Super W rugby: Emotions boil over in Waratahs women v Queensland Reds Super W one point thriller

There was push and a shove that sent a player to the ground in a highly charged and bruising match between the Waratahs and Reds in Super W decided by a single point.

Georgina Friedrichs missed the last Super W game against Fijiana.

There was push and a shove that sent a player to the ground in a highly charged match between the Waratahs and Reds in a thrilling top-of-the tables Super W clash at Concord Oval on Saturday.

In a game that went down to the final seconds the Tahs kept their undefeated run in Super W intact with a 31-30 victory.

“There was a fair bit of fire out there,’’ said coach Campbell Aitken.

“But it was a good game with some good leanings for us to have.

“We allowed ourselves to get rattled for a period out there in the first half. That is what Queensland were trying to do, put us off our game, and it worked.

“We will have a look at that but I suspect that's more mental than physical.’’

Katrina Barker reacts during the Super W match at Concord Oval.

Rosie Ebbage received a warning after one particularly heated clash which saw Reds player Carys Dallinger shoved and hit the ground in the first half when the game was level at 7-7.

The Reds settled first with Sam Curtis scoring and Cecilia Smith converting a penalty to open up a 17-7 lead.

Emotions ran high with other minor skirmishes in the match involving two of the top sides in the competition - and two of the fiercest rivals in the women’s game.

A try from young gun Desire Miller before the break kept the Tahs in touch with a Georgina Friedrich’s try off some hard work from Leilani Nathan levelling the game early in the second half.

Wallaroo and stand in captain Grace Hamilton.

Miller went over for her second to put the Tahs ahead 24-17 with the Reds responding through Annabelle Codey.

In a concerning turn of events, Eva Karpani left the field with a hand injury after a blockbusting run just minutes after hitting the field deep in the second half.

Aitken later confirmed a dislocation.

Adiana Talakai looked to have out the result beyond reach with her late try but the Reds moved back to within one as the game clock wound down thanks to Codey’s second try.

A missed conversion and calm under pressure handed the Waratahs the crucial win.

The NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds produced one of the best matches of the season.

EARLIER: There’s some shuffling going on due to injury but in great news for the Waratahs bid to extend their undefeated run in Super W against their fiercest rivals, Australian star Georgina Friedrichs is back for the clash with the Queensland Reds.

Friedrichs will come back from a shoulder injury that saw her sidelined against Fijiana.

But missing will be Maya Stewart who copped a nasty knock to her forehead last round and will be rested due to concussion protocols and Piper Duck who has a shoulder injury.

Emily Robinson will start with Adiana Talakai who has now equalled the most caps for the hooker position (13) and Bridie O’Gorman while Rosie Ebbage and Leilani Nathan will be in the second row.

Grace Hamilton will move to No. 8 to take on the captaincy in Duck’s absence while teenager Caitlyn Halse stays as fullback.

The match is being played on Sunday at Concord Oval at 3:05pm.

Katrina Barker of the NSW Waratahs.

WARATAHS TEAM TO TAKE ON REDS: 1. Emily Robinson - 23 caps, 2. Adiana Talakai – 13 caps, 3. Bridie O’Gorman – 17 caps, 4. Leilani Nathan – 3 caps, 5. Rosie Ebbage – 3 caps, 6. Loretta Mailangi - 5 caps, 7. Fi Jones - 17 caps, 8. Grace Hamilton – 26 caps, 9. Layne Morgan - 16 caps, 10. Ella Ryan – 3 caps, 11. Desiree Miller – 4 caps, 12. Katrina Barker – 23 caps, 13. Georgina Friedrichs – 15 caps, 14. Margot Vella – 12 caps, 15. Caitlyn Halse – 3 caps, 16. Katalina Amosa – 3 caps, 17. Brianna Hoy – 5 caps, 18. Eva Karpani – 16 caps, 19. Ana-Lise Sio – 15 caps, 20. Bronte Wilson – 2 caps, 21. Tatum Bird – 6 caps, 22. Claudia Meltzer – 2 caps, 23. Jade Sheridan – 2 caps.

Georgina Friedrichs is back after a shoulder injury.

EARLIER: It’s been dubbed “our State of Origin” and the NSW Waratahs will not be holding anything back in their Super W clash with old rivals, the Queensland Reds on Sunday.

Maya Stewart, watching from the sidelines due to concussion protocols after a nasty knock to her temple against Fijiana last Saturday, this weekend, said the Tahs are fired up for the reds clash.

“I don’t know what it is, we hate them, we just hate the,’’ she said.

“Off the field we are all teammates and many of us are in the Wallaroos together.

“But there’s such a great rivalry on it with the Reds. It’s like our State of Origin.

Loretta Mailangi in the thick of it last round.

“We are always pretty fired up for this game. We’ve had a few games go down to the wire in the past so we have history.’’

Stewart said she feels fine after Saturday’s blow to her head but admits she got a shock watching a replay of it after the match.

“It was a doozy,’’ she said.

“It looked worse that it was. I’ve been really lucky.

“I rushed into tackle and she slightly changed direction and my head hit her knee.

“It wasn’t nice to watch. It shocked me as well.’’

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