Sport
15 May, 2026
Flamin’ Galahs keep cool in Ewes pressure cooker
In tricky on-field conditions, the Gulargambone Flamin' Galahs held out Bourke 19-5 at Gil.
By The Pink Parrot
Again, a picture-perfect autumn day greeted the Flamin’ Galahs as they locked horns with the Bourke Ewes ladies on Saturday afternoon at McGrane Oval in the Ahrens Western Plains Rugby Union Ladies Tri Tag competition.
While the weather conditions were ideal, unfortunately, the same could not be said for the playing surface.
Excessive watering of the centre cricket pitch left the area dangerously slippery and severely hampered footing for both teams.
The wet conditions disrupted the flow of the game, with players forced to focus on maintaining their footing at all times.
To make matters worse, boggy patches around the sprinkler areas at the south-western end of the ground also created hazards for players.
Authorities had previously been advised of these concerns, but unfortunately, the issues remained unresolved. Western Plains referees officiating the match also commented on the dangers posed by the excessively wet conditions.
Despite the difficult surface, both teams soldiered on bravely.
The game was only seven minutes old when a clever inside ball from the ruck by Flamin’ Galahs fly-half Caitlynn Mills sent captain and fullback Paige Wilson over for the first of her two tries for the afternoon, giving the home side an early 5-nil lead.
That early score awakened the Ewes outfit, who responded with enterprising attack and determined defence that quickly reminded the Flamin’ Galahs they were in for a genuine contest.
At times, the Galahs became a little quiet and lacklustre, but the introduction of robust replacement Peta Bradley injected much-needed energy and motivation into the side.
The Flamin’ Galahs forwards bustled all day, running straight and hard, with Alanna Clark leading the charge all day and fellow forward Chels Broom close behind. Caitlynn Mills controlled the backline well, using block plays and angled runs that continually frustrated the opposition defence.
In the 17th minute, Ewes struck back with a well-executed blindside move that created an overlap, and they capitalised with a deserved try to level the scores at 5-all.
The game ebbed and flowed for the remainder of the first half, but on the final play before the break, fly-half Heidi Ferguson produced a kick over the top of the defensive line.
The ball bounced kindly into the hands of winger Ashleigh Carlow, who ran the perfect line to score her first try of the season. Paige Wilson successfully converted, sending the Flamin’ Galahs into halftime with a 12-5 lead.
The second half developed into a real tussle and carried the intensity of a semi-final. The Flamin’ Galahs continued to back themselves, spreading the ball wide and deep, but they were met by a determined and enthusiastic Ewes side.
This pressure forced some uncharacteristic mistakes that repeatedly handed good field position to the opposition.
To their credit, the Flamin’ Galahs remained composed, defending and tagging strongly throughout the second half. They produced several good breaks, effective clearing kicks, and smart last-play kicking options, although at times they were let down by a lack of support and chase on those plays.
The decisive moment came in the final minute of the match when a clever offload from scrum-half Sarah Chandler created a three-on-one overlap.
From 80 metres out, Paige Wilson burst through a gap and used her blistering pace to leave two defenders behind before scoring beneath the posts.
Wilson converted her own try as the full-time whistle sounded, with the Flamin’ Galahs running out deserved 19-5 winners.
It was a tough and gritty victory, and probably exactly the type of match the Flamin’ Galahs needed ahead of their grand final rematch in two weeks against arch rivals and premiers Coonamble at their Ladies Day in Coonamble.
The Flamin’ Galahs and Coonamble remain the only undefeated teams in the women’s competition, setting the stage for what promises to be a blockbuster clash.
The Flamin’ Galahs will take valuable lessons from this match, but nothing should detract from the tremendous effort and improvement shown by the Ewes ladies.
Points for the day were awarded as follows: three points and Players’ Player: Alanna Clark; two points: Peta Bradley; and one point each: Ashleigh Carlow and Chels Broom.
