The Barbets opened the scoring with Emma Cooper breaking away from the pack to cross before Kate Fakes evened the score with a try for the Elkettes.

The Barbets hit the front foot when Kylie Frost broke out of a tackle to reach over the tryline and plant the ball down.

The Elkettes proved why they were the team to beat all year when they scored back-to-back tries in the second half of the match which handed them the 17-12 victory.

Elkettes coach Chris Alt was rapt with the performance and said it was fantastic to be crowned premiers in the competitions inaugural year.

It was the closest game we have had in a while, he said.

At half-time the message was to give it your all and keep up the fight, that is all they had to do and they never gave up, they gave 150 per cent and you couldnt ask for more than that, it was a fantastic season with a fantastic bunch of ladies.

Alt said that despite a shaky start to the season the Elkettes will aiming to claim their second straight title in 2017.

The new Era of a lady sevens rugby competition was on everybodys lips and would it work in the New England zone was the question most asked, well It did not just work but it flourished and now will be a feature year on year, he said.

At the start of the season I was approached by Amelia Tunamena to coach their team, I had never coached a sevens team before and only started getting three or four to training, I thought this will be long year .

But as we played more games more and more girls turned up to training and after a month of games we became a force to be reckoned with.

Alt said it was not just the players who put a big effort in.

We would of never played if it was not for the hard work and commitment of Leonie Pettit week in week out , she was fantastic, he said.

It is a fantastic feeling knowing that Glen Innes will be the first ever name on the New England Rugby sevens cup and it will remain their for the rest of time.

It has been a huge year for the Elkettes or as I call them my warriors and they have earned their place on that trophy as 2016 Champions.

Captain Amelia Tunamena said she was ecstatic after he win and the good feeling is still with her days later.

We thought the girls were really well prepared and we all had our heads in the right place, we worked together during the game as we have all year, she said.

We had high hopes going into the game and we are all glad that we could fulfill the self belief and win the big one.