Hope turned to despair for the Gunnedah Bulldogs women’s tackle team on Group 4 rugby league grand final day last Sunday, as the Moree Boars won 16-10 at Boughton Oval.

The inaugural Group 4 Mid Season Women’s Tackle premiership trophy was there for Gunnedah’s taking when the Bulldogs led 10-4 in the second half, but ultimately it wasn’t their day.

Too many fundamental errors proved Gunnedah’s undoing, while Moree took its chances when the game was on the line.

The Boars had the home ground advantage as well as more interchange players on a warm day, although an understrength Gunnedah team had beaten Moree 30-20 at the same venue two weekends earlier.

Moree’s Gab Suckling posted the first try, and it didn’t take long for Gunnedah to level at 4-all.

On the last tackle, the Bulldogs swung the ball wide where Ashlee Haire touched down.

A penalty early in the second half helped Gunnedah work its way downfield, before Aleisha Edwards was foiled centimetres from the tryline.

Moments later, Zoe Eather passed left to sister Nautica whose superb floated pass sent Haire in for her second try.

Apryl Bailey landed a fine wide-angled conversion with 20 minutes left, but things began unravelling from the restart when the ball was spilled.

Gunnedah was reprieved when Moree faltered with the tryline under threat, and then the Boars also fumbled in their next set.

The Bulldogs came up with a vital knock-on as soon as they won the scrum, and then the Boars had a try disallowed because of a forward pass.

The comedy of errors continued, as Gunnedah came up with another handling mistake from a scrum win.

This time it was extremely costly as Moree promptly capitalised with a try to Kaya Williams, although a failed conversion from almost in front of the posts enabled Gunnedah to lead 10-8 with a shade under 12 minutes left.

A questionable penalty against Gunnedah in a play-the-ball was followed by a high tackle penalty in the attacking zone. From acting-half,

Tileah McGrady made a little scoot and then planted the ball to put Moree in front 12-10.

Another conversion went astray with seven minutes left, and then a stripping penalty went Moree’s way.

Suckling made a fine break to set up a try for Maddie Martin, although another failed conversion meant Gunnedah could draw level in the final two minutes.

Moree made a mess of the kick-off, but then another knock-on from the Bulldogs sealed their fate.

There were mixed feelings for the Bulldogs, as there was disappointment with the outcome but also satisfaction at making it to the decider.

Bulldogs coach Piper Rankmore said she “couldn’t be prouder” of the team in its first year, although the loss was very hard considering the premiership “could’ve been ours” after the team led 10-4.

“We were just unlucky today,” she said.

“Credit to Moree.

“It was just silly mistakes which cost us; mistakes which we hadn’t been making before.

“We’ll work on fixing our mistakes, and go again next year.”

Beaten but unbowed: Gunnedah players Zoe Eather, Jacey Ross, Tara Wilkinson-Ryan, Nautica Eather and Dakota Durrant after the grand final defeat.