Girls tackling new league competition in the Wide Bay
For Ebony Doherty the start of the new Wide Bay girls competition kicking off will create further opportunities for her to play league.
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RUGBY LEAGUE: For Ebony Doherty, the start of the new Wide Bay girls competition will create more opportunities to play rugby league.
The Hervey Bay Seagulls player has been travelling with her team-mates to the Sunshine Coast for the past two years to play competitive football.
"To have a competition around Wide Bay is great for all of the girls,” Ebony said.
"It makes it easier on us as players don't to have to travel as far.”
The competition has two age groups - under-14 and U17.
Eskdale Park Maryborough played host to the first games of the competition on the Fraser Coast on Sunday, with Wallaroos up against Hervey Bay Seagulls in the U14.
Wallaroos ran out winners 38-0 over the Hervey Bay side.
The result did not matter for Wallaroos player Charli Beazley.
"It is so good to have a full competition to play in,” Charli said.
"I have grown up watching footy and always wanted the opportunity to play.”
Charlie has two favourite players - one female and one male.
"I look up to Chelsea Baker who plays for Queensland and the Jillaroos and Kalyn Ponga from the Newcastle Knights,” she said.
In the U17 competition it was a tri-fecta of games with Wallaroos, Hervey Bay and Tannum Sands playing two halves of football against each other.
"The games were played in great spirit and all of the girls were respectful,” Ebony said.
"Everyone is supporting each other to make sure the competition grows.”
For Ebony, playing rugby league is fun and she enjoys the contact of the sport.
"It's a great game and I love it,” she said.
"You make so many friends and you learn so much.
"I hope other girls come on board.”
National Rugby League development officer Scott Zahra was pleased with the first round.
"It was great to see the players out there having some fun,” he said.
Bundaberg also hosted games between Bundaberg and Gladstone Wallabies.
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