It took only three minutes for Norths to show their BMD Premiership quality yesterday when a slick movement led to the first of six tries in a strong win over Tweed Seagulls at Bishop Park.
Captain Jada Ferguson passed from dummy half to Jillaroos legend Ali Brigginshaw who found another Jillaroo in Shenae Ciesiolka and her Broncos NRLW teammate Hayley Maddick for a 50-metre try to savour.
The Devils were never headed in a 30-10 victory that wrapped up their inaugural season in the statewide women’s competition.
Norths finished in fifth position out of eight teams – one place out of the finals – with two wins and a draw from seven matches.
The Devils finished the season knowing they were capable of cracking the finals despite the challenge of starting their team from scratch against seasoned rivals.
That showed yesterday in a first-half demolition through the Devils’ right side that ended with Ciesiolka’s shoelace catch for her second try in three minutes.
Ferguson, handling the captaincy well aged only 20, weaved from dummy-half for a try in the second half before Maddick book-ended the scoring by running a determined line from a Brigginshaw pass late in the game.
The Devils’ season effectively came down to an early-season clash on the road with Wynnum Manly Seagulls. The Devils skipped to a 10-0 lead in that match and looked in control only for their combinations to stutter.
The Seagulls won that game and ended up claiming the last place in the finals. A win by the Devils that day would have led to the teams swapping places on the tables.
“We can look back and pinpoint moments here and there but there is a lot for our players to be proud of from this season,” coach Zac Wallwork said.
“We started from nothing in trying to get a squad together and we showed that we were more than competitive. A foundation has been laid.
“We enjoyed finishing the season at home in front of family, friends and our supporters. It was a good way to end.”
The players will head their different ways including a bunch of Devils moving to affiliate club Broncos for their NRLW season.
The Devils led 20-4 at halftime yesterday and extended the lead to 26-4 with Ferguson’s eyes-up play.
Tweed scored eight minutes later before the Devils wrapped up their first season with Maddick’s try.
NORTHS 30 (Shenae Ciesiolka 2, Hayley Maddick 2, Caitlyn Costello, Jada Ferguson tries, Ali Brigginshaw 3 goals) d TWEED SEAGULLS 10 (Chantelle Holloway-Samuels, Jetaya Faifua tries, Zara Canfield goal) at Bishop Park.
Photo by Alan Drinnen
