AKW Jets have extended their championship reign by yet another year after crushing minor premiers Young Guns in a lop-sided grand final on Tuesday night.
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The queens of Wagga women's touch proved there's no substitute for experience when it comes to finals, running out 9-2 victors at Jubilee Park to make it four titles in a row.
Player of the match Vienna Randal was masterful in front of a healthy crowd, assisting in seven of her side's nine touchdowns and making countless tags in a dominant defensive performance, while Cathy Salmon and Sophie Crouch both notched hat-tricks on the big stage.
Jets coach Kevin Salmon was suitably thrilled with the result and made note of their ever-improving confidence and team work.
“I just think their self belief and their working for each other made all the difference,” Salmon said.
“In the semi final, they brought some of that belief with them but tonight was something special.”
“Special” hardly does the Jets justice, especially considering their blistering start.
Cleo Randal opened Jets’ account inside the opening minute and Young Guns soon found themselves trailing 2-0 after Abbey Corbett set up Leila Miles for a second touchdown in as many minutes.
Gabby O'Connell and Molly McCrone tried to resurrect things for Young Guns but the Jets defence held firm, twice denying O'Connell on the try line.
The minor premiers were feeling the pinch and when Sophie Crouch scored in the 10th minute, the floodgates opened and two more Crouch touchdowns saw Young Guns on the wrong end of a 5-0 half time margin.
I just think their self belief and their working for each other made all the difference.
- AKW Jets coach Kevin Salmon
The second stanza saw Mark Wade's side widen their attack and when Lucy Anderson crossed in the 24th minute, a faint flicker of hope remained.
Rhiannon Podmore quickly doused that flame, setting up Cathy Salmon with a lovely cutout ball before scoring a touchdown of her own to stretch the margin to 7-1.
With the result well and truly put to bed, Salmon scored either side of a Maddison Haggar consolation touchdown to condemn Young Guns to another grand final defeat.
“We had a few troubles with numbers in the off-season but that wasn’t a problem tonight,” Salmon added.
Meanwhile, Advanced Communications Cobras upset The Casuals in the men’s decider, winning 5-4.
