Well stone the crows, footy fans – what a heart-stopper we had at Bankes Ave last Saturday when the Orrell St James U13 Girls locked horns with a tough Lowca outfit!

Orrell came out firing and looked confident from the first whistle, even without a training run in the lead-up – the girls stuck to the plan like glue. Lowca were strong as an ox with their defence drilled tighter than a drum, and it stayed a proper arm-wrestle right through. Orrell edged it at the break, 10-4 up.

Second half brought on some new faces, a couple a bit green, and Lowca pounced on it. The game was still tight as a tick until we lost a player for ten minutes – Lowca took full advantage and rattled in two quick tries to jump out to 10-18. But these Orrell girls? Never gave up. Numbers restored, the pendulum swung straight back our way and we hit them with a brilliant try to make it 16-18. Time just beat us in the end.

The girls were frustrated, no hiding it – didn’t feel they got the rub of the green with a few calls out there, and it showed for both team and coaches. But fair dinkum, we play to the whistle and we respect the refs who give up their Saturday to let the footy happen.

Now the awards – Uma was electric, that individual chip-and-chase try earning her the Opposition’s POM, while her Moment of the Match had us all chuckling later… lessons learned the hard way! Isla bagged the Coaches’ award for her skill and strength in that new loose forward spot. Lexi RW took Top Tackler honours – never gave an inch, tackle after tackle, copped an injury, came straight back on and kept smashing them. Ruby cleaned up the Parents’ Player for her silky skills and side-steps galore. And Pippa grabbed the Players’ award, recognised for that never-give-up running and strength through the halves.

We all knew we should’ve nicked the chocolates in this one, but lessons learned all round and the girls will be better for it.

Next Saturday we head over to our neighbours in Thatto – should be a beauty!

Up the mighty Orrell St James! These lasses are tough as teak and twice as sharp. See ya at the next one, ya mugs! ??