Since the inaugural Greater Northern league tag championship in 2015, no side had been able to overthrow Group 4.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Until this year.
Group 19 successfully overthrew the three-time undefeated champions in Saturday’s regional championships in Scone to claim the Jane Walmsley shield for the first time.
The Group 19 side took on the reigning title holders first up and came away with a hard-fought 12-10 win before defeating the host Group 24-8.
“I spoke about having that attitude and just never giving up in defence and that is what they did,” Group 19 coach Paul Martin said.
“Our scramble in defence was very good and that beat Tamworth. I thought that was exceptional.”
Signs were dire for Group 19 early on with a knock-on leading to a Group 4-try a minute into the game.
From there, Group 19 re-gathered and held their opponents out until late in the game to take the win.
“They had a kick-off, we dropped the ball, they scored from the first tackle after that so I thought to come back after that, they showed a lot of character which was good,” Martin said.
“It was really good, I said it all meant nothing if we couldn't beat the next ones.
“To beat Tamworth and Scone, I needed the whole squad to stand up and every single one of them did.
“All the girls just played how I wanted them to play and as a coach you can't ask for more than that.
“An injury to Alicia Bussell within the first two minutes against Tamworth, that was the only negative to come out of our day.”
The Greater Northern representative squad was selected from Saturday’s games with seven Group 19 players selected – Jordan Mackenzie, Alyce Walsh, Camilla Clydsdale, Vicki Youman, Codie Ryan and Deborah McGrady.
“Seven got in it so that is great for them but like I said to the girls that got picked, they should be very proud of themselves but they should also thank their teammates because they were the ones that helped them get there,” Martin said.
“It was a team effort from everybody.”
Martin hopes the side will return next year for back-to-back title tilts.
“I said to them all the other day ‘I don't know what I will be doing but I hope everyone puts their hand up and goes to next year's trial and build on from what we have done,’” he said.
In the under 23 men’s fixtures, Group 19 were defeated by Group 4 24-14 and by Group 21 48-18.
James Ballinger, Scott Mcintyre and Brett Wright were selected in the Greater Northern side.