Red and white derby: Illawarra Steelers and St George to clash for first time in NSW Women’s Premiership
The Illawarra Steelers are fresh off victory in round four and are now set to face St George in a local derby of the red and white. There’ll be no love lost as the local rivals face off with each other.
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THE Illawarra Steelers are preparing to lock horns with St George in a local derby this weekend in the NSW Women’s Premiership.
The round five clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium is the first meeting between the two sister clubs in the competition.
The Steelers come into the match off the back of a hard-fought victory 20-16 away from home against the Central Coast Roosters.
Coach Alicia-Kate Hawke was pleased with how her side maintained their focus in what was a very tight game at Morry Breen Oval.
“It was a big two points for us,” Hawke said.
“It was 10-all at the break … the girls had to work hard for it and stay focused.
“It was good to see the positive rewards from hanging in there in a close battle and going on to get the win.”
Steelers wingers Keele Browne and Zali Yeo both got on the scoresheet for the second time this season, with centre Lily Rogan also crossing the white line.
Halfback Rachael Pearson would clinch victory for the visitors in the final five minutes with an intercept try to cap off a memorable senior debut for the Steelers.
Pearson was playing her first footy in over five months on the weekend and was happy her side was able to grind out the victory.
“It was good to just get back out there and throw the footy around and just enjoy it,” Pearson said.
“We started off a bit overexcited.
“The message was to just complete and get back to the basics.
“We grinded out the second half and came away with the win.”
Club captain Keeley Davis was also somewhat of a debutant for the Steelers, with the NRLW star making her first appearance for the side since her junior days at the club.
“It was great to finally get her out there and get her going,” Hawke said.
“She was probably a bit harsh on herself, possibly thinking she was a bit rusty for her first game in a while.
“She brings so much to the team on and off the field though, so it was great to see her out there.”
Speaking earlier in the week, Davis said it was an immensely proud moment to kit up again for the club she grew up with.
“Steelers feels like home to me,” Davis said.
“To be able to represent my home, where my family is from, as well as to help with the pathway that started it all for me, it’s super special.
“As a team, I think we want to build a place with a really good culture, I think we want to push to get as many girls improving as possible.
“The coaches have been incredible and have already implemented so many great things for the squad.
“We’ll definitely be pushing for finals and that grand final.”
Coach Hawke highlighted the player of the match efforts of second-rower Ula-Mari Time-Cribb as a driving force behind the side’s victory on the weekend.
“It was just effort on effort from her, really going above and beyond,” Hawke said.
“She made a stack of tackles, one minute she was defending down the right, the next she was stopping something over on the left.”
The Steelers are now two wins from three for the season, sitting in 5th on the ladder.
Their opposition St George side are still winless and sit at the foot of the ladder, but the Steelers are not discrediting the threat of the ‘Red V’.
Time-Cribb, who has started all three games for the Steelers this season, noted the defensive improvements from her side since their loss to the Magpies in round three, but still sees areas for improvement across the park.
“I think we’ve got to protect the ball and take better care of it,” Time-Cribb said.
“Our execution at training will be crucial this week, so hopefully we can come away with another win.”
Coach Hawke said she thinks the focus this week was more on her side as opposed to opposition.
“We just need to play our game,” Hawke said.
“We’ll look to get back to just executing our game and not overplaying our hands.
“We’re definitely not underestimating our opposition though, they have some good footy in them, lots of quality around the spine, so we are wary of the threats.”
The sides are set to clash at 2:30pm on Saturday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
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