This is the first season of the new Open Women’s League competition and while about half the team has come from last year’s under 18s women’s side, the rest are either new to the game or have not played since they were relatively young. In their first game, also at home, the Stockmen won 28 to 10 on April 28 over Valley Dragons.

Coach John Thomas said his team, which has been training since mid-February, did not  participate in any pre-season competition, so Friday night’s game was only the second time the team had played together.

“We still have lots of work to do and it is a steep learning curve for our new players,” Thomas said. “I am really pleased with their performance and the way the new players have listened and taken the lead from the experienced team members.

“They have all put in a great effort and there were plenty of surprises on the paddock with speed and willingness to tackle hard.

“Tuggeranong is a tough side and they too will improve as the season progresses.”

Goulburn’s first try came about five minutes into the game and was converted by Jennaya Ottaway, who was using the game as a warm up to the Country versus City game in Sydney on Sunday, May 14.

Scoring was shared between several of the women including Grace Marshall, Maggie Downes, Lauren Kelly, who converted a try scored by Jennaya Ottaway. Kylie Mills crossed the line to bring the score to 34 to 6, out wide with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. 

Next Friday, May 19 the Stockmen Women play Yass Magpies at Walker Park at 7pm.

In Friday night’s curtain raiser to the open women, the under-16 boys Stockmen had a resounding 58 to 6 win against South Tuggeranong.

In the Raiders Cup on Saturday GWC Bulldogs Firsts defeated Gungahlin Bulls 32 to 24. Reserves Gungahlin defeated Goulburn 32 to 28 and in u18s, Goulburn 40 defeated Gungahlin 36.