The Gunnedah Bulldogs women’s rugby league team recorded a 16-0 win over the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters in a shortened Group 4 fixture at Kitchener Park last Sunday.
The contest was set to comprise 50 minutes divided into quarters, but only 15 minutes of playing time eventuated due to a player shortage issue.
Each team had nine players on the field, but the Roosters had no interchange players while the Bulldogs had several. Soon after the Roosters lost a player due to injury, the officials called full-time.
Both sides were error-prone in the opening minutes as several players were tackled over the sideline, with Gunnedah twice coming close to scoring.
The Bulldogs broke through when Tara Wilkinson-Ryan released a clever pass to Zoe Eather who scored in the left corner with a tackler wrapped around her.
Gunnedah’s Piper Rankmore showed her skill in the ensuing set as she threw a dummy and cut through to score between the posts. Her conversion made the score 10-0 after 10 minutes, before the Roosters regained the ball from a short kick-off.
A bit of time was lost as Kootingal-Moonbi’s Kaitlyn Armitage sustained an injury and required attention.
Soon after play resumed with the Roosters down to eight players, Gunnedah’s Ashlee Haire took an intercept and did a somersault as her momentum was halted.
Wilkinson-Ryan scooted away to score a converted try just moments later and, with a one-sided contest looking likely, the match was declared finished.
The players stayed on the field for a short while to play a social match, with Gunnedah scoring additional tries.
It was Gunnedah’s second win from two matches in the Mid Season Women’s Tackle competition. This Sunday the team opposes Moree at Moree.
Zoe Eather prepares to reach out and score the opening try in the women’s tackle fixture.
Photo: Kylie Devine.
Zoe Eather prepares to reach out and score the opening try in the women’s tackle fixture. Photo: Kylie Devine.
