“Yinnar is the aboriginal name for woman,” captain Adelaide Monika said, explaining how the name came about.

After picking up a win over Armidale in the opening round, the Deadlies beat fellow Tamworth side the Mustangs 28-4 before going down in a hard-fought contest to the Tingha Untouchables 12-6.

Monika said there were definitely signs of them moving forward from what they showed in Armidale two weeks ago.

Defensively they were better. At one stage they held the Untouchables out for several tackles only metres out from their line.

Their attack was a sharper too and they used the ball a bit better. One of the features of the win over the Mustangs was the way they spread the ball.

“The skills are there, the fitness is where we’re lacking, which I think they know now,” Monika said.

“It’s good. It’s a stepping stone for contact.”

A few of them had had a bit of a taste of contact before, playing at the Koori Knockout.

They’ve also got a few of the successful and talented Peel High rugby union side, which Monika is co-coach of.

Several of the players also played in Tamworth Rugby Club’s recent sevens competition, and, Monika among them, will be playing in the upcoming Central North 7s competition.

They’ve got a few more rounds of the league nines before that though.