Workies Wolves Womens League Tag side defeated the Mudgee Dragons 14 - 4 at Glen Willow Stadium in Mudgee on Saturday August 18, qualifying them for the 2019 Group 10 finals series.
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The ladies produced their best performance of the season in a game that turned into a play off for the fifth position in the semis.
The match started as a real arm wrestle going from end to end.
Wolves defended their line solidly for repeat sets and after a freak diving catch by Tanya Boza, worked their way up the field to take an early lead with a penalty goal to Megan Embleton.
Wolves controlled the match well, completing eight out of nine sets for the half building up pressure which saw Shannon Legge break the Dragons defensive line and cross for a try before half time to give the wolves a 8-0 lead at the break.
Mudgee hit back early in the second half crossing for a try out wide to bring the score to 8-4.
"The ladies played strong attacking football and were very unlucky to have tries to Embleton and Kim Northey disallowed," coach John Legge said.
A raid to the left side saw the ball shift along the back line with great passes by Maddy Bender then Dayna Stockton to Cody Lane running a great line to score the try of the match.
The Wolves continued to defend strong and won the match with a 14-4 score line.
"The team has been continually improving their performances over the previous weeks," he said.
"A change up in positions has worked well for the side with Northey defending strongly in the lock position, Kirsty Willmott playing awesome football at fullback and with captain Tiff Willmott, Megan Willmott and Legge setting up the attack.
"On the wings Sharni Channing and Emma McGuinness have given the side great stability with Kayla Nugent, Ash Oldfield, Maddy Howarth, Chantelle Cambridge and Tegan Walsh working well in mid field."
The Wolves will now play the elimination semi final against Blayney at 10.30am on Sunday, August 25 at Tony Luchetti Sports Ground.
"Blayney are a very good side and have some great speed around the park but I believe the ladies defence will be able to rattle them on Sunday," he said.
"It will take another great performance from the team to defeat the strong Bears side in a pressure game but I know we are capable of do it."
With semi finals being the start of a whole new competition, Legge said if the side plays to its potential they could go all the way through the final series.
"The way the team has come together, especially how they are playing and working for each other in defence and attack in the latter part of the season makes me very proud of the whole squad," he said.
"To make the semi finals in the very competitive Group 10 Women's League Tag competition has been a great achievement."
Legge said he wanted to thank personal trainer Rox Campbell from Reach Change Personal Training for her work with the side during the season, and trainers Connor Legge and Keelan Bresac for their work on game days.
"The Workies Wolves are very pleased with the clubs performance for the 2019 season having four out of five grades making the semi finals," he said.
The under 18's league tag and the women's league tag both finished in fifth position, the reserve grade were the undefeated minor premiers and the premier league finished fourth which secured the home semi final for the club.
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