The Lithgow Workies women's tag team took to the field for the Western Challenge on Sunday, March 17.
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The team ended its day in Canowindra with a win, a draw and a loss and claimed the overall second spot in their pool.
Unfortunately for the Wolves team, only one team progressed from each pool and it was Bathurst St Pat's which claimed the overall crown on the day.
St Pat's stormed to the finals on the back of an undefeated run through pool A of the challenge before knocking off familiar rivals Blayney in the semi-finals 14-4.
Faced with new-comers Dubbo CYMS in the decider, the blue and white wall was at its miserly best and despite the Fishies boasting Australian touch football representative Madison Crowe in 2019 the Group 11 giants couldn't muster up a point in the grand final.
Tries from St Pat's recruits Hannah Kelly and Elysse Girot shot out the defending champions to an 8-0 lead before Bronte Emanuel burst through to put Sarah Watterson over, sealing the club a 12-0 victory and its fourth-straight Western Challenge crown.
That pre-season dominance has translated into success on the big stage, too, with St Pat's winning Group 10 league tag titles in 2017 and 2018 before claiming the inaugural Western Premiers Challenge against Parkes last September.
Naden was tremendous at fullback for the blue and whites and the player of the match award in the 12-point final win was as much a reward for a brilliant tournament as it was for her efforts in the decider.
Emanuel, too, was terrific as the Bathurst juggernaut continues to roll, claiming trophy after trophy and strengthening a bond that's proving near unbreakable.
"I don't know, we don't do a pre-season ... we've had two weeks at training. I think it's just the fact the group gets along so well, that works in our favour," Emanuel said.
The 2019 crown is St Pat's fourth-straight but a fifth in total.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
