The Tuggeranong-Yass Bushpies have defeated the Queanbeyan Blues 22 – 12 in the Katrina Fanning Shield Grand Final at Seiffert Oval.
The Bushpies opened the scoring 12 minutes in when Samara Afele crashed over the line. Elissa Blowes added the extra two for a 6 – 0 lead.
The Bushpies opened up the Blues defence and Afele scored her second to extend their lead, with an unsuccessful conversion leaving the scores at 10 – 0 with 12 to go in the first half.
Queanbeyan scored their first try with six to go before the break when Samantha Wood spun over to plant the ball down. The score remained 10 – 4 with an unsuccessful conversion from Wood.
Ema Masi cleaned up a Blues knock-on to earn the Bushpies third try just before the break. Blowes successfully added the two for a 16 – 4 lead going into half time.
The Blues looked like scoring early in the second half but the Bushpies goal-line defence held strong and kept them out.
Eilish Winbank opened the scoring in the second half and a successful conversion extended the Bushpies lead to 22 – 4 ten minutes into the second half.
The Bushpies went the length of the field with 10 to go but the Blues held on and took possession to work it out of their own end.
The Bushpies went back on the attack off a Blues knock-on but their defence held strong and they retook possession and travelled the length of the field.
The Blues earned back to back tries through Alanna Brooks and Jacinta Williams late in the game, with the scores remaining at 22 – 12 after a couple of unsuccessful conversions as the Bushpies ran home with the win.
Photo by Karleen Minney
