Played at Gowrie Playing Fields, home ground of the Tuggeranong Vikings Junior Rugby Union Club, Southern Inland entered two sides in the Under 14s and Under 16s age divisions featuring players from the Albury Steamers, Griffith Blacks and Leeton Phantoms along with several girls from the Yenda Blueheelers Rugby League Club.

For many of the girls it was their first experience at contact rugby and in true Barbarian fashion, the girls donned the SIRU jersey while proudly wearing their club shorts and socks.

The Under 16s were captained by Shakiah Byrnes (Phantoms) and included Olympia Achillea (Steamers), Ma’ata Alai Lokeni (Griffith Blackbirds), Abby Carey, Bella Whitehead, Sarah Manwaring (Phantoms and Gladys Asomoua (Blueheelers).

The Under 14s were lead by Alex Parisotto (Blackbirds) and her Griffith teammates Abbey Brill, Hayley Burke, Sophia Kelsey and Beyonce Marela along with Eliza Kurrie, Elizabeth Lee and Kara Yelland from the Phantoms and Nakita Moran (Blueheelers).

The Under 14s finished second in their pool following a thrilling 20-14 win over the Canberra Royals and a 7-31 loss to the Bateman’s Bay Boars.

These results put the SIRU Barbarians into the Plate Final where they faces the Canberra based Northside Bears. Southern Inland took a narrow 12-10 lead at half time following tries to Beyonce Marela and Alex Parisotto, however found themselves behind on the scoreboard soon after the break.

Following a great turnover by Alex Parisotto, the Barbarians quickly turned the game around as they moved the ball the full width of the field resulting in Beyonce Marela scoring her second try. A try to Abbey Brill a minute later sealed a 24-15 win.

The Under 16s faced two well drilled teams in the Bateman’s Bay Boars and the Wests Lionesses (Canberra) and were comprehensively beaten 0-38 and 0-45 respectively. Notwithstanding the results the SIRU Barbarians remained upbeat and went into the final game with a positive attitude.

After falling behind on the scoreboard early on against the Tuggeranong Queens the Under 16s showed great tenacity and a greater will to win securing a 19-7 win and a place in the Bowl Final.

Battling fatigue and injuries the Barbarians went into the final against the Jindabyne Bushpigs relying on players from the Under 14 squad to take the field and provide substitutions. Tries to Abbey Brill and Gladys Asomoua in the first half kept the Barbarians within striking range of Jindabyne who held a 19-12 lead at half-time.

During the half time break coach Matt Parisotto stressed the importance of making the tackles stick and to be patient before unleashing in the final three minutes.

The Under 16s followed the instruction to the letter as the repelled several attacking raised before scoring three brilliant tries, one each to Abby Carey, Cara Yelland and Olympia Achillea, and a resounding 31-19 win.

The teams will sit out the tournament in Bateman’s Bay however will playing in the Yass tournament on 3 November 2018 and then the final round of the series to be played in Wagga on 10 November 2018.