THE Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs women made history for their club on Sunday when they won 2014 South Coast Group 7 women’s league tag grand final.
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In just their second season, Milton Ulladulla ExServos/AlJen Engineering women’s team survived a desperate last-minute Kiama Knights attacking raid to clinch a 12-8 win in an entertaining contest at Collegians Sporting Complex.
Despite the early 8.30am start, Milton’s side was not disadvantaged by the trek as they took on a representative-heavy and fancied Kiama team.
Minor premiers Kiama opened the scoring after three minutes when Talarah Bell crossed.
The conversion attempt by gun goal kicker Alana Glasson was wide and Kiama led 4-nil.
Milton had a good share of possession in the first half but Kiama kept their line.
Milton hit the lead late in the first half at 6-4 when midfielder Cheyanne Hatch crossed for Ebony Murray to convert.
Shortly after the restart Kiama failed to find touch from a penalty and Milton’s capable try scorer Taryn Love immediately took advantage, showing a clean pair of heels to score in a handy position.
Murray added the extras and Milton were holding a precarious 12-4 lead.
Kiama’s flying winger Talarah Bell made another searching run and Mel Hole backed up to go in for Kiama.
Again the shot at goal missed and it was still anyone’s game at 12-8.
In the closing stages Kiama hammered Milton’s line and there were some nervous moments as a mounting penalty count favoured the premiers.
But the Bulldogs women held their ground, and Taryn Love’s try-saving tag in the final moments stopped Kiama equalising.
Bulldogs coach by David Hatch said he has coached teams to four grand final wins, including the Bulldogs’ first grade men’s win in 2008, but this was by far the sweetest.
“They came from behind, they were very much the underdogs yet they overcame every obstacle they could. It was a massive achievement” he said.
One of those obstacles Hatch mentioned was not having a team two weeks out of the competition, and then the difficultly the team had during the season getting together to train, with Bulldogs women spread over a great distance.
“Despite the distance, they were a really close-knit bunch. They were really disappointed last year and there was a lot of unhappiness in the camp. The aim this year was to bring that happiness back, whether it be win, lose or draw, and we did," he said.
“For them to win as they did without that constant time together was a credit to the girls and a fantastic effort."
Hatch said the game plan was to defend strongly and believe in themselves.
“For the girls to defend with all that opposition in the second half was out of this world,” he said.
“They really won the game on their defence.”
Hatch said his team of Ebony Murray, Georgia Tambree, Taryn Love, Amy Austin, Paige Hegyi, Cheyanne Hatch, Cheryl Whitmore, Lacey Andriske, Emmah Haynes, Georgia Thomas, Ana Raduva, Kaela Thomas, Jessica Little, Kiarna Veitch, Kate Baric, Renee Byrne and Jaylee Love were all stand-out players.
He also thanked his first aider Glen Laws and trainers Todd Barkley and Nigel Rogers.
The club will get a chance to celebrate the women’s team at its presentation night this Saturday, September 27 at the ExServos.
Time is 6pm for a 6.30pm start and tickets must be purchased from the ExServos before Thursday.