The Young Cherryettes took on the Wagga Kangaroos on Saturday in what the ‘Pickers hoped to be an improved performance on their last encounter against the side.
Previously when the girls meet, the Kangaroos had the home ground advantage and were leading at half time, only for the Cherryettes to come back and get them in the final minutes of the game.
This time the Cherryettes were determined not to get into the same situation, and despite a slow start the girls worked on their attacking sets and continued to apply pressure to the Kangaroos.
Young’s Ash Carroll was the first to score, as she weaved her magic and used her speed to get through the centres, and the Roos’ defenders just weren’t quick enough to catch her. Laura Eastlake successfully converted her try.
It wasn’t long after that rookie Annie ‘Turbo’ Turner hit the ball at full speed off a pass from co-captain Danika Coddington putting her through the middle of the Kangaroos. Again the sheer speed meant she couldn’t be caught - additionally she could run all day with no one keeping up. Conversion unsuccessful.
Half time score was 10-4 Young’s way.
In second half the Kangaroos fought back and maximised on Young’s lazy line defence.
The Cherryettes had much more to go, with an incredible bench that came on in second half lifting the spirits of the team and kicked them back into gear to gain focus and momentum again.
It wasn’t much longer and another young gun, Ally Smith, put a fake pass on to trick the opposition and there she was off and running 80 metres, with the Kangaroos captain on her tail every step of the way.
Ally out-stepped her and continued to charge on, taking the score to 14-4, successfully converted by Amy Braham.
The Cherryettes found themselves back on their attacking set after a mistake by the Kangaroos, and Turbo again straight through the middle for another try. Amy Braham converted, taking the score to 20-4.
With a lot more fight left in the girls, they continued to move the ball around, work on their attacking sets and here they were able to use an overlap opportunity and create a hole for Lauren Jenkins to dive through for another try. Laura Eastlake successfully converted, taking the score to 26-4.
This week the Cherryettes face second-placed Gundagai. In all previous encounters the Gundagai Tigers have taken the win over the Cherryettes who are hoping the new team structure and home ground advantage will assist them in their finals fight.
Young are hoping this year it is a new challenge and the Gundagai Tigers are also concerned about the improved Cherryettes team.
Elevations Restaurant and Renee McInerney Remedial Massage players player went to Bonnie King.
