Nambour Senior Women hold the line for thrilling rugby grand final win
Nambour Senior Women’s team claimed the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union Grand Final last Saturday week with a brave 14-5 win against Noosa Dolphins.
Nambour scored two tries in the opening minutes of the match to set up the win.
It was testament to Nambour’s focus on defence that Noosa were only able to score one try despite a glut of possession and penalties and having dominated the scrum and ruck ball.
Coach Luke Zeremis paid tribute to his young side which lost only one game all season, that being 12-nil to Noosa in the semi-final.
“We knew we’d have to defend well,” he said. “We knew we’d have to weather the Noosa storm. We knew they’d try and run over the top of us and just dominate us in the contact zone. So, our message was not about smashing them in defense, just making new tackles, getting up, tackling again, tackling again until we get the ball.”
As it turned out Nambour didn’t see much ball. “Penalties and probably our discipline cost us,” said Zeremis. “I think the first 10 minutes when we had the ball, we showed what we can do. And that was pretty much the last we saw of it.
“As I said to the girls, for a bunch of 16, 17, 18 year olds – and a few 22s – the defence we showed against that Noosa side ... I can’t wait for two, three years time.
“Noosa’s scrummaging definitely hurt us. We’ve lost a few props through the season. So, it was a very makeshift scrum today. But, again, that just kept the defensive pressure on.”
Skipper and number 8 Megan Prinsloo led from the front in a tsunami-like defensive display from the back of the scrum and also scored the second try.
But Zeremis did not want to pinpoint any individuals. “Today was an absolute team effort. When we played them in the semi, we didn’t have Megs and we didn’t have Ava Johnson. So, to get those two back today made a difference.
“I think Noosa just ran out of ideas in attack late in the game. There was a lot of one-out running, because everywhere they went, there was a white and red jersey waiting to get them.”
Prinsloo paid tribute to her teammates for getting off the line fast in defence.
“Our defence was what won it,” she said. “Basically, line speed is what we wanted to do well. Our discipline wasn’t too great. That is something we need to work on, but we just worked on getting up fast in that line.”
Prinsloo paid tribute to the coaches.
“Luke and Jeff really set for us the whole season,” she said. “When we were at our lowest, they always lifted our spirits. They always came up with new moves and new plans and helped us execute. They had so much patience with us.
“I’m just very proud of what the girls have done in our Nambour community. And as a club we won four from four this weekend!”
— Additional photos with thanks to Rachel Wright.
Toads claim four from four premiership titles
Nambour Rugby Union Club enjoyed a clean sweep, four out of four grand final trophies during the finals weekend last month.
The Toads won men’s seniors match against Gympie (pic left), the Under 12 Boys and Under 17 Girls Seven’s as well as the Open Women.
“We have six teams in the club so that’s a pretty good success rate,” said Senior Women’s Coach Luke Zeremis.
“It comes down to what we’re building at the club. We’re building a good culture. We’ve got good people. There’s been a real energy at the club for the last two weeks and it just felt like we were building towards something big and it’s all unfolded.”
Men’s captain and fly-half Jake Harris said, like the women’s match, defence was the key to his side’s 22-14 win against Gympie.
“Yeah we did a lot of defending in that game. And I think that the effort from our boys was outstanding.”
Harris agreed something special was building at the club. “I hope that most of our guys stick around and go again next year. I really hope so.”