Stuart McLennan
NSW Universities overcame QLD 44-6 in an impressive display on Saturday at Leo Williams Oval in Carina.
The comprehensive victory means the NSW women have now won two in row after triumphing in the inaugural match at North Sydney Oval last year. It sealed a clean sweep for NSW this year in the Universities Interstate Challenge after the men won 28-24 earlier in the day.
“To win a game of footy is always good but to win this interstate clash against Queensland in the manner we did feels awesome. Especially back-to-back and in their own backyard,” NSW coach Scott Clark said.
“A lot of the credit does need to go to the players. The way they came together and went about building the layers that were required to get the result we did was what everyone tries to do, and we just did it.
“We spoke about taking the opportunities and we backed ourselves to do this and if it did not come off, we not only had the confidence to defend but to do it again and it paid off.
“Our forwards laid a very good foundation both in attack and defence, and our spine players were able to control the game and make the most of their opportunities for our outside backs which definitely capitalised in scoring some amazing tries.
“The main theme for our campaign was legacy, what was the legacy each player will want to leave in this jersey for future players and teams, and I think they answered it very well in the way they played.”
The NSW team showed their intentions early after centre Zyon Ligaliga broke through a tackle and outpaced the fullback to run 60 metres and score.
Ten minutes later Tyla Brown replicated what her centre partner did on the other side of the field to see NSW leading 12-0.
The tries continued out wide for NSW after wingers Chloe Shephard and Claudia Nielsen crossed the line taking the score to 24-0 at half-time.
Straight after the break a perfectly placed chip kick from NSW halfback and ‘Player of the Match’ Kiara McGregor for Nielsen to score her second try took the score out to 30-0 before Queensland finally got over the line a few minutes later.
However, NSW put the foot back down on the accelerator with Brown grabbing her second four pointer followed by Alysha Bell and Imogen Lowe scoring tries.
The Australian Universities squad to tour Fiji later this year was named immediately after the match. Fourteen NSW players were selected including Fanaafi Fauese, Alysha Bell, Zyon Ligaliga, Kiara McGregor, Macey Cox, Chloe Shephard, April Gray, Imogen Lowe, Sophie Curtain, Ebony Greene, Terri-lee Van Wyk, Bianca Jones, Tyla Brown, Claudia Nielsen.
NSW 44 (Brown 2, Nielsen 2, Ligaliga, Shephard, Bell, Lowe tries; McGregor 6 conversions) Queensland 6 (Dunn try; Bray conversion).
