It was a beautiful clear day for Rugby in Launceston for the Women’s 7s Northern Gala Day.The squad were at their leanest for the year with 4 players unavailable. Also they had 3 coming back from injury and one dragging herself from her sick bed at the last minute.
First up the Rooster Women faced Devonport Bulls. In an explosive first half we saw runaway tries to Ally and Jugz. Robyn muscled her way across the line for not 1 but 2 tries, not needing the support that was always on offer. Leitchy lined up a bulls player and copped a chop to the throat for her troubles but they don’t build them like they used to so she walked it off and got on with business. Sammi did some great hooking in the scrums and the defence was solid with Jugz, T and Mel putting some solid shots on the Devonport players. The second half saw substitution from other clubs to help Devonport who were down on numbers. Some talented ring ins quickly leveled up the score with the Roosters eventually going down by 2 points in a close one.
Game two was a chance for the Chicks to overcome some nerves they had about playing a tough Burnie Emus team. If they were nervous you wouldn’t have known it, obviously Coach’s instruction to get their “grrrrr on” had the desired effect.
The Emus brought their tough physical game but Olivia and Mel showed much improved fitness backing up tackle after tackle. Olivia unfortunately was injured and her number one supporter Bundy ran her to hospital. As the Emu women broke our line Kristy was like pink lightning never giving up the chase. T was like a wrecking ball hitting the ball up to one of their stronger players who subsequently went missing for the rest of the game. Ally found space and bolted away to score in the corner, much to the delight of her screaming team mates who shouted “Score under the post, your kick will be easier!!”. Ally soon found out why as she kicked fresh air which brought on a few chuckles.
Game three was against Tamar Vixens. After a long day on the road the Rooster Women were going to have to dig deep. Luckily veteran coach KT disappeared and returned a short time later kitted out and ready to run on for her beloved club. Thankfully she only had to come on for a token run after a couple of other team players offered to take the bench for us, even managing to capitalise on some good Roosters ground work to score a try for us. Under tough circumstances our Rooster Women hung on until the final whistle. On a high but spent the Rooster Women headed to the clubrooms to claim an important victory in the boatrace!
Dean Adam