Despite entering Saturday’s match as underdogs, CSU Yellow turned in a clinical defensive performance against CSU Blue, downing the minor premiers 14-0 to claim their fourth consecutive New Era Midwest league tag title.
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“If there’s anything my girls can do, it’s make those tags when it matters,” Yellow’s captain-coach Carly Elwin said.
If there’s anything my girls can do, it’s make those tags when it matters
- Carly Elwin
“It was a bit of scramble defence out there but there was a lot of heart shown by my girls.
“You could tell with every tag that they wanted it. Everyone gave 100 percent.”
The defensive effort was particularly impressive considering the attacking dominance shown by CSU Blue throughout 2018 as they scored a league-high 278 points.
The first half saw just one four-pointer as Elwin played on the back of a Bethany Durham break, scoring out wide and converting her own try to give her side a 6-0 lead.
“Our girls love momentum and that first try is just what we needed to keep up our spirits for the whole game,” Elwin said.
Nikki Clift opened the account in the second half as she crashed over from close range, pushing the margin to 10-0.
Blue continued to knock on the door in the second stanza but were continually repelled before Yellow’s Mariah Oxenburgh produced a sensational solo effort, avoiding what seemed like half of the opposition before scoring in the corner and putting the game to bed.
Emily Warner was sensational in a losing side as she looked the most likely for Blue, slicing through Yellow’s defensive line on more than one occasion and coming close to the stripe in the first half after making a break down the sideline.
It’s never easy playing against friends and Elwin had nothing but good things to say about her grand final opposition.
“They’re a team that can’t be faulted. They give 100 percent,” Elwin said.
“It’s amazing to see the competition CSU produces. Both immaculate teams, both showed a lot of heart and both of us wanted to win out there.
“We knew coming into it that there was going to be a loser at the end of the day but you’ll find us all at the pub afterwards. We’re a team that loves each other so much and it sucks to lose but that’s what makes it all fun at the end of the day.”
CSU YELLOW 14 (Carly Elwin, Nikki Clift, Mariah Oxenburgh tries; Carly Elwin goal) def CSU BLUE 0.
Jake Humphreys
Sports nut at the Central Western Daily.
Sports nut at the Central Western Daily.
