Rams Advance to KFS Prelim
The Woden Valley Rams have advanced to the Katrina Fanning Shield Preliminary Final with a 16-4 victory against the Yass Magpies.
Despite trailing early in the contest, the Rams produced a sixteen to nil second half to run out winners and set a date with the West Belconnen Warriors next weekend.
It was a nervous start to the contest for both sides, as they looked to settle into the grind of the elimination final.
The opening fifteen minutes of the match were played between the twenty-meter lines of both teams, as strong defence caused a high incompletion rate.
Woden Valley would be the first team with ball attacking the opposition try line, with a line break down the right from Kailee Lamont and a kick return from Lara Cosgrove seeming them begin to win the field position battle.
However, the defensive pressure from Yass forced an error as the Rams looked to raid down a narrow short side.
This defensive effort was rewarded, as the Magpies would be the first side to score as they marched down the field, running the ball on the last through Cooke, setting up edge forward Kaitlyn Andrews, making the score 4-0.
The Rams would try to level the scores in the back end of the first half however the defence of Yass proved too strong, with their best opportunity a kick chase from Lara Cosgrove in the last minute, only for a handling error on the pickup.
An error from the only try scorer of the match, provided the Rams with a scrum just shy of halfway to begin the second half.
Similar to the first half it would be the Rams who had the better opportunities in opening exchanges of the half, however the covering defence of fullback Roxy Horne sniffed out any chance.
However, the weight of possession proved too much, with a shift to the right edge finding Magdalena Velovski who beat three defenders on her way to score and levelling the scores.
An error right off the kick provided Yass their best attacking opportunity of the second stanza, with the defence of the Rams holding firm to ensure the scores remain locked.
The strong second half for the Rams continued as they marched down the field, with Indi Dyball finishing off with a raid from dummy half to put the Rams in front for the first time.
The weight of possession against the Magpies was beginning to prove too difficult to hold the Rams out, with the Maree Bush Medalist, Lara Cosgrove finishing off a swift shift to left to extend the lead to 16-4.
The Magpies would try to reduce the deficit; however, the Rams closed the game out in a clinical fashion providing Yass with no opportunity attacking their line.
The Woden Valley Rams will face the West Belconnen Warriors next Sunday at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval as they look to book a spot in the grand final.
Image by Trish Sullivan
