Wagga Super 7s Champions!

The Gungahlin Eagles have come away as the champions of the Wagga Super 7s rugby tournament after coming home undefeated with a fresh pool of talent and regrouped experienced campaigners.

Our girls went down in the Semi-Final of the same tournament in 2017, and have come back bigger and stronger than ever in pursuit of silverware. This achievement is made even more special by the fact that seven players made their debut for the Eagles’ women’s team.

The Eagles’ first game resulted in a 17-5 win against the Broulee Marlins. Sammy Charles and Annie Ward made some massive tackles, and Emma Hickey scored the team’s first try which was the result of impressive team play and ball movement.

Game 2 resulted in a 37-5 win against the Goulburn Dirty Reds. The Eagles built on some great phases with forwards Jess Burgess and Jackie Lyraz carrying the ball forward before sending it out to our backline Apryll Green and Courtney Smith. Goulburn put up a good challenge, however, the hands of the Eagles woman were to good!

With the team’s adrenaline high, The Eagles flew into the 3rd game of the day taking a 39-0 win over the Bungendore Mud chooks. Biola Dawa was a standout as the leading point scorer coupled with ferocious tackling! Biola’s talents are something else! Ash Dobson led the way to cement the Eagles position atop the pool ladder with some great counter rucks and ball carries to hit it up and allow the backs to run in space.

The Eagles finished the pool stage with 70 + points which saw them through to the Semi-Finals against the Viqueens. The girls were nervous knowing this is one team they are yet beat. At kick off, Vanessa Powell charged down the field with the support of Biola to score the first try. Aseri Laweloa also took a pop pass and ran it straight down the field for an almost certain try of the day. The Eagles won this game by an unknown margin, a lot of points to none.

The Eagles then entered the Grand-Final up against Bathurst, who were also undefeated at this point in the day. The blockbuster match up did not disappoint.

Bathurst drew first blood scoring an early try which appeared to derail our girls in what was an arm wrestle of a first half, however, the Eagles scrambled in defence to mitigate a formidable Bathurst side. The amount of rugby the girls had played that day was evident in this, their fifth game, however they find an extra gear when Biola and her jaguar legs fended off many defenders to put the Eagles back in the game. The red and black crowd lifted, and the Eagles strung multiple phases to score and get right back in the game.

Full time blew and the scores were tied at two tries each. Golden Point time! A series of phases and some aggressive rugby from Meah Charles saw the Eagles go the distance to cross the line and win the big dance over Bathurst 3 tries to 2.

Overall our Eagles couldn’t have asked for a better day! There was a mix of skill and only minimal team training, but each and every one of the girls worked together to acheive champion status.