By Group 4 Media’s Geoff Newling
Group 4 Rugby League’s plans for a ladies tackle comp took another step forward at Boggabri’s Jubilee Oval on Saturday.
Eight of the nine Group 4 clubs were represented at the second ladies tackle gala day, and while it was a hot day, it still produced some tough and tight matches.
Greater Northern Tigers league and club support co-ordinator Cody Tickle said injuries and other commitments reduced the teams.
Dungowan were short of players and combined with Gunnedah and Kootingal, while Werris Creek joined up with North Tamworth.
The day kicked off with the Narrabri Shire derby between Wee Waa and Boggabri, which Wee Waa won 20-16. The Panthers then went down 16-4 against Moree before drawing 4-all against the combined Gunnedah/Kootingal/Dungowan team.
Boggabri lost their next two games 12-6 against the Gunnedah/Kootingal/Dungowan side and 32-20 to North Tamworth/Werris Creek before ending the day with a hard-fought 12-all draw against Moree.
Again, the talent on show across the day was impressive.
“Everyone had another good day,” Tickle said following Saturday’s gala day, which followed the first gala day at Tamworth’s Scully Park last month.
Tickle said it paved the way for a ladies tackle competition, but just what shape that takes is still to be decided.
“We’ve got a couple of surveys out there. A players’ survey and a survey for the clubs and committees,” Tickle said.
“Once we get a clearer picture, we’ll put that to the board (Group 4) and present it at the AGM.
“That’s the initial plan.”
Last week, Tickle told the Northern Daily Leader’s Zac Lowe “I’m trying to gauge what the players thought of it (tackle gala days) and how they see the future or best way forward.
“When that comes back in, I’m going to talk to the club delegates about it too and I’ll use this time to forge how we’re going to move forward. Then I’ll have a meeting with the Group on what we can make it look like in the future.
“It’s about understanding what the players want but also understanding what the clubs, Group 4 and the referees can facilitate.”
Tickle also told Lowe that Group 4 Junior Rugby League took “crucial steps forward” this year by starting under-14 and under-16 girls tackle competitions.
“It starts with the junior league.
“They’ve jumped on board really hard with the women’s tackle and had a ‘Tag To Tackle’ concept, which they worked hard to implement,” he said.
“They’ve forged the first step in making a sustainable competition…and there’s plenty of talented young girls in the junior league that will be looking for a competition to play in over the coming years.”
For now though, Group 4 is waiting on the two surveys to return before deciding what format to go with.
A full list of results from Saturday’s gala day is as follows:
Wee Waa 20 def Boggabri 16, North Tamworth/Werris Creek 12 def Moree 8, Gunnedah/Kootingal/Dungowan 12 def Boggabri 8, Moree 16 def Wee Waa 4, North Tamworth/Werris Creek 32 def Boggabri 20, Wee Waa 4 drew with Gunnedah/Kootingal/Dungowan 4, Boggabri 12 drew with Moree 12, Gunnedah/Kootingal/Dungowan def North Tamworth/Werris Creek by forfeit.
