URALLA Tigers had two teams in grand finals at Moree on Sunday and both won their respective Under 18 and Ladies League Tag grand finals at Burt Jovanovich Oval.
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Minor premier Uralla annexed its second successive Group 19 Ladies League Tag premiership with a hard-fought but convincing 12-6 win over Ashford in their grand final.
In only its second season in the competition, Ashford came from fourth spot to make the grand final but showed lack of experience on the big stage by conceding several offside penalties early in the match, mainly due to over- enthusiasm.
Uralla took the lead nine minutes in when fullback Bea Roberts scored a fine try off smart play by Amy Barraclough who converted the try.
Ashford made the mistake of hanging off Hannah Archibald who scored an individual try in her first game after a two-month injury break.
Ashford seemed more settled in the second half and asked a lot more questions of the Uralla defence.
Kirsty O’Brien was tagged just short of the line but shortly after grabbed a nice intercept and raced thirty metres to score.
Sasha Harrington added the extras but that completed the point-scoring although both teams went close in the late stages of an engrossing game.
Player of the match, Vicki Youman, Archibald, Roberts and Barraclough stood out for the winners while Harrington, Melissa Willcocks and O’Brien were excellent for Ashford.
Coach Cameron Press said the experience gained from last year’s grand final win was crucial in his team’s victory.
“Some of the players we’ve gained from Guyra have played in five grand finals and that was especially important in the final fifteen minutes,” he said.
The Ladies League Tag success was followed by the Under 18 grand final victory for Uralla against Goondiwindi Boars.
Also minor premiers, the Tigers beat Goondiwindi 24-12 in an excellent game.
The first half was a real arm wrestle, with Uralla scoring the opening points just four minutes before the break when prop Jaread Jessop and centre Johnboy Quinlan both made long runs before the ball went wide to winger Mark Walker to finish off a great try.
Bevan Wood added the extras plus a penalty on the break and the favourites led by eight points at half-time.
Centre Sam Press scored from a bomb 12 minutes into the second half but the Boars came back hard with a try to replacement Jack Thompson, which was converted by Tom Fitzgerald.
Uralla put the result beyond doubt with tries to Brendon Waters and Greg Press before Gundy finished the match with a try to Kieran Zellers who caught a brilliant crossfield kick from Fitzgerald.
Tigers coach Carl Press was “stoked” with the victory.
“We lost (Country rep) Jordan Press last night with an ankle injury at training and to win without someone of his calibre makes it all so much better,” he said.
Uralla was well served by player of the match, Jessop, Quinlan and fullback Fred Campbell while second-rower Kyle Munro, prop Carl Clement and Fitzgerald were amongst Gundy’s best.