SIRU women's sevens
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BACK-TO-BACK premierships is what's on the table for the Leeton Dianas as they prepare to take on Wagga City for the Southern Inland Rugby Union women's sevens 2014 title.
Having been reinstated last season, women's rugby has felt the full force of the Leeton club.
A powerhouse in the former 15-a-side compeititon, the Dianas have taken to the sevens format with gusto, losing just three games in two seasons, taking the 2013 title and finishing as 2014 minor premier.
Last weekend the Dianas knocked archrival Griffith out of the finals race and will face Wagga City in the grand final at Conolly Rugby Complex in Wagga tomorrow afternoon.
However, coach Bart Challacombe knows there will be more to the game than his side's history.
"Grand finals are obviously the toughest game of the year and it is going to be," Challacombe said.
The Dianas are strong across the park, with good depth, while Wagga City is smaller and have pace.
"I think we're a complete team," Challacombe said.
"Wagga City, they have a very quick team and backline, but their forwards aren't as strong, they can't muscle up as much.
"We've got a good combination of both.
"I think we've got the pace to match them.
"It's about trying not to let them get too much ball.
"That's what our defence has been doing really well. We've kept the ball off people while making progress and preventing it from turning over."
City is a different prospect to the strong Griffith side that staged a comeback after Leeton blitzed them in the first half at No. 1 Oval last Saturday.
"We need to shut them down and not give them space to run," Challacombe said.
"It's harder this week (than last week) to man up. They are a lot quicker - easier to tackle, but harder to catch."
As a coach, Challacombe has to be on the ball. With short halves and only seven players on the field at a time, there is not a lot of time, but plenty of space for anything to happen.
"Sevens is fast paced and you have players coming on and off the bench," he said. "We don't lose very much when we make changes.
"But there is so much space, games can change instantly. Last weekend we were cruising, then bang, bang and it was tight again."
Leeotn has named a 14-player squad, including two emergencies, for tomorrow's game.
"We had a couple of potential injuries from the weekend and we're monitoring them," Challacombe said.
"We had the full complement at training on Tuesday and I expect the same Thursday."
THE Dianas have won both their encounters with Wagga City this season.
Round 2 (away): Dianas 17 d Wagga City 14
Round 15 (home): Dianas 27 d Wagga City 5
However, coach Bart Challacombe said his side was lucky to hold that record.
"We scored in the last play to win (in round two)," he said.
"We didn't deserve to win, but it was good that we could grind it out."
AS 2014 coach and Phantoms president, Bart Challacombe is clearly a happy man this weekend.
Not only has he guided the women's sevens side to succesive grand final appearances, but the club has a presence on the biggest day of the Southern Inland calendar.
"Two years in a row, it's fantastic when you go so many years without one," Challacombe said.
"The day itself is fantastic, to get over there and have someone to cheer for." The grand final day schedule has the women's encounter as the curtain raiser to the first grade decider, giving it a huge audience.
"The game between Griffith and Albury is the main game," Challacombe said.
"Everyone is there for the start of that and the crowd is at its most during the day when we're playing, which is fantastic."
Leeton Dianas
Grand final team
1. Monique Higgins
2. Nisi Tabakei
4. Elane Feagai
5. Jess Murphy
9. Georgia Wallace
10. Cecilia Smith
11. Remi Wilton
12. Aimee Spowart
13. Emma Tyrrell
16. Faith Kennedy
18. Lou Strachan
19. Amie Fazekas
Emergencies
14. Kelly Johnson
17. Nalani Byrnes
10am: Under 17s - Wagga City v Young (field 1)
10.15am: Third grade - Junee v Ag College (field 2)
11.20am: Walsh & Blair second grade - Waratahs v CSU (field 1)
11.35am: Romano's second grade: Young v Wagga City (field 2)
1.10pm: Romano's first grade: Wagga City v Tumut (field 1)
3pm: Women's sevens: Leeton v Wagga City (field 1)
3.45pm: Walsh & Blair first grade - Griffith v Albury (field 1)