The Harden Automotive/Jackson Bakery/Harden Country Club under 13s league tag side travelled to Cootamundra on Saturday for their biggest game of the year against Temora in a repeat of last year’s grand final, hoping to repeat their performance and go back to back.
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The girls seemed to let the nerves get to them, letting the opening kick off go out on the bounce giving Temora the dream start. To their credit they defended well in the opening minutes not giving Temora any room to move.
One little lapse in defense saw Temora go straight through the middle and score under the .
With the conversion successful, Temora lead 6-0. With the girls now on the back foot, Temora looked to step things up a gear but the Harden/Boorowa girls weren't going to be left behind with an amazing 10 minutes that saw Temora camped on their own line unable to crack the Harden/Boorowa defence.
Our girls were really starting to put the pressure back on Temora and eventually Amanda Noakes brought the ball back at pace down the side line to score our first try!
She then stepped up to kick her own goal to take the score to 6-all.
Minutes later, Amanda received a ball from Emile Quinn to again somehow split the defense and run down the side line to score her second try!
Beth O'Connor then stepped up to slot the second taking the lead 12-6 to the half time break. The girls at half time seemed calm and confident but knew they still had a job to do.
Amanda kicked off the second half and the girls got straight back into their routine of amazing defence that any coach would be proud of!
Again Temora couldn't crack us or get out of their own 10 metres.
The girls kept the pressure right on and looked like they were building to something but then a Temora girl went for an intercept.
Luckily she knocked on, giving us a repeat set. The girls then swooped on this chance with Emilie Quinn going to the line and putting a gruba kick in and Helena Manwaring dived on the ball to score another try. She then stepped up to take the conversion and nailed it making it 18-6 with seven minutes to go to.
With the hooter sounding the girls ran on to the field and celebrated their great win and back-to-back premierships!
The girls definitely left their best performance until last!
Anyone of the girls could of been named man of the match on Saturday but that honour went to Boorowa girl Amanda Noakes claiming the Rick Keast Medal for best on ground.
A well-deserved win by the girls!
- Kai Steele