TUMUT’S Under 14 League Tag team are celebrating after their 20-4 grand final victory over Temora at Anzac Park in Gundagai on Saturday.
Coach and former NRL star Robbie Beckett said it was a great victory and the girls played brilliantly.
“The first half was outstanding; they (Temora) hardly got out of their half.” he said.
“The girls scored a couple of great tries after building heaps of pressure.”
Alienna Roddy came up with a couple of cross field kicks, and from these Lacey Thatcher scooted over to score two tries.
Renee Hodge scored another try as well and tow goals were kicked to send Tumut to the half time break in a strong position.
The second half, however, was a different story.
“Temora came out to play and they were camped in our quarter for much of the half,” Beckett said.
However, the Tumut defence was up to the task, having practiced for such a scenario at training.
“We do a drill at training called dropout, practicing defending our line,” Beckett said.
“The girls held them out. Temora should have scored a try; they had a three-player overlap, but Hayley Groom dived and made a miracle tag. They were in; I don’t know how she did it.”
Then Tumut finally got some good field position. Mia Beckett made four tags in a row, which forced Temora to kick early. Renee Hodge caught the ball halfway across field and gave Lacey Thatcher a beautiful late cut, and Thatcher ran 40 metres through the middle to score. Renee Hodge booted the conversion.
Ellie Cobden made some great runs for Tumut and was dangerous every time she handled.
“Our defence won the game for us,” Beckett said.
“It was a great effort from the girls; they played their own game.”
This is not the last hurrah for Tumut, as the League Tag side, the Northern Pool Champions, now play Wagga Brothers, the Southern Pool Champions, in the Championship Grand Final at Wagga this Saturday morning.
