Ferguson Cup: Jacinta Windsor's learning and loving life as a Bathurst Bulldog

Windsor is best known in sporting circles as a track and field talent, the sprinter having competed at NSW All Schools several times and toured Canada in 2018.

She got her first taste of rugby union in the sevens format while at school and was picked in a junior Central West representative outfit, but this year she wanted a different challenge.

The 18-year-old decided to join Bathurst Bulldogs and compete in the Ferguson Cup.

"I thought 'Let's try the full side this time'. A couple of my friends had played there [Bulldogs] and I felt like that was the best club for me," she said.

"I kind of just showed up and was 'Hi guys, I want to get involved'.

"Dad was so excited, he was like 'Hell yeah' and Mum was like 'Oh no, don't break yourself' but now she's fine with it.

"After I played I literally went home and said 'Dad, I found my sport, I love this, I love union'. It's like one big family that club, it's so nice."

Given her athletics background, Windsor naturally brings plenty of speed to Bulldogs' back line. She smiles as she says: "I like running and on the wing, yeah I like to run around players."

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It is speed which has seen her make good yards and she scored three tries against Dubbo Kangaroos last Saturday.

She is still learning how to best use it - sprinting is different when carrying a ball and people are trying to tackle you - but Windsor's soaking up all the advice her experienced team-mates have to offer.

"Probably the biggest challenge has been positions, I struggled with knowing where to go because we'd change positions each week. But most of the girls who are older than me have been so welcoming and helped me out," she said.

"I love playing alongside those girls, you just learn so much even week-to-week and it helps you improve. Last week one of the runs I did, I was like running out towards the sideline and didn't really know what to do, it was so stressful.

"But then Kate [Gullifer] came over and said 'If you pause for a bit and cut back in, they'll keep going with momentum and you can get around them'. So I tried that next and it worked."

As for the tackling aspect, Windsor says it's "actually really fun."

"We did a little bit at training and once you get comfortable it is kind of like second nature. Like a lot of the time I still start the game scared, but once you get into it it's fun. The first contact, after that it's fine."

Windsor and her Bulldogs have the bye in the Ferguson Cup this week, but their male club-mates will take on Cowra at Ashwood Park.

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