Putney Public School girls rugby league sevens team finishes third at state

Putney Public School girls overcome their fears to become one of the best rugby league sevens teams in the state

Putney Public School’s girls rugby league sevens team with their coach Michele Brooks. Pictures: Julian Andrews.

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At the start of 2017, the girls from Putney Public School’s rugby league sevens team had never made a tackle.

Since then, they’ve become one of the best teams in the state.

As fans of the sport on television, when the opportunity came for them to lace up boots of their own in the Steve Roach Sevens competition, they grabbed it with both hands.

“You could tell initially they were all terrified to tackle,” said Jo-Anne Sammons, whose daughter Mikayla Kelleher played in the team.

“However they went ahead with it due to their love of the game and great teamwork.”

Baylee Bromhead (10) from Ryde practices 'Try-Time' showboating with her teammates.

The girls overcame their fears to take out the Sydney Metro competition, before representing Balmain at the state competition, in which they finished third.

“In the semi-final the girls were up against a team from Campbelltown, whose members were probably twice to three times the size of our girls,” Ms Sammons said. “They just got on with the job and in the end only lost the game by one try.

“They showed great sportsmanship by congratulating the winners and despite what was dished out to them they were never aggrieved and tackled by the rules and played with grace and dignity.”

The Putney Public School girls rugby league sevens team has been nominated for NewsLocal’s Young Sporting Spirit ‒Team award as part of the Local Sports Stars program.

Nominations have now closed.