The Gunnedah Red Devils women began their Central North Rugby Union (CNRU) season in style, as they recorded a 54-0 win against the Quirindi Lionesses at Quirindi Rugby Club last Saturday.
The Gunnedah outfit registered eight unanswered tries in sunny conditions, with skipper Madisan Rogers bagging a hat-trick of five-pointers and landing seven conversions to give her a personal tally of 29 points.
While the Red Devils missed several players from last season’s team which reached the preliminary final, the Lionesses fielded eight debutantes.
Red Devils forward Susie Pym said Quirindi’s newcomers should be proud of their efforts.
“It’s daunting running out onto the field the first time, and they put up some solid defence,” Pym said.
“We are looking forward to seeing their progress this year.”
Gunnedah maintained the upper hand as there was plenty of powerful running from the likes of Pym, Abby Nortrup, Courtney Jordan and Malia Mikaele.
Quirindi recycled the ball in the first minute of play but the hosts were trapped in their own half, before both teams turned over possession.
With Gunnedah winning a scrum, Rogers scooted away unopposed for the opening try.
Rogers also scored the second try, and Mikaele scored next before Rogers’s third conversion made the score 21-0 at quarter-time.
Gunnedah lost Laura Higgins to a lower leg injury early in the second quarter, before a collapsed scrum resulted in an injury to a Quirindi player who was removed from the field on a stretcher.
After several minutes of play were lost, Quirindi’s Philipa Moore darted down the blindside but was tackled into the left sideline by Rogers.
Elsie Hunt scored a converted try on half-time, before Rogers scored the first try of the second half following a strong run from Mikaele and a pass from Pym.
A clever flick pass from Kate O’Donnell set up another break from Mikaele, who was subsequently tackled within 20 metres of the tryline. Rogers scooted out of the ruck and fed Chloe Ayscough, who scored her first try for the Red Devils.
The score remained 40-0 for a little while, with Gunnedah making some handling mistakes before Mikaele forced her way across the tryline for her second five-pointer.
The Red Devils passed the half-century mark in the final minute, with Rogers swinging the ball right to Mikaele who could’ve registered a hat-trick of tries but generously fed Sienna Burr who notched her maiden try.
“We were excited to get out onto the field for a full 40 minutes and see what everyone could do,” Rogers said.
“The game wasn’t flawless but we know we have time to build throughout the length of the season.
“We are proud of all our new players who took their first hit-ups and made their first tackles this weekend, especially Charlotte Leys.”
This Saturday the Red Devils host the Tamworth Pirates, who beat Inverell 52-20 last Saturday.
Rogers said the Red Devils were chomping at the bit to play against the Pirates on home turf, after the Pirates won last year’s preliminary final 31-12 at the same venue.
Kate O’Donnell.
