The Cronulla Sharks have won the inaugural women’s rugby league nines match, downing St George Illawarra 16-12.
The game was played at Southern Cross Group Stadium prior to the Cronulla-Sydney Roosters NRL clash on Saturday night.
A number of Cronulla Caringbah players, including the club’s Australian Jillaroos contingent of captain Ruan Sims, fullback and vice-captain Sam Bremner and halves Maddi Studdon and Allana Ferguson, made up the Cronulla side.
Cronulla opened the scoring with a try to Jade Etherden before the Dragons hit back through Rikeya Horne.
Horne fielded a flat cross field kick from Talia Atfield and showed good strength to hold off her marker and score in the corner.
The Sharks took back the lead through Ferguson as she showed great speed to slip between two Dragons defenders.
But St George Illawarra would hit back just before half-time when Kezie Apps ran 50 metres and rounded Bremner to score in the corner to cut the Sharks’ lead to 10-8.
The Dragons hit the front early in the second half through Atfield and looked to have done enough to hang on until a late play from the Sharks.
An early kick downfield caught out the Dragons, with Bremner getting the perfect bounce to score under the posts.
Studdon’s conversion gave Cronulla a 16-12 win, with Sims thrilled with the result.
“It was fantastic,” she said.
“We worked really well as a unit. It was such a great way to showcase women’s rugby league.
“It was epic. It’s an opportunity we never thought we were going to get this year.”
Dragons captain Alicia-Kate Hawke said it was an unforgettable experience.
“We had a really short preparation. There were a lot of nerves and it was a big stage for most of us,” she said.
“I’m so proud of our efforts.
“I’ve been part of a big Dragons family since before I was born so to get the chance to wear the Red V means so much to me.”
The New South Wales Rugby League announced last week an under-18s women's nines competition to run for nine weeks next season.
Leader Scoreboard
Cronulla Sharks 16 (Jade Etherden, Allana Ferguson, Sam Bremner tries. Maddi Studdon two goals)
defeated
St George Illawarra Dragons 12 (Rikeya Horne, Kezie Apps, Talia Atfield tries)
at Southern Cross Group Stadium
Leader player of the match: Sam Bremner (Sharks)