Battling Bulldogs fall short in Tarsha Gale Cup grand final

THE Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs showed grit and determination to go all the way to the big dance in the Tarsha Gale Cup on Saturday, but it wasn’t to be with the Penrith Panthers coming away with a narrow victory.

A Bulldogs player fends off a Penrith defender. Picture: Carly Earl

THE Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs showed grit and determination to go all the way to the big dance in the Tarsha Gale Cup on Saturday, but it wasn’t to be with the Penrith Panthers coming away with a narrow victory.

The Panthers stormed home to win 26-18 in the grand final at Leichhardt Oval.

The inaugural competition was an under-18s female nine-a-side rugby league tournament which ran for nine weeks. Players battled it out during 36-minute games in a competition featuring nine squads.

Taalefili Saufoi, Haneen Zreika, Alafou Fatu and Grace Li each crossed the line for Canterbury. Zreika kicked over one conversion.

For Penrith, Jamie-Lee Davies, Cheryl Varga and Nikita Katoa scored one try a piece while Ashlee Harrison crossed twice. Varga kicked two goals while Harrison kicked one.

After losing their first game of the season, the Bulldogs won every other match leading up to the grand final, even trumping Penrith 40-10 in round four.

Picture: Carly Earl

Picture: Carly Earl

Bulldogs content producer and former first grade player Steve Turner said the team showed huge amounts of skill and passion.

“The girls were exceptional this season and to make the grand final was a massive achievement,” he said.

“I know they’ll be disappointed with the result but they should be very proud of their effort as the club is.”

He said the competition was a huge success in its first year and thanked everyone who supported it.

“It was a big stepping stone for women’s rugby league and hopefully we can continue to grow this competition,” he said.

The Bulldogs picked up the biggest win of the season back in round seven when they thumped Souths 64-0 at Belmore Sports Ground.

The Tarsha Gale Cup was named after the former Australian Jillaroos and NSW captain. It was created for development as part of a push by NSW Rugby League for an elite female competition.

As well as Canterbury and Penrith, Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, Illawarra Steelers, Parramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney Indigenous Academy and Wests Tigers also fielded teams.