Four Macleay players shined for Group Three in the inaugural representative match against Group Two, but unfortunately the side suffered a 14-8 defeat at Verge St Oval on Saturday.
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Ellen Hetherington, Shawnee Potts, Megan Archibald and Tahlisa Daley-Button produced impressive performances in their debut representative games.
Potts, who lined up in the front row for Group Three, was impressed with the performances of her fellow Lower Macleay Magpies teammates.
“I think we all did well, it was a very tough and physical game but we stuck to our jobs and played our roles well,” Potts told the Argus.
“Megan set up a really good try and all of us did good runs and made our tackles.”
Potts could see a clear difference in the level of play when comparing the match to a regular local competition game.
“It was definitely a step up,” Potts said.
“It was more structured and all the players held their positions and knew what to do.
“Everyone was switched on defensively too, it was much harder to find a gap.”
Despite the loss, all four Macleay girls remain in contention to be selected into the North Coast Bulldogs representative team for the 2019 season.
The team is expected to be announced this Wednesday and Potts claims two of the Macleay girls should see their names in the representative squad.
“I think Megan and Tahlisa will be picked in the side,” Potts said.
“Personally, I think the two stood out. They were heavily involved and did their jobs well.”
Potts was pleased to see a large crowd in attendance, as they showed their support for the growth of women’s rugby league.
“We had a really good crowd,” Potts said.
“Our friends and family were there to watch but there was also lots of other people who turned up to watch.”
Hetherington partnered Potts in the front row while Archibald played hooker and Daley-Button was Group Three’s fullback.
The four players were picked into the Group Three representative side after leading the Lower Macleay Magpies to the premiership in the Hasting League’s nine-a-side girls competition.
The increased interest in the competition has led to the potential development of a combined competition involving both Hastings League and Group 3 teams.
Hastings League president Geoff Connor said “numbers have gone through the roof” and the “slow build-up” of the competition was now set to be rewarded.
“We have put a proposal to Country Rugby League,” Connor said.
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