MOREE ladies tackle etched their name on the 2025 Group 4 grand-final trophy with a come-from-behind win again nemesis Gunnedah at Boughton Oval on Sunday.
Gunnedah inflicted Moree’s only defeat this season two weeks earlier at Boughton Oval, when winning 30-20.
The heartbreaking loss cost Moree a crack at the Clayton Cup, which is usually won by a New South Wales country rugby league club that goes through a season undefeated.
On Sunday, Gunnedah led 8-4 at the break, courtesy of two tries to Ashleigh Haire, but Moree torpedoed into the second-half with a mission.
Tries to five-eighth Gab Suckling, halfback Tileah McGrady, hooker Maddie Martin and team captain Kaya Williams capped a remarkable first season for ladies tackle in Moree.
“When they scored, it kind threw us off, but that’s the nature of the game, I suppose,” Williams said.
“We had plenty of time to recover, and we weren’t going to let the clock beat us.
“We calmed ourselves down, knowing we just had to complete. There were a lot of errors and a lot of dropped balls, but we picked up in the second half and tidied that up.
“Overall, the discipline was great and it was good to get in front again in the second half – and to keep the lead.
“We got the job done,” Williams beamed.
Coach Alf Newman, who also co-coaches Boars second-grade with Charlier Shearer, said Moree’s ladies tackle team came back with a vengeance after being beaten 30-20 by Gunnedah two weeks ago.
“It was a hard game. I think the girls were worried about what Gunnedah was going to bring today, but when they got out and played – they were eager and keen to get back in the winning way,” Newman said.
“All I told them was to just hold the ball and complete their sets of six. That’s what they did, and they wanted to win – they wanted it more than Gunnedah.
“They were unlucky to not get the Clayton’s Cup, but I think the girls proved they were the better side all season,” Newman said.
Ladies tackled was added to the Group 4 roster this year, and Moree swept through the season with only one loss.
“It’s been a good year, and I can’t wait until next year, because ladies tackle is going to get bigger and stronger,” Williams said.
“We’ve got the juniors coming through as well, but it’s not going to be as easy next year.
“There’s a lot more interest, and I know a lot of girls who want to get around it – the competition can only get bigger and stronger,” she said.
