When Gunnedah’s women’s rugby team came together for the 2018 Central North season, their goals were simple – improve, work together and be competitive.
They had a realistic view but the side went one – actually two – better on the weekend with a pair of wins over Scone.
Player Sarah Stewart said the side was reaping the benefits from hard work.
“It honestly just feels like our hard work’s paid off,” Stewart said.
“Dad [coach John Hickey] said at the beginning of the season...it wasn’t promising that we’d win a game. Our goal was never to win a game. Our goals were to improve our individual skills and work together as a team. Last weekend was a testament to that.”
The Red Devils weren’t going to shift their goal posts either. Their goals will remain the same. Their numbers still continue to grow with several players only notching up the one or two games this season.
The newer players have become just as much a priority at the club as the players who’ve been there the whole year.
Stewart said: “it’s not about winning, it’s about gaining experience”.
There will be a chance to gain plenty of experience this weekend as the Red Devils host a gala day on Saturday.
All five women’s teams will converge on Rugby Park to get their fill of rugby.
The teams are scheduled to play four games – opposed to the usual two – as they all play each other once. The first game starts at 12pm as the Red Devils play Scone. The final game of the day sees Gunnedah play Pirates at 3.30pm.
