Jubilant coach Brooke Saunders has started planning for next season and is confident the Hunter Wildfires can match the heavyweights in Australian women's rugby after the Quirindi native's relatively young squad took out Division 2 of the Jack Scott Cup.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wildfires side featuring Moree's Ash Walker capped a breakthrough season with a hard-fought 29-24 win over Campbelltown at Forshaw Park on Saturday.
"I hope we get invited back in," Saunders said.
"I think it's great for women's rugby in the Hunter. It will grow the game and inspire more players to play."
"There is a really good vibe among the group. We have a really good awareness of what we need to improve on and where we can get better.
"Playing at this level and playing against Wallaroos, the young girls, especially, get to see first-hand, up-close what they do and how they do it."
Thrown together three weeks before the start of a COVID interrupted nine-team competition, the Wildfires finished within a win of the top five.
They then beat Sydney University 2 in the major semi-final before accounting for Campbelltown in the decider. In the division one final, Rhiannon Byers' Randwick went down 22-17 to Sydney University.
Meanwhile, Alex Newsome's Shute Shield hopes remain alive, despite his Eastern Suburbs side going down to Eastwood 29-20 in their preliminary final.
They progressed through as the highest-placed losing side and will take on minor premiers Gordon in this weekend's elimination final.
The Glen Innes native was one of the Beaties' three tryscorers. Whatever happens from here there will be a new champion crowned after Narrabri product Will McDonnell's Sydney Uni side were beaten 24-22 by Northern Suburbs.