Sport
5 July, 2023
Oakey women edged out in Presidents Cup Final
Gatton Hawks claimed the 2023 mid-season Presidents Cup Final, holding off a late rally by Oakey to win 14-8.
Gatton 14 d. Oakey 8
In a physical game, each side did not give an inch and big tackles were the flavour of the night.
There was only one try in the first half. Gatton captain Kim Dore finished off repeat sets on Oakey’s try line to score with 5 minutes to go to make it 6-0 at the break.
Prior to Dore’s try, each side forced their opposition into spilling ball, as the defence was a huge highlight of the opening stanza.
The game settled after half-time and Gatton’s swarming defence proved successful as they continued to hold out Oakey.
Player of the Match Bonnie Zappa and Courtney Robinson were outstanding and they teamed up to create a small gap for Caitlin Nolan to squeeze through and get the Hawks to 10-0 after six minutes in the second half.
Oakey’s Elaina Saluni was damaging all night for the Bears and was rewarded with a classic bulldozing try in the 46th minute to get the Bears back in the match. Mireka and Erikana Dean were tremendous for their side, as was the centre pairing of Clarissa Janes and Annie Vito.
The Dean girls tackled all night and Janes and Vito continually threatened Gatton’s flanks.
With eight minutes remaining, the turning point came.
Gatton had outlasted Oakey in a number of repeat sets on their tryline.
Captain Kim Dore and Courtney Robinson rolled well up the field; enter Ash Noland on her 35 metre line.
She burst through the torrid Oakey pack and ran deep into Bears’ territory to find Gatton flyer Natalie Webb who scored what would be the match winning try.
It wasn’t over yet, as Clarissa Janes scored with five minutes remaining, and let the Gatton half-back know about it.
A last gasp Saluni kick sailed just out of the reach of Bears winger Bina McLoughlin in the final minute of play.
Oakey can hold their heads up high.
- Andrew O’Brien
