Sport
31 July, 2024
Premiership threepeat for Wranglers in Mount Isa women's comp
Defence was at a premium for the Col Ryder-coach side.
History was made on Friday night as Wranglers won their third straight Mount Isa Rugby League women’s premiership, beating City Country 22-0 in a tough contest.
While City Country won the minor premiership, they were unable to handle the pressure of the occasion.
In fact, coach Tina Coggan left Alec Inch Oval before the game finished, leaving her players to fend for themselves in what was a heart-breaking finish to the season.
The match was late to start due to confusion among both teams and officials.
While games throughout the year had been nine-a-side and with 15-minute halves, the Mount Isa Rugby League by-laws said the game had to be played over three, nine-minute periods.
There was also queries over players from both sides and their eligibility for the grand final.
Wranglers, who were somewhat reeling when star player Gabrielle Holder didn’t turn up for the game, handled the adversity better than their rivals.
They took a 4-0 lead in the first period when Jekeira Major scored on the left wing.
The lead was doubled early in the second stanza when Chontelle Clemments made a big run down the right-hand side, breaking the line and several City Country tackles to score near the uprights.
However, the mandatory drop kick conversion was missed, leaving the door ajar for their rivals.
City Country had superior forwards, but Wranglers refused to give an inch on the field.
It was a defensive effort that left coach Col Ryder feeling satisfied.
“I have always been a defensive coach,” he said.
“Defence wins you grand finals and that’s what I have told the girls all year and reinforced heading into the game,
“I told them I didn’t care if we won 2-0, as long as there was a zero on the scoreboard.”
Defence generally leads to good attacking plays and a bomb catch gave Wranglers a 20-metre restart which allowed Shyniah Heness to show her speed, scoring a try at the end of the second period.
Gracie Ryder made the conversion from right in front to give her side an 14-0 lead.
That was extended to 18-0 when Major crossed for her second, while Ryder – who battled with a serious knee injury – was rewarded with a late try to close it out.
The veteran player, who is also the daughter of the coach, said it was a gutsy win from a team that was missing its best player in Holder, as well as skipper Hannah Clarke, who had a broken rib.
“I am very proud; we defended fabulously ... I couldn’t be more happy with the way we defended,” she said, proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“I thought our smaller players really stood up and didn’t back down in the contest.”
Wranglers utility Rachel Bain was named player of the match, mostly for her strong defence in the middle of the field.
GRAND FINAL SCOREBOARD
Wranglers 22 (Tries: Jekeira Major 2; Chontelle Clemments, Shyniah Heness; Goals: Gracie Ryder 1) d City Country 0.