SIRU women's sevens
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A MATTER of centimetres was all that stood between the Dianas and the chance for back-to-back Southern Inland Rugby Union women's sevens on Saturday as Wagga City clinched the title 17-12 at Conolly Park.
After being completely outplayed in the first half, the Leeton side was charging home with a wet sail and had drawn to within a try.
A last-gasp effort following a quick tap 10 metres in from touch appeared to have put Monique Higgins over in the corner to tie up the scoreboard and put the game into extra time.
However, a conference between the referee and the linesman determined she had gone into touch and the "touchy" raised his flag a couple of metres back from the tryline.
There was not even enough time for the throw in before the whistle was blown on the game and City declared the 2014 champions.
Coach Bart Challacombe said City had done to Leeton what Leeton did to Griffith in last year's decider - outplayed the minor premier to win the game that mattered.
"Their defence won them the match and full credit to them," Challacombe said.
"There were some dubious decisions, but overall their defence deserved to win them the game. We couldn't crack them."
Despite the controversial finish, City had been the better team for the majority of the game.
From the outset the Boiled Lollies tackled hard, were up quicker in defence and faster on the fringes to get around the speedy Dianas.
After an initial break by Cecilia Smith had her brought down 10 metres out, City responded with a 90m runaway try in an ominous sign for the Dianas.
City continued to use its pace on the fringes and slip out of tackles, but when Leeton attempted the same those tackles stuck and City was allowed to pilfer the ball on the ground.
The second try came in much the same way as the first, with City's third almost a repeat again as they went wide off the back of a scrum in their attacking half.
Going into the break trailing 17-0, the Dianas needed inspiration. What was said worked as Leeton was the better team in the second stanza.
The driving attack and good support pushed the Dianas forward and first Remi Wilton and then Georgia Wallace were the beneficiaries, evading the last tackler to score. Louise Strachan converted the second and the chase was well and truly on.
Unlike the first half, Leeton retained possession in the tackle, but the City defence stood up when it counted, including the covering tackles that prevented Leeton's last-scoring opportunity.
Challacombe said he was proud of how his side had responded.
"They played their hearts out, " he said.
"That second half we kept them scoreless. We didn't leave anything out there, we put everything into the game.
"Unfortunately one game defines the season."
City captain Erin Callaghan acknowledged her side had to be at its best to beat Leeton.
"We knew we had to be our best ever to beat you," she said.
Challacombe thanked Phantoms players and supporters for travelling to cheer on his side.
"It was a fairly vocal crowd," he said.
"I appreciate everyone coming from Leeton to support us."
Women's sevens
Wagga City 17 (tries - Sammy Maxwell, Tayla Troy, Courtney Smith; con - Sarah Hogan) d Leeton 12 (tries - Georgia Wallace, Remi Wilton; con - Louise Strachan)
BoG: Kira Hallam
First grade
Premier division
Griffith 16 (try - Tinomana Kaue; con - Dan Rawaqa; pens - Dan Rawaqa 2; field goal - Dan Rawaqa ) d Albury 11 (try - Blake Le Cornu; pens - Blake Le Cornu 2)
MoM: Chris Latu
First division
Wagga City 32 (tries - Nathaniel Shaw, Rhys Cummins, Ioramo Lagaali, Gordon Lagaali, James Curgenven; cons - James Curgenven 2; pen - James Curgenven) d Tumut 23 (tries - Christino Manuolevao 2, Rodney Lucas; con - Christino Manuolevao; pens - Christino Manuolevao 2)
MoM: James Curgenven
Second grade
Premier division
CSU 19 (try - Brett Wendt; con - Andrew Dutton con: pens - Andrew Dutton 4) d Waratahs 10 (try - George Yates; con - Steve Dawson; pen - Steve Dawson)
MoM: Andrew Dutton
First division
Young 38 (tries - Matt Reid 2, Jeshua Smith 2, Chris Smith, Callum McCaffery; cons - Harrison Back) d Wagga City 0
MoM: David Woodward
Third grade
Junee 29 (tries - Hugh Kanaley, Jermaine Tuua, Gus MacLennan, Harry Fitzgibbon; cons - Dan Moloney 3; pen - Dan Moloney) d Ag College 22 (tries - Phil Koch, Drew Preston, Tim Tarlinton, Lachlan Woodhouse; con - Jim Binks)
MoM: Hugh Kanaley
Under 17s
Wagga City 17 (tries - Johnathon Lally 2, Tom Burns; con - Drew Martin) d Young 12 (tries - Matt Murray, Jake Hogan; con - Casey Wall)
MoM: Johnathon Lally