OBERON players were some of those who impressed in the Country Rugby League Women’s Western Nines competition held at Bathurst on Saturday.
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It was the final rounds of the competition before the finals and while only Oberon-Nyngan Tigers, Orange Hawks and St Pat’s took to the field, there was still plenty of talent on display at Bathurst’s University Oval.
Former professional footballer and Western Rams coach Dennis Moran was there to see the action and he gave a glowing report.
“Some of the raw talent I saw from those girls was just unbelievable,” the Country Rugby League community football officer said.
“I think some of the skill was unbelievable. I was shocked with how well they went. It was just great football all around.”
Orange Hawks posted a pair of wins on Saturday, downing St Pat’s 12-4 and the Tigers 30-0, to head into the November 4 finals undefeated.
The Saints locked in second spot and will be joined by Dubbo CYMS and Mountain View Misfits in the battle for the title.
The remaining teams – the Tigers, Dubbo Macquarie, Dubbo Westside and Wellington – will take part in a knockout series on the same day.
Moran can see the the potential for greater involvement from female players across Western Division, and also pointed out areas in which he feels the current competitors can improve.
Not surprisingly, it centres on tackling, a skill new to almost all those playing.
“Its potential is going to grow. It’s only going to get bigger. The more girls we get playing, especially if we start them at a younger age, it’s only going to help it,” he said.
“I think it’s just a bit more practise that they need, especially with the tackle aspect. We don’t want the girls to go out and put their heads in the wrong spot.
“The Orange Hawks team, they were fit, and for girls to be competitive and not get injured, that’s what they need to be - they need to get themselves in the right shape.
“Tackle is a lot different to league tag - picking yourself up off the ground, actually putting your body on the line, you can get hurt if you’re not fit.
“If players could slow the other teams down, just lay on them a bit more in tackles, it would be a different story, because at the moment they are playing the ball so quick.
“At the moment it’s tackle and get off. The more they learn and be coached, they are only going to get better.”
