The Southern Inland Barbarians U14 girls rugby 7s side proved that their victory in Yass was no fluke by taking out the major trophy in the Next Gen Super 7s final series played in Wagga Wagga.
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Seeded second going into the tournament SIRU were pooled with Jindabyne and Bateman’s Bay.
The Under 14s played well within themselves in their opening match and eased their way to a 15-0 win. Hayley Burke (Griffith) with her barnstorming runs, Tiarra Hardwick (Blueheelers) with two tries and the solid defence of Lani Casaqua (Blueheelers) were the standouts.
In their second pool match the Baa-Baas lifted their intensity against the Bateman’s Bay Boars - the only team to have beaten SIRU during the rugby tour.
The Barbarians had total control of the game, coming away with a 24-7 win. Young’s Ella McRae, Griffith’s Beyonce Marela and Albury Steamers’ Xyvalene Beale created havoc.
An slow start compounded with sloppy ball handling in the semi-final against the Canberra Royals saw the Barbarians go into the halftime break trailing 5-7.
A stern reminder from the SIRU coach helped spur the girls into action and put in an almost flawless half of rugby which saw the Barbarians cross for three tries including one to Sophie Kelsey (Griffith) who crossed for her first for the series.
Wagga’s Shelby Ferguson, the Phantoms’ Eliza Kurrle and Nakita Moran (Blueheelers) who forced critical turnovers were among the best.
It was a fitting grand final with both the Barbarians and the Far South Coast Falcons going into the final game of the series having each only lost one game on tour.
The SIRU side dominated the opening of the match but were unable to score and a try against the run of play saw the Falcons take a 5-0 lead. Good vision and quick hands saw the Baa-Baas’ Tiarra Hardwick score her third try of the tournament with Beyonce Marela conversion giving her side a critical 7-5 lead.
A defensive lapse saw the Falcons regain the lead 10-5. In the last few seconds of the first half the Barbarians side shifted the ball wide and Beyonce Marela crossed the line giving SIRU a 12-10 lead the break. A critical turn-over by Nakita Moran halted a promising attacking raid by the Falcons.
Quick thinking saw Alex Parisotto (Griffith) take advantage of an undefended blind-side and sprint down the touchline for their third try of the match and a 19-10 lead. Another turn-over and great lateral ball movement saw the Barbarian’s extend their lead with Abbey Brill (Griffith) scoring and converting her try for a 24-10 lead. A late try narrowed the margin, however the Southern Inland took the final 24-15.
For Southern Inland this was the first trophy won in any junior division, boys or girls and it was capped off with Alex Parisotto named player of the final.
Having lost two key players through injury the under 16s girls were always going to find the final round tough as they were in the pool with eventual champions Illawarra. The Barbarians found themselves in the play-off for the Plate Final and once again up against Trinity Grammar School. Fatigue and injuries again plagued the team and in a great sporting gesture the West Lioness’s provided additional bodies. Unfortunately Trinity Grammar proved too good winning 20-5. Ma’ata Alai-Lokeni (Blackbirds), Maddie Morgan (Wagga Waratahs) and Elizabeth Lee (Leeton Phantoms) all stood tall.