The Brumbies Women have lost to the Western Force Women in a 10-29 battle at GIO Stadium in the final round of the inaugural season of the Buildcorp Super W.
Looking for their second win, the Brumbies Women took to their home field ready for their third ever game with the sporting community celebrating women in rugby to add a spark to the game.
The first few minutes saw both teams testing the water until brumbies skipper Shelly Milward drew first blood with a try early in the first half.
The team took confidence from the lead and began driving the ball towards the other end of the pitch.
A number of back and forward plays saw some intense rugby from both teams with the Western Force showing their on-field strength stopping the Brumbies advancing too far for a while.
The brumbies responded by denying the away team a try attempt late in the half followed up with a 70-meter run deep into the enemy half.
Despite the high energy game, neither team managed to add any points to the scoreboard leaving the score at 5-0 to the Brumbies at half time.
Second half the girls came out all guns blazing putting the pressure on the Western Force and for ten minutes the teams tussled over the half way line.
Despite the work, the Force pushed the Brumbies all the way into their red zone and Zakiya Kereopa managed to score a try in the near corner.
Some great opportunities for the Brumbies as they pushed back but alas another two tries against the home side this time from Zion Taurima and Caitlyn Edwards, both followed by a successful conversion.
The Brumbies women didn’t give up and kept pushing back showing some try skill in defence and attack.
The Force put in a penalty kicked by Alex Bannon and another try from Courtney Hodder only to suffer a yellow card with 10 minutes left.
The home team launched into action and strode forward to put the Force on their back foot even more.
Captain Milward found a gap in the away team’s defence and scored her second try for the night.
Some heavy hits followed as both teams looked to score again and a Brumbies player ended up being taken off the pitch on a stretcher.
The team didn’t stop and pushed even harder but couldn’t get any further leaving the final score at 10-29.
The Western Force finished the game victorious, but it was no easy game with the Brumbies putting up as much of a fight and playing some impressive rugby.
The Brumbies Women will have to wait until the next Super W season to have a crack at the finals, but their fighting spirit will continue to burn until then.
TEAM
1. Brittney-Lee BEDFORD, 2. Louise BURROWS, 3. Peta COX, 4. Charlene GUBB, 5. Shellie MILWARD, 6. Jess HOWARD, 7. Georgia O’NEILL, 8. Tayla STANFORD, 9. Jane GARRAWAY, 10. Ash KARA, 11. Darcy READ, 12. Michelle PERRY, 13. Paremo MARSH, 14. Talei WILSON, 15. Sammie WOOD
Substitutes
16. Emerena AVIGA, 17. Anna KORAVATA, 19. Michaela LEONARD, 20. Skye CHURCHILL, 21. Kiara MEREDITH-BROWN, 22. Tania AFAMASAGA, 23. Kiahn BELLCHAMBERS
STATISTICS
Brumbies Women (5) 10 (T: Milward (2))
The Western Force Women (0) 29 (T: Kereopa, Taurima, Edwards, Hodder, C: Cope (4), P: Cope)
