While they may not have secured the win, the Greater Northern Tigers women's team far from disgraced themselves in the opening match of the Country Championships.
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The Greater Northern team were downed 22-nil by North Coast.
Errors and penalties proved costly but, despite being on the wrong end of the scoreboard, starting front rower Amelia Tunamena was thrilled with the experience.
"10 out of 10 I reckon. Geez it was hot though," she said.
"I think we made it hard on ourselves, especially with little errors that we made.
"Just handling the ball really, we couldn't hang on to it. I reckon we defended for about 80 per cent of that game, easily.
"They are right when they say it is a lot easier with the ball."
Coach Mick Schmiedel said although the errors were disappointing, it gives the side something to work on.
"Our completion rate in the first-half was only 50 per cent, we had it for 12 and only completed six," he said.
"In the second-half we had the ball seven times and only completed two sets.
"I think there were 10 penalties against us, six in the first-half and four in the second-half. They are things we can fix up."
Schmiedel did credit the defensive work of the Greater Northern team.
"I think we if we weren't defensively as good as we were, it may have been worse," he said.
"I also think if we got on the scoreboard in that first-half, we got five opportunities to score and we didn't take any of them.
"If we get on the scoreboard before half-time and it is 10-6, it is a totally different game from there, the momentum swings."
Their Country Championships campaign is not over yet though with a match up against Northern Rivers this Saturday at Bellevue Oval in Armidale.
"There is still a really good vibe with everyone in the team and everyone was really happy still," Amelia said.
"We are all really happy with each other still and everyone is excited to play on Saturday."
"I have made a couple of little changes this week, I don't think that will disrupt it at all, I think it will make it a better side," he said.
"To try and change some of these girls games in a week is difficult so as a coach I have to shuffle things around and do what I think is best for our side."
This Saturday will see four matches at Armidale's Bellevue Oval with 16s beginning at 10am and the women's match at 12.50pm.