MOREE Boars ladies tackle team made themselves heard loud and clear at Boughton Oval on Saturday, with a cakewalk win over Dungowan Cowboys at a Group 4 history-making round one of rugby league.

Coached by Chris Swan, who returned to Moree after years away playing league at the top level, the Boars overpowered Dungowan 28-4 in a game that saw both teams winners.

Moree Boars Rugby League Club has been around for 107 years, and Saturday’s round of three games – including under-18s and reserve-grade – was the first time ladies have played tackle football.

The game was particularly significant for team vice-captain and half-back Tileah McGrady, a ladies league-tag specialist who was playing her 100th game for the Boars.

“Today was such a memorable game,” McGrady smiled.

“It’s always special to be part of a historic moment for the club. Being in the first tackle side for the Boars made it even more meaningful, and I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to run out alongside my daughter, Jaeari.

“The support from the girls was incredible. They really got around me and each other. We’ve got a lot of new faces in the team, and everyone played so well.

“Getting the win was just the cherry on top, but we know there’s still plenty to work on,” she said.

“The energy was great, and it’s exciting to see what we can build together as the season goes on.”

McGrady played her first game for the Boars in 2014, and in subsequent years has scored 36 tries and kicked three goals.

“They’re stats I’m really proud of, but it’s the memories, the friendships, and the journey that mean the most,” McGrady said.

“It’s been a great 11 years with this amazing club, and reaching 100 games as the first woman from the club to do so is such a special milestone for me.

“I’m proud to say I’ve been a one-club woman, and I don’t think many people can say that,” she smiled.

“I’ve won two premierships in league-tag, and now I’d love nothing more than to add one in tackle.”

The ladies tackle outfit really made a statement with their dominant win over the Cowboys.

Full-back Leila Murray will forever be remembered as Moree’s first try-scorer in a ladies tackle competition.

Trudy Sharpley, Maddie Martin, Taliah Ryan, Abbie Gray and team captain Daharna Wightman each scored tries with Sharpley backing up her try with two goals.

Coach Chris Swan was impressed with the debut effort.

“The girls have done really well for the first game of the season,” Swan said.

“We didn’t get to have any trials, but they came out and showed how good they can play as a team and there wasn’t many mistakes.

“They completed their sets, stuck to their structure and did what was asked of them.

“This was their first game together, and they’ll get better as the year goes on,” he said.

In other games, Moree Boars reserves surged late to beat the Cowboys 28-22 and Moree’s tyro under-18s were beaten 54-nil.

Club president, Todd Mitchell said he couldn’t be happier with the way round one of a long season ahead panned out.

“It’s been a good start and while the under-18s didn’t get the result – it was a pretty big margin – they’ve learned a lot out of the game,” Mitchell said.

“Dungowan is a side with a lot of Farrer kids. They’d be in Years 11 and 12 now and have probably been playing together for six or seven years. They’ve played schoolboy footie together and train probably three days a week together, and that shows.

“There was a bit of a gap, but the gap can be closed and our boys will improve,” he said.

“That was their first game together and the first junior side we’ve had run on in three years, so we can’t ask for much more. We’ll keep encouraging them to get better, and they will – there’s a fair bit of improvement in them.”

Mitchell said the reserve-grade’s 28-22 win was a good result.

“It’s always a hard game between Dungowan and Moree in reserves,” Mitchell said.

“They’ve got a bit of history in grand-finals and last year, Dungowan made the grand-final at Moree’s expense.”

Mitchell said Moree Boars ladies tackle will become a popular addition to the men’s competition, with a surge of interest in recent weeks.

“The women are going great,” Mitchell said.

“The numbers have been up and down through the pre-season, but a couple of weeks ago we got a big injection of players.

“There’s now nearly 30 players in the squad, so our problem will be trying to give them all a run,” he smiled.

Words and Images: Bill Poulos

For more on Moree’s Round 1 games on Saturday, go to  Moree Boars start season on firm footing as ladies create tackle history