Stingrays of Shellharbour women celebrate incredible season with double premiership success
It was a historic weekend for the Stingrays of Shellharbour women as they took out premierships across two different senior grades. Meet the magic women who made it possible.
Illawarra Star
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The Stingrays of Shellharbour have celebrated an incredible weekend of women’s rugby league by taking out two grand finals.
The U18 Stingrays women took out grand final glory in a dominant display, while the open tackle side created history by being the inaugural winners of the new Southern Corridor tackle competition.
It’s the latest jewel in the Stingrays of Shellharbour crown, having recently been declared 2023 Club Champions for the first time.
The women’s open tackle side battled the Como Jannali Crocs in a highly physical encounter, where just one try separated the sides in the 6-0 victory and declared the Stingrays the inaugural champions of the competition.
“It was a really tough match, the girls are all battered and bruised today,” said head coach Paul Peters.
“The defensive efforts from both sides were incredible though, it felt like a first grade footy match.
“It was great to get the chocolates after a terrific couple of weeks though.”
Illawarra Steelers young gun and Stingrays captain Jordyn Preston was the sole try scorer and player of the match in the final, regaining a loose ball after an attempted field goal from the Stingrays and scoring.
“She’s a true leader,” Peters said about Preston.
“Like I’ve said already this season, I think she was unlucky to not be playing NRLW.
“Mackenzie Lear was another standout, leading the team from the front row, she’s a real competitor.
“Georgia Scott as well from five-eighth, she was driving the team around the park as she has all season and her kicking game got us some great field position.”
The Stingrays finished in fourth place on the table after the regular season, grinding their way to the grand final after terrific wins against the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas and the minor premiers the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs.
“They’re just a bunch of superstars who have all gelled together so well this season,” Peters said.
“I’m just pointing directions here and there, but they’re the ones who get it done.”
The U18s made much lighter work of their Collegians opponents with a 30-0 thumping, ending a resounding season with just one loss.
The side was without two of their young guns Caley Tallon-Henniker and Indie Bostock, but still had their superstar halves combination Evie McGrath and Kasey Reh who inspired the victory.
“They’re just a quality side, very deserving winners,” said coach Adam McGrath.
“The Stingrays are turning into a pretty good base for women’s footy, we had the U14s and U16s in semi finals over the weekend as well.”
Rapid Illawarra Steelers star Mia-Rose Walsh picked up a brilliant double in the victory, while both McGrath and Reh were also among the scorers.
Coach McGrath also picked out Taiki Pohatu as an under the radar achiever in the side’s victory for her work in leading the forward line.
Stingrays young guns McGrath, Reh, Bostock and Tallon-Henniker are now set to travel to PNG as they represent the Australian U18s Schoolgirls.
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