The Gunnedah Red Devils delivered another impressive season in the Central North Women’s 10s competition, culminating in a hard-fought grand final. Despite their 29-12 loss to the Narrabri Blue Boars, the Red Devils’ journey to the final highlights their consistent excellence and determination in the competition.
In a historic moment for the competition, the Narrabri Blue Boars Women’s 10s team hosted the grand final at their home ground, a first in the history of the women’s competition. This advantage proved pivotal as Narrabri capitalised on the home crowd enthusiasm to secure the victory.
Narrabri started strong, putting Gunnedah on the defensive. Their pace out wide led to the first try, and they extended their lead with similar attacks. Gunnedah regrouped during the quarter-time break and came out more assertive in the second quarter. Impact player Torika Nadruku made a significant break, offloading to Stephie Lennon who brought Gunnedah within 10 meters of the line. Quick offloads from the likes of Madisan Rogers and Lupe Mikaele gave Holly Ford the space needed to score Gunnedah’s first try.
Narrabri capitalised on Red Devils’ errors, scoring another try before halftime to maintain a two-try lead. Red Devil coach Derek Henning commented that from halftime onwards “we were unable to take control and play our game”. As the Red Devils began to tire, Narrabri’s Cassidy Morley exploited gaps in Gunnedah’s defence to extend their lead to 19 points.
Despite this rally, Narrabri continued to exploit Gunnedah’s mistakes and added another try before halftime, ensuring a two-try lead. Coach Derek Henning noted that the second half brought new challenges, with “the heat beginning to play a part” and impacting the team’s ability to execute their game plan effectively. Narrabri’s Cassidy Morley took advantage of the tiring Gunnedah defence, further extending the lead.
Gunnedah’s spirit remained undaunted, with Nadruku and Lennon combining to score another try, with Lennon crossing the line and Piper Rankmore securing the conversion. However, a critical dropped ball in the final minutes allowed Narrabri to regain possession and seal the game with another try, ending the match at 29-12.
Coach Henning praised his team’s effort and attitude despite the loss, emphasising their commitment and the high level of performance in the game. “Attitude was outstanding and very committed,” he remarked. “Everyone gave every ounce of effort.”
The Red Devils’ consistent presence in the grand finals, with only one missed season, underscores their dominance and resilience in the competition.
Their remarkable journey and performance this season continues to set a high standard for women’s rugby in Gunnedah.
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