The Temora Rugby Union Club’s women’s side (Tuskerettes) will head into the finals series full of confidence after recording a victory in the final Central West Rugby Union South West Fuels Cup regular competition round. The Tuskerettes produced a dominant 60-22 win in an away game against the Boorowa Goldies last Saturday, finishing the regular season in style with a 10-try performance. Despite the lopsided scoreline in the top versus bottom clash, the game was a fantastic showcase for women’s country rugby and sportsmanship. With Boorowa short on numbers, the Tuskerettes loaned three players to the opposition in each half to ensure the match could be played as a competitive nine-a-side contest. The opening half was an evenly matched affair, with both teams crossing for three tries each. Monique Kitchener continued her strong season with two first-half tries, while Mylah Maxwell showed her pace to chase down a perfectly-weighted kick to cross for a try. In an unusual twist, two of Boorowa’s first-half tries were scored by the Tuskerettes’ Kaesha Maxwell after she swapped jerseys to help out the understrength Goldies. Conversions proved crucial as the Tuskerettes took a narrow 19-17 lead into the break. Coach Bill McCrone said the second half became a true test of endurance as both teams battled fatigue, with just nine players covering the entire field and no interchange available. He said his side’s superior fitness and attacking flair came to the fore as the game wore on. “Kaesha Maxwell switched back into Tuskerettes’ colours after halftime and immediately made her presence felt, scoring two more tries,” McCrone said. “Monique Kitchener crossed again to complete her second hat-trick of the season, while Abbee Piggott also claimed a second-half hat-trick after spending the opening half helping Boorowa. “Piggott’s standout moment came with back-to-back tries, breaking through from the kick restart immediately after scoring and converting her own previous try. “Sophie Kitchener rounded out the scoring with her first try of the season, a deserved reward after being denied over the line earlier in the half.” The player votes reflected the influence of some of the Tuskerettes’ standout performers, with Monique Kitchener named Best on Ground for her relentless running game, while Abbee Piggott and Kaesha Maxwell were recognised for their outstanding contributions across both sides during the match. Sophie Kitchener also received votes following her breakthrough performance. The victory seals another impressive season for the Tuskerettes, who will now turn their attention to a huge Major Semi-Final game against the Grenfell Pink Panthers on Saturday. The victor will secure a direct berth in the grand final and a week off, while the losing team will get a second chance to qualify the following weekend. The venue for the clash is yet to be confirmed, with supporters encouraged to follow the club’s social media channels for updates.
