Macarthur Rugby League: Full wrap of women’s grand finals at Campbelltown Stadium, 50+ gallery
Campbelltown Collegians and The Oaks headlined a massive evening of women’s rugby league at Campbelltown Stadium. All the stars and grand final champions, 50+ gallery.
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Women’s rugby league took centre stage at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night as Macarthur’s top talent battled for grand final glory.
In the main game, back-to-back reigning champions Campbelltown Collegians took on competition newcomers The Oaks, while Campbelltown City met Warragamba in the earlier game.
Traditionally played alongside the men’s grand finals in September, this year’s format allows those selected for higher honours to make a seamless transition for the opening round of the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership.
Full wrap of both grand finals.
RELATED CONTENT: Grand final player profiles
COLLIES COMPLETE HAT-TRICK
They were already the Queens of Macarthur Rugby League, now after a comprehensive 28-6 grand final victory over The Oaks, Collies are basking in the glory of three straight premierships.
Following their six-point semi final win over the Tigers, Collegians arrived in a menacing mood and immediately blew away any thoughts of another close contest.
With the likes of player of the match Folau Vaki scattering defenders at will, Collies thundered to the sheds with an unassailable 28-0 lead.
Collies spent the majority of the opening 30 minutes on the attack, and despite conceding six tries, The Oaks did well to stem the flow of points after the interval.
Pandora Visesio sent winger Christine Kani across after just two minutes, before Vaki took over in an extraordinary blitz. In a stunning 14 minutes, the NRLW backrower powered over for Campbelltown’s next three tries.
When Maraia Rorocola and Afi Fauese added their names to the score sheet, Collies effectively had both hands on the cup.
It was far more even after the break, and with prop Jemma Gallagher fighting fire with fire, the Tigers backline began to make an impact.
Five-eighth Claudia Bush made a long range break, and the Tigers eventually got on the board when halves partner Georgia Nies stepped past the fullback to score near the posts.
With a bit more luck, The Oaks may have added another couple, but it was always going to be Collegians’ night.
“It’s amazing. The three-peat is just amazing,” said relieved Collies hooker Aggie Dean as her teammates mixed with family and friends after the trophy presentation.
“Obviously our motivation today was for our teammate Adi Kelera who lost her brother Joji to cancer. That definitely pumped up the girls today.
“We came to play, and we knew they were a really fit and fast team. So our goal was just to go at the middle because all our forwards are good runners with the ball.”
None better than Vaki, who seems destined for a long career at the higher levels.
“I told her to stick by me and I’ll just try and take out the markers, and I knew she’d always go for that line. She’s an awesome player,” said Dean.
With another season under her belt and a host of younger teammates eyeing higher honours, the veteran was unsure what the future holds.
“As long as our girls do their job, you never know. I’m just so happy for everyone, we’ve got a lot of girls moving away at the end of the season, so it was a big celebration for those girls today.”
ROOS BOUND TO THE TITLE
Campbelltown City are the Silver champions after the Kangaroos scored five tries to one in the opening grand final of the evening to down Warragamba 24-6.
There was little between the sides in the semi final when Warragamba edged out City by four points, and with an end-to-end opening the decider looked to be heading down a similar path.
With an even share of possession, Warragamba halfback Samantha McKechnie traded shots with her opposite Chaylee Howarth in a free flowing opening before City struck the first blow.
After coming unstuck with a promising raid along the right edge, the Roos went the same way again in the seventh minute. This time with a numerical advantage winger Samantha Glumac dived over to make it 4-0.
City were on to a good thing and they headed the same way again 10 minutes later, doubling the lead with another try to Glumac.
With their hopes slipping away, the Wombats clawed their way back through one of their best when hooker Josephine Lenaz burrowed her way under the posts.
Trailing by two, Warragamba were well placed but received a hammer blow on halftime when centre Twilla Tofa crashed over for City’s third.
Leading 12-6 and with all the momentum, City went on with the job after the break. Damaging backrower Stephanie Glumac steamed across and was quickly followed over the stripe by classy fullback and player of the match Tarsha Wayne.
“They gave us a scare in the semi but the girls turned it on today,” said City coach Eric Grothe.
“We’ve been working hard on taking the advantage through the middle rather than just running aimlessly when we get the ball. Then the girls were able to attack the edges, and I just love the way they went about it.”
Now with a trophy in the cabinet, the former Eels and NSW Origin winger said the future for City looks bright.
“Women’s football is definitely moving forward at City. There’s a new $3 million upgrade starting next year at our home ground at Fullwood Reserve,” said Grothe.
“It’ll be a state of the art facility, and given City is a foundation club, they are really looking to build the women’s game.”
GRAND FINAL PHOTO GALLERY
Gold: Campbelltown Collegians v The Oaks
Silver: Warragamba v Campbelltown City
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