The St.George Queensland Women’s XV have claimed a gritty 12-0 win over the Brumbies in wet conditions at Ballymore.
The Queensland side were strong in defence, however the slippery conditions limited attacking prospects for either side.
Cecilia Smith scored both of Queensland’s tries, while winger Alana Elisaia, scrumhalf Cobie Jane-Morgan and skipper Kiri Lingman all produced strong performances for the home side.
The win is the team’s last match of the 2019 regular season, with the Queenslanders to enjoy a bye week before the finals kick off.
Head Coach Moana Virtue said she was pleased with her side’s defensive efforts against a tough Brumbies outfit.
“We spent a lot of the match in defence, the Brumbies really tested us and held possession well,” Virtue said.
“It was a really stop-start game and it was hard to get any momentum.
“It’s just our discipline letting us down which is something we will have to fix up heading into finals.
“The Brumbies have always been that team that sticks around and hunts you all day and you’re never really clear of them.
“Physically, the good thing is we’ve come out with no bumps or bruises and even though we were in defence a lot they still didn’t score any tries.”
The side can now turn focus to the looming finals campaign during their bye week.
“I think the pleasing thing is we are creating opportunities, we just aren’t executing them.
“If we play in the right areas and stick to our game plan we are seeing some pay from what we are trying to establish.
“Now it’s good for the girls to rest their bodies, rest their minds, switch off a little and come ready to rumble for finals.”
After a frantic start, Queensland opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through Cecilia Smith, after a through the hands movement sent the outside centre over the try line for her fourth try of the season. Flyhalf Lavinia Gould converted from the left sideline to give the side a 7-0 lead.
Smith’s try would be the last points of the first half, as rigid Queensland defence and slippery conditions ensured scoring opportunities were at a premium for both sides.
The try drought continued for much of the second stanza, with both sides trading attacking raids and handling errors, before Queensland broke the deadlock with their second try in the 67th minute.
An Alana Elisaia line break propelled the side into the Brumbies red zone, before a neat Georgie Friedrich’s short ball put Smith over for her second try against her former team. Gould missed the conversion, with the home side leading 12-0 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
Queensland withstood a number of Brumbies attacking raids in the final minutes of the match, to keep the visitors to nil, claiming a 12-0 win.
St.George Queensland Women XV 12
Tries: Smith 2
Conversions: Gould 1
Brumbies 0
