Lachlan juniors take lead in Spring women's comp

Lachlan are showing they're serious contenders as the western women's rugby league season progresses, with our junior sides in particular enjoying success on the footy field in the Spring competition. Lachlan hosted Woodbridge at the Red Bend Catholic College fields on Sunday, with three of four sides celebrating wins and our Opens in a close contest. Five rounds have been played and our Under 12s lead the competition with four wins and a draw to their credit. They ran out 22-4 winners over Woodbridge on Sunday with tries to Indy Maynard (2), Pearl Karaitiana, Lucy Fairley and Zoe Field. Lachlan 14s are sitting in second on the ladder five rounds in to the competition, just one point behind Goannas and two points ahead of Vipers. On Sunday, they had a solid 36 to 26 win over Woodbridge, with tries to Piper White, Rachel Grimmond, Ruby Coote, Sarah Price, Isabelle Nicholson, Ella Goodsell, and Harpa Martin. Lachlan's Under 16s dominated 46 to 6 with three tries to Grace MacGregor and two to Malia Morrison in the point-scoring blitz. Charli Coe-Mitchell, Joselyne Folau and Amber Griffin added a try-apiece, with Ruby Jones converting five of those. For Woodbridge, Adison Newcombe crossed the line and Halle Haines was successful with the kick. After Round 5 Lachlan are in third place on the ladder, behind Mudgee Dragons and Vipers. The Opens game was a solid hit-out, the sides battling it out across 60 minutes in hot conditions on a ground muddy after Friday night storms. The hosts opened the scoring with a try to Teagan Smede, who then added the extras to give her side a 6-0 start. But Woodbridge's Taliah Williams broke away to score under the posts, the conversion by Charlotte Burling successful to level the scores. The visitors bagged a second before the break, Olivia Parrish the try-scorer and the kick again successful. A try-apiece, to Lachlan's Hannah DeMamiel and Woodbridge's Emilie Browne, saw the second half an even affair but Woodbridge winners 18-10 at full time. Lachlan Opens captain and club captain Jessica Ashcroft said it was a good match, despite a few mistakes. More of the Lachlan 18s aged players have stepped up to Opens this year, with a lack of numbers for a stand-alone 18s team. Even with the influx of new players, the second season is proving a confidence booster. "I feel like we've grown as a team," Ashcroft said. "Everyone's got more confident and is eager to go out there and have a run." Jess also manages the Under 12s side, and said there's a lot of talent and development in that squad and right through the juniors. This Sunday there's one more chance to see the Lachlan women's teams at home at Red Bend, they're hosting Goannas with kick off in the Under 12s at 9.30am. The following week they're off to Coonamble to take on the Cougars.