The Red Devils Women’s tag league team has finished the regular season in second place and will play away against Ballina this weekend in the qualifying semifinals.
If they win they will go on to play the minor premiers, Marist Brothers, the following week.
On the weekend the Red Devils defeated Evans Head 10–8, despite playing the game with no reserves.
‘The girls played really well with just 11 players. They pulled together and turned on a great performance,’ said Byron Bay Rugby League committee member Shannon Hulbert.
Making the semifinals is a good result for a side that only joined the competition last year.
‘The team is really gelling together. A lot of last year’s players came through to this year and they are sharing their knowledge with the new players,’ she said.
Women’s touch is played just like Oz Tag but under NRL rules, she said.
Mullumbimby
The Giants women’s touch team ended the season going down to competition leaders Marist Brothers 26–6 on the weekend, and finshed their first season in the competition in seventh place after notching up seven wins.
‘The idea to start the team was floated a week out from the start of the season. We had 24 women turn up to the first training and have had good numbers throughout the year,’ said team member Mel Groves.
‘When we played our first game we were still learning the rules. You have to adapt touch football skills to a full-sized field and kicking.
‘We have been good defensively but it took us a while to learn how to score tries. In the middle of the season we put together three or four wins in a row.
‘Next year we will have more respect from the other sides,’ she said.
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