TAMWORTH Thunderbolt women “hit the wall” at the Tamworth Sports Dome on Saturday night.
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Playing the Coffs Harbour Suns, the Greg Irwin-coached Thunderbolt women were well in the game at halftime but couldn’t go with the visitors in the second half after going to the half time break locked at29-all.
The Suns scored 28-13 in the third quarter to take control and blowing out to a 79-49 win.
“That’s the game right there,” Irwin said, pointing to the third quarter score on the score sheet.
“We were right in it at half- time. Defensively we were very good but then we just hit the wall.”
One of the major reasons was the loss of Leica Le Brocq and Jesse Brown for the second half.
Both had played ladies’ league tag matches earlier in the afternoon at the Group 4 Rugby League Knockout and found the physical ask too much.
“Aimee Diebold also played ladies league tag too,” Irwin said.
“Leica couldn’t start the second half because of cramps.
“She’s an integral part of our game with her aggressive defence.”
That enabled the Suns’ US import to continue on and finish with 29 points.
“There were five threes in that,” Irwin said.
“But we will be better for that run against them.
“They were without one or two players but had some quality Under 18s filling in.
“We played very well in the first half.
“Jesse, Emily Bailey, Sara Westman were all very good.
“It was a promising half for us. It was disappointing to lose but not by that much in the end.
“We didn’t deserve to lose by that much.”
Irwin said his side doesn’t play for three weeks now.
“Our next game is in Newcastle – that’s a real big game for us.
“I’m not sure who we’ve got available for that but we always find it hard down there.
“It’s a tough place to win and this (Sports Dome) is closed over Easter and for Anzac Day.
“We’ve got to find another session or two to squeeze in.
“Newcastle is a massive game for us.”
COFFS HARBOUR SUNS 79 (Ashley Buts 29, Siarn Woods 12, Bonnie Kuchel 11, Kate Harland 10, Laura Bamford 7, Emily Malouf 6, Jasmine Host 4) d TAMWORTH THUNDERBOLTS 49 (Jesse Brown 10, Rachel James 8, Emily Bailey 8, Sara Westman 6, Emily Staunton 5, Aimee Diebold 4, Leica Le Brocq 4, Madi Hunt 4).
