The Central North-laden under-17s girls flew the flag for Country against City outfits at Scully Park.
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The Cockatoos side – containing Tamworth’s Miah O’Sullivan, Phoebe McLoughlin, Amy Raphael and Erika Maslen, who received a late call-up, Gunnedah’s Piper Rankmore and Narrabri’s April Smith – accounted for their City rivals 38-12.
They were the only of the four Country sides to taste victory, with Mitch Watts’ under-16s side going down 34-24 and Mitch Henderson and Jordan Jordan Leota’s under-15s side pipped 28-24. The under-14s also lost.
Henderson got Country on the board after City had flown out to a 14-nil lead. The two sides traded points from there but the Cockatoos were always playing catch-up, Leota crossing for a consolation try on full-time.
It was a similar story in the under-17s girls, with City dominating the first quarter of the game.
But the Cockatoos wore them down, and as their forwards started to get on top they really started to make some inroads with their speed. Smith was a handful out wide, scoring three tries and being adjudged best back. O’Sullivan also made it over the chalk.
The focus now shifts to sevens, with Central North holding a trial day at Quirindi on Sunday for the under-17s, under-15s and under-13s boys and girls sides who will contest the NSW 7s Championships at Forster Tuncurry in October.