A new name will be engraved on the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership trophy in 2024 with the Illawarra Steelers facing the Newcastle Knights in next Sunday’s (29 September) after winning their respective Preliminary Finals at Leichhardt Oval today.
They are the same two clubs that battled it out in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s) Grand Final in April, where the Steelers scored a 24-12 win.
Once again the Minor Premiers were toppled in a close contest when Wenty Magpies, who had lost only one game all season, went down 20-18 to the Knights.
In the other Preliminary Final, the Steelers seemed to have the game won with a 22-0 lead at half-time. But a second-half revival by Mounties scoring three tries set up a grandstand finish.
A 69th minute try to Steelers captain Lilly Rogan sealed the deal, not allowing Mounties the chance to defend their 2023 Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership title.
(4) Newcastle Knights 20 def (1) Wenty Mapgies 18
In the early stages of the match the Magpies had multiple sets on the Newcastle line but the Knights defence held strong.
But it was the Minor Premiers who posted points first, when fullback Caitlin Turnbull sprinted from 25 metres out to score her 13th try of the season.
The Knights didn’t drop their heads and rattled off two tries in six minutes to take a 12-6 lead at the break.
Five-eighth Joeli Morris was in the thick of the action on both occasions. She pushed towards the line in the 24th minute and then popped up an offload for her back-rower Jules Kirkpatrick.
Then she sent a crisp cut-out pass to her winger Isabelle Waterman to cross in the 30th minute. Goal-kicking winger Jessica Gentle converted both tries from near the eastern sideline.
Knights centre Carissa Reid was placed on report for a high tackle with the match review committee to look at it on Monday.
Early in the second half, Waterman scored her second and third tries within four minutes of each other by latching onto a pass from Tamika Bull after a Kirkpatrick bust upfield.
Morris was at it again for her third try assist – another cut out-pass – for Waterman to get her hat-trick. The score had drifted out to a 20-6 lead for the Knights.
But the Magpies were not done. Bench forward Belinda Gwasamun scored on the right edge with the Sarah Colman conversion reducing the margin to eight points (20-12).
Then prop Rosaline Aumale scored with three minutes left on the clock (20-18) as Wenty pulled out all stops to find points.
Tensions rose in the final seconds as Wenty players didn’t hear the full-time whistle with Turnbull crossing on the right edge, but the try was disallowed. Back-rower Chantel Tugaga argued with referee Cameron Turner and received her marching orders.
(2) Illawarra Steelers 30 def (3) Mounties 16
A first-half hat-trick to Steelers centre Indie Bostock helped propel the Illawarra club to a 22-0 lead at half-time.
Bostock, who was the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final player of the match, showed the same form for the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership. Her speed and timing as she runs onto the ball down the right edge led to her first try (18th minute) and third (32nd).
Her second came when she reacted more quickly than Mounties to a dropped ball and scooted 60 metres to score.
But in the second half the Mounties made a charge through tries to lock Kahu Cassidy, centre Gwen Swann and winger Ruby Watterson getting within 10 points (26-16).
Steelers kept their noses in front through tries to winger Herewaka Pohatu, where she benefited from a kick by former Jillaroo Caitlin Moran, and Rogan a minute from full-time.
