The Lower Macleay Magpies women's rugby league side climbed to the top of the Hastings League ladder on the back of a 26-10 victory over rivals the South West Rocks Marlins at Smithtown Oval on Saturday.
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The fixture is quickly becoming renowned as the marquee match up of the women's competition as it's full of bruising big hits, sustained strength and amazing athleticism.
The match up began with both sides demonstrating a steely focus in completing their sets with either team determined not to give their opposition any opportunity to put points on the board.
The Marlins were first to crack under the pressure, losing possession following a huge hit by Latisha Dumas.
Dumas was quick to back up her defensive effort with a brilliant run bouncing of a number of Marlin defenders before slipping a sublime offload to the speedy Nakita Binge to cross the line under the posts.
Ahnita Duke-Holten made no mistake with the resulting conversion and the Magpies were off to a great start.
The Magpies were determined to build on their fast start and with a commitment to ball control found themselves in positive field position.
A quick shift to the left hand side saw the ball passed through a number of Magpie hands taking advantage of some tired Marlins defenders for Georgia Lynch to dive over in the corner for a deserved try and taking the score to 10-0.
The Marlins weren't going to go away without a fight, however and following a Magpies mistake found themselves attacking the oppositions goal line.
The Magpies were able to repel wave after wave of Marlins attack with a strong defensive line and determined team tackling.
The Magpies were quick to take advantage of a change in momentum turning defence into attack. Another shift to the left and precision passing by Nikki Dufty put Holly Cook over in the corner for the Magpies' third try of the half and a 14-0 lead.
The Magpies fast start to the game was starting to frustrate the Marlins. The first half featured a number of strong runs and tough tackles by both teams and the physical challenge got the better of two players with Karri Moseley-Callaghan from the Magpies and Tyan Leonard from the Marlins both sent to the sin bin.
The second half started with renewed enthusiasm and increased effort from both teams and following some tough football from both teams the return to the field of Karri Moseley-Callaghan proved pivotal as she crashed over next to the posts and converted her own try to take the Magpies out to a 20-0 lead.
However, the Marlins were not done yet and were able to wrestle back momentum with two quick tries. The first try was a barnstorming long range effort from Tyan Leonard who crossed under the posts with the second try going to Tahlisa Daley-Button following a determined run close to the line.
Leonard was successful in converting her own try and it was game on again with score at 20-10 in favour of the Magpies.
What ensued was a tight and entertaining arm wrestle between the two teams however it was the Magpies who finished the game full of running.
A disallowed try did nothing to the belief and energy evident in the Magpies efforts and Nakita Binge was able to ice the game with a brilliant display of skill and speed in a solo 50-metre effort up the middle of the field, with Brittany Ritchie adding the extras.
The Magpies have now won all three meetings between the two sides.
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