SIRU women's sevens
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FOR the second week on a row the Dianas kept their opposition to nil as they knocked CSU out of the finals race at Beres Ellwood Oval last Saturday.
Leeton won the game 32-0 to propel the reigning Southern Inland women's premier into the 2014 preliminary final against arch-rival Griffith.
"In the first half we were a bit scrappy," said coach Bart Challacombe.
"We created plenty of opportunities, but we dropped the ball here and there.
"Defensively we were solid, we didn't give them any opportunities. When they had the ball, they turned it over after a couple of phases."
The Dianas were able to maintain plenty of position and move the ball laterally before striking forward.
"We held onto the ball for multiple phases, until the opportunities opened up," Challacombe said.
"Their defence wasn't poor, but our ability to maintain possession created the overlap."
The Dianas will need to repeat the performance against Griffith, with the game relocated to accommodate the two western clubs. It will be played at No. 1 Oval on Saturday at 12.30pm.
The unique finals set-up means the two best teams all year will face off the week before the season decider, meaning only one has a chance to play in the grand final.
It is a replay of the 2013 grand final and in 2014 the ledger is squared at one win apiece.
"It is disappointing it is a preliminary final and the top two play each other," Challacombe said.
"We've done all that's asked of us and we play number two in the preliminary final. But you've got to beat every team to win the comp and that's what we're aiming to do."
Possession and ball retention would be vital to create overlaps against the Blacks.
"They've got one or two big backline players," Challacombe said.
"We need to shut them down, get up in their face and don't let them get any space.
Leeton and Griffith have proven themselves to be the best two teams in the women's competition, with the proximity of the towns and last year's grand final heightening the rivalry.
"They'll be keen to atone for that," Challacombe said of the 2013 loss.
"I don't think they've lost two games in a row before and they'll want to keep that going.
"We'll want to stop it.
"On top of that they were in our position (as minor premier) and didn't come away with anything."
Challacombe said crowd support for the Dianas would be vital to counteract what he thought would be a big travelling contingent of Griffith fans.
The other preliminary final will be played between Wagga City and Ag College.
Dianas 32 (tries - Georgia Wallace 2, Remi Wilton 2, Cecilia Smith, Emma Tyrrell; con - Monique Higgins 1) d CSU 0
LEETON’S other remaining finals team was bundled out in a mid-week thriller on Wednesday night.
The under 17s Phantoms were defeated by Wagga Waratahs by one try, 24-19.
Leeton had 14-5 at half time.
The finals appearance was a good effort by the 17s with the Phantoms initially unsure at the start of the season whether there would be enough numbers to compete in the grade.