Sky Blues fight back for Game Two win despite series defeat

The Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues won Game Two of the Ampol Women’s State of Origin series 18-14 on the back of a penalty try but failed to retain the Shield, after Queensland finished the two-game series with a superior aggregate.

The Sky Blues showed plenty of grit and determination to take the game to the wire with back-rower Yasmin Clydsdale awarded a penalty try in the 68th minute after Queensland’s Shenae Ciesiolka had kicked at the ball to stop her.

NSW received another opportunity after Queensland’s Romy Teitzel were penalised for a hip drop tackle on Clydsdale after the full-time siren had sounded but unfortunately they were unable to capitalise on the final play of the game.

“It’s been a tough series, I hope this pushes a little bit more for us to have the three games next year,” co-captain Isabelle Kelly said in the post-match presentation.

“But (Queensland) did really well and deserve to have the series, so congratulations.

“I’m really proud of all of you (Sky Blues) tonight, we got the win and I’m super proud, so thank you.”

The Sky Blues needed to win Game Two by more than eight points after losing Game One 18-10 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, with the Shield going to the state with the better aggregate across two games.

While the Sky Blues were unable to get the result, the game had a record crowd of 18,275 people at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville to shatter the previous mark of 12,972 that was set in Game One.

Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues lock Simaima Taufa was a welcome addition to the team having missed Game One through injury, providing some much-needed punch up the middle with 132 run metres. She also made 31 tackles without missing one and had a line-break assist.

She was ably supported by props Millie Boyle (130 running metres and 23 tackles) and co-captain Kezie Apps (81 running metres and 20 tackles), who did everything they could to get the Sky Blues on the front foot. Centre Isabelle Kelly was also strong in her comeback game after suffering a nasty throat injury in Game One with two try assists and three line-break assists, while fullback Emma Tonegato ran for 209 metres.

Apps, who was celebrating becoming the most-capped NSW women’s player with 11 appearances since 2014, signalled her intentions from the kick-off when she took a strong carry and dragged several Queensland defenders with her.

The Sky Blues maintained the momentum and it wasn’t long before hooker Keeley Davis put a well-timed grubber kick through for winger Tiana Penitani, who showed enormous poise and patience to grab and place down before going into touch for a 4-0 lead.

Halfback Jesse Southwell missed the conversion from out wide but had no issues with a penalty goal from right in front a short time later to extend the Sky Blues’ lead to 6-0.

Queensland hit back after fullback Tamika Upton finished off some slick lead-up work, but Zahara Temara was unable to land the conversion to leave the Sky Blues just in front at 6-4.

That slender lead evaporated after Queensland winger Emily Bass capitalised on a couple of nice offloads to score in the corner and put the home team in front 8-6.

Queensland then made the road back that little bit harder after five-eighth Tarryn Aiken got around Sky Blues back-rower Olivia Kernick and accelerated away to score. Temara converted to make it 14-6 at halftime and the Sky Blues facing a tough challenge in the second half.

NSW started the comeback well when Emma Tonegato and Isabelle Kelly showed quick hands to put Penitani over the line for her second try of the night. Southwell’s conversion attempt from out wide bounced off the crossbar before landing back infield to leave the score at 14-10 in favour of Queensland.

A Queensland mistake in their own end paved the way for the Sky Blues to go on the attack and the home team conceded a penalty under pressure. Southwell landed the penalty goal to reduce the margin to 14-12 with 25 minutes still left on the clock.

A big hit from NSW centre Jess Sergis on Bass saw the Queensland winger lose the ball and the Sky Blues in good field position, and Apps came close to crashing over before being pushed back by the goal-line defence.

Clydsdale was awarded a penalty try with only minutes remaining and Southwell’s conversion set up a grandstand finish, but time beat the Sky Blues.