Pirates and Inverell might have proven too strong for them on Saturday but Quirindi and Moree showed they have the potential to be a formidable force in the Central North women's 7s competition.
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Both sides impressed in their debuts with the Bulls taking it to reigning champions Inverell and the Lionesses not letting Pirates have it their own way.
Proud Lionesses co-coach Nick Rees said it was an amazing start from his side, most of whom had never played rugby before this season.
"The guts and determination in the girls was second to none," he said.
They were understandably a bit overwhelmed in the first game and were beaten 54-nil. The second game they went down 38-nil but were a lot more competitive.
"The second game was 100 per cent better than the first game," Rees said.
In some ways it reminded Pirates coach Aaron O'Sullivan of last year's Cinderella story - Gunnedah, O'Sullivan tipping the Lionesses to "be a formidable force by the end of the season".
"As the season moves forward they'll be so much better than they were," he said.
"We saw that last year. We played against Gunnedah to start with and we flogged them and when we got to the final they beat us."
He said is great to see Quirindi, Moree and Barraba/Gwydir, who play their first game this weekend, join the competition and remarked that the talent is just getting better and better.
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"The women really enjoy it, they love it," he said.
As for his own side, O'Sullivan was happy with what he saw, the most pleasing part the way they came together and played as a team.
"All the girls did really well," he said.
"They were very regimented and systematic in the way they played, which was what our game plan was."
They are a "very young" team with most of the side in their late teens, although that balance is something O'Sullivan is looking to change.
He said they are hoping to pick up a few more mature players.
For now though, speed is their biggest weapon as they showed on Saturday.
They were lethal whenever they shifted the ball wide, winger Sophie Barr scorching the Lions defence a couple of times from within Pirates half. She crossed for five tries across the two games including a hat-trick in the first game.
Their experience and knowledge was also decisive especially at the breakdown.
"We were able to work for the turnover and capitalise on that," O'Sullivan said.
Paige Collins and Casey Onus meanwhile crossed for the Bulls as they went down 27-12 to the Highlanders in the first game, the premiers coming out in the second and prevailing 29-5.
The Bulls' next assignment was to be Pirates but the Tamworth side have unfortunately had to forfeit, O'Sullivan said. Phoebe McLoughlin and Miah O'Sullivan have Australian Youth squad training commitments while a number of the other players are away with Central North.
