Virtually un-coached, minimal training and players coming from hours away to play, and then to finish with a grand final appearance, it's safe to say the Glen Innes Elkettes had a successful season.
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Although they didn't get the win in the big dance, the Elkettes weren't down and out, in fact, they were pretty chuffed with how far they'd come.
Skipper Sarah Byrne summed it after their 50-10 loss to the Pirates in the New England Rugby Union women's 7s grand final on Saturday.
"It has been a really good season," she said.
"We weren't even going to have a team [at the start of the year].
"Pulling girls together from three different clubs - some girls had never played before - so without a coach, you can't really ask for much more; getting to a grand final.
"Credit to the girls for turning up.
"We didn't really train very much, we kind of just winged it.
We didn't really train very much, we kind of just winged it.
- Sarah Byrne
"Very proud of everyone."
The Pirates were visiting the New England competition for the season after the Central North tournament got cancelled so the Elkettes were thrilled to still be at the top of the teams from the Zone.
The Elkettes started flat, the Pirates running in numerous tries early and by the time they kicked into gear, it was all over.
Lauren Clarke and Lenikki Craigie were the Elkettes two try-scorers.
They didn't get the rub of the green with calls throughout the game going against them but Byrne conceded they were beaten by a better side.
"They just wanted it more at the end," he said.
"They were a really well-drilled team and they came out all guns blazing at the start and we were too slow out of the blocks. It's the problem with 7s, it is all over that quickly, you don't have 80 minutes to turn it around, you have only seven."