside her opposite number to put Taylah Good on the way to the try line.
Taylah narrowly missed her wide conversion attempt which would have won the Bactrians the game.
The girls took heart from the 2-all draw.
Kelsey Neve certainly did, scoring one try and then setting up another.
Against the Orange Emus, the Bactrians led early for the first time.
It was obvious Cobar was improving game by game and the individual performances reflected just that.
Neve Carter scored for Cobar, Taylah Good and Toea Wisil remained effective in attack out wide but it was the defence of the Cobar girls which made them winners for the first time on the day, 4-2.
Cobar again met up with Scone and their imposing bullyish number three in the first semi final.
Lack of condition did not assist the Cobar girls and Scone went out to a 3-0 lead.
Jayde George came off after a head hit from the Scone tight head who was starting to dominate in centre field.
A fired up Sam Ward then took the field to negate the centre field danger.
The Bactrians were then able to contain the opposition and turned defence into attack to allow Toea Wisil to bust through a parked defence to score a try.
Three tries against Scone in two minutes was beyond the Bactrians and the final score was 3-1.
These girls are brave and talented and have so much to give to Cobar and Western Plains Rugby Union.—contributed
