CAT | Rugby
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkvk6VAvllw
I found an old clip from 2007, my second game as openside flanker, and it features a lot of the usual suspects.
The clip is from the ACT women’s grand final between Royals and Vikings. I played for Royals that year, and was moved from flyhalf to flanker for the finals series. I did my best George Smith impersonation, although it must be said it’s unlikely an objective observer would have known that’s what I was doing, haha…
And things have changed a little since then. I’m now playing for the Vikings in the backrow. The referee in the clip is Drew Crozier, and he is the one who really convinced me to play in the backrow fulltime when he took over as the ASCT Women’s coach last year. He seems to have lost both weight and hair since 2007 
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Will tackle anything that moves...
Sadly, though, our club game last weekend was postponed and there is a competition bye this weekend, which means I have another week to wait before I can play rugby again.
So if anyone out there needs a backrower this weekend, give me a yell.
Driving forward against Sydney
First and foremost, there’s no doubt that this has been my best season. All the hard work I put in paid off with good form on the field and I think I learnt how to prepare myself for games. But runs-on-the-board-wise, Nationals was a shocker.
If you want an on-the-ball 7 who can tackle, pilfer, counter-ruck, clean-out and pressure the opposition’s flyhalf, that’s me. And God help the runner if they turn the ball back on the inside. I’m not a ball runner, particularly, but I do like to run support lines for the outside backs and for the more creative backrowers like Alex and Pip. And I can utilise any space I find myself in.
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2010 Brumbies Women. I'm front left.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll join the ACT Brumbies in camp for the 2010 National Championships. The plan is to take it out.
The best girl ruggers in Oz are headed to Canberra this weekend for the National Women’s Championships. Given this is also the last chance to press a claim for selection in the Wallaroos World Cup squad, my bet is there’ll be plenty of intense rugby in store.
This year, there are two divisions which will be contested in round robin format. So no final, but as in previous years, you’ll really have to win all your games if you want the title.
Here’s a preview of what we might expect to see from the Championship division (QLD, Sydney, ACT and NSW Country:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WtBn36vsfM
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Even the ref was laughing.
We were defending. The ball came out to a rather large lass from Jindabyne and I jogged up to meet her. I saw it coming from the corner of my eye and I knew it was trouble.
Stef in 1st gear.
The Stef Truck was coming at full clip.
I could only pity the hapless ball carrier. Stef smacked her something fierce and her not inconsiderable bulk was on the deck pronto and, well, lay strewn for some time. I think she left the field but I’m not totally certain because by that time, the ref had called me over and was laughing as he carded Stef for not using her arms.
In fairness to Stef, I don’t think she had the opportunity to wrap her arms around. she hit her front on, it wasn’t like a shoulder charge. She just hit so hard, the girl simply dropped.
Honestly, it was the biggest hit I’ve ever seen in women’s rugby. A very inspirational tackle, wish we had a video of it.
I want this jersey again
So, we’re getting to the pointy end: the ACT squad for Nationals will be announced next Wednesday, and some seriously good looking kit is up for grabs (at the very least!). We all want a berth in this very ambitious team.
We’re off to play NSW Development in Blacktown on Sunday, and a few players will be rested while a few who haven’t cemented their spots will be given a full game to show their wares.
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After finally managing to get hold of a video of the ACT vs Sydney match, I was inclined to make a highlights package. I really loved playing in this game and hope you enjoy the highlights:
Things are pretty exciting for Australian women’s rugby this year. After winning the Sevens World Cup in Dubai last year and taking out the Hong Kong Sevens this year, it seems there’s a lot more confidence for the 15s squad, too.
The Wallaroo girls have just this weekend been in a training camp in Sydney, but as far as I know, the final squad for the World Cup – to be held in England in August – won’t be named until after the National Championships, which will be held in Canberra from 4 – 7 June.
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——————— UPDATE 13 MAY, 2010————————
Video highlights now available here.
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Yeah, baby!
ACT Women ran out against Sydney Women in the curtain-raiser to the Brumbies v Hurricanes match at Canberra Stadium on 16 April. And we won convincingly for the first time in God-knows-when. There is much cheerfulness and optimism in the ranks heading towards the National Championships in our hometown in June. Plenty of our girls are aiming to make the Australian squad for the World Cup this year and some are looking really sharp. Sharni Williams, in particular, is in outstanding form.
Me and Alex Hargreaves before kickoff
Check out the photo album from the night here (alas, most of the photos were from my husband’s camera phone so be prepared for a lack of quality).
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