Norths began the new chapter of the BMD Premiership with a promising 24-14 win over Sunshine Coast Falcons at Bishop Park yesterday.
This is the Devils’ third season in the statewide women’s competition but much has changed since the club reached last year’s grand final, played more than 12 months ago.
The competition has been moved to run concurrently with the NRLW, removing some of Queensland’s most experienced players but providing exposure for a new wave of talent.
The Devils showcased that yesterday as new coach Tasha Davie, named a Kiwi Legend of League recently for her remarkable playing career, teamed with new captain Grace Griffin.
This Devils squad featured four of last year’s grand final team – Sita Payne, Jamie Lee-Lewis, Portia Bourke and Erana Rati – in personnel changes that will be similar for all 12 teams.
But the early signs for the new-look Devils squad were solid.
The Falcons posted a try within the first two minutes before Davie’s team settled into a rhythm that delivered four unanswered tries.
Two of those came to one of the new Devils – right centre Paris Pickering took advantage of a lopsided Falcons’ defensive line in the eighth minute before a solo try 10 minutes later left three defenders struggling.
In between those tries, the Devils scored again on the right side when winger Courtney Tyrell finished a movement that sent the ball through five sets of hands.
Tyrell was among three players chosen from the Devils’ Under 19 ranks for yesterday’s match. Fanua Rimoni and Riana Le’afa Paki started in the front row and helped the home team gain momentum.
The halftime score was 14-4 but the Devils pushed clear in the opening minutes of the second half when fullback Ashleigh Kelvin scored twice in three minutes.
Her second try came from an impressive offload off edge forward Rowena Koonwaiyou, handing off to Kelvin for a swerving 30-metre sprint to the line.
“There were some pleasing moments in the game and it’s always good to start the season with a win,” Davie said.
“Like all teams we’ve still got a long way to go and we’ll look forward to building our combinations.
“There are certainly elements that we can improve on we had a couple of those in the second half.”
While the Devils cleared out to lead 24-4 after 42 minutes, the Falcons scored the last two tries of the game as they made the most of their visits to Norths’ red zone.
The Devils hit the road next weekend, meeting the Capras in Rockhampton on Saturday afternoon.
The BMD Premiership has expanded this year to 12 teams with Northern Pride and Ipswich Jets joining the competition.
NORTHS DEVILS 24 (Paris Pickering 2, Ashleigh Kelvin 2, Courtney Tyrell tries, Tawny Burgess 2 goals) bt SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 14 (Larissa Crummer, Annette Brander, Malia Ting tries, Rebecca Prestwidge goal) at Bishop Park.
Photo by Alan Drinnen
