WITH the Dianas preparing to take to the field this weekend, we're looking back on grand final day in 2014.
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Here's how The Irrigator reported on the inaugural women's sevens pre-season competition from that same year.
Dianas reign supreme
THE inaugural SIRU Summer of Sevens competition proved a handy little earner for the Phantoms club with the Dianas winning the women's competition.
Leeton sent the Dianas and two evenly matched men's teams populated by a number of younger players to the pre-season hit-out.
There was a total of 10 men's teams and three women's teams at the sevens, held at Conolly Rugby Complex, Wagga.
Canberra-based Ozboks grabbed the $1500 on offer in the men's after a 43-7 drubbing of CSU in the final, while the Dianas downed Temora 26-10 to win $750.
The women finished with three preliminary wins, a draw and the grand final victory. The Dianas downed Temora 10-0, Rivcoll 22-5, drew Temora 12-all in their second game and then defeated Rivcoll again, 12-5.
Dianas team manager Christine Wallace said the side was switched on from the start in a format they were familiar with.
"It was a good first hit-out," Wallace said.
"Our newcomer to the side did very well, Amy Fazekas. Jess Murphy scored a try in every game and Monique Higgins was the player of the tournament."
Wallace said the Summer of Sevens was an ideal opportunity for the girls to get onto the field before the season proper, with the chance for all players to have a run
"It was good for them to have a hit-out," she said.
"They were a bit rusty considering the time off and we didn't have a full squad.
"They were pretty happy with the day overall."
Men's first grade captain Jaryd Pattison said his side won its first game 19-0 against Tumut.
"Then we had close losses against Waratahs, the Canberra team Ozboks and Aggies," Pattison said.
Team two had a younger side overall and improved as the day went on, but did not record a win. However, they did score tries in later games.
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Pattison said there was much to be gained from playing an unfamiliar format far enough out from the season opener, particularly in terms of fitness.
"It gave a bit of an idea of how the other clubs are going with their fitness and skill level," he said.
"It's kind of hard to test at training with only seven players. There's a lot more room than usual. The fitter teams won on the day.
"Further away from the season while it is still hot it is good (to play sevens), but getting closer to the season it is better to play 15s with more players on the field."