Ahrens Pinkies up against Lady Birds

The Ahrens Pink Panthers travelled to Coonabarabran last Saturday, May 6, to take on the reigning premiers, the Baradine Lady Birds in round one of the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League and almost posted their first win of the season. Baradine opened the scoring when they touched down out wide.

They were on the attack again soon after, until Rani Diggs latched onto a chip and chase from the Lady Magpies and raced 60 metres downfield to touch down for the Pinkies to level it up at 4-4. Baradine skipped ahead again when they scored to take an 8-4 lead into the half-time break. Early in the second half Camella Hazelton touched down for the Pinkies.

Their fearless leader, Nicola Murphy made no mistake with the conversion to put the Pinkies in front for the first time in the match. With 15 minutes remaining, Trista Raines spotted a gap in the Maggie’s defense and darted over from close range to score near the posts. Murphy once again slotted the conversion to make it 16-8 to the Pinkies.

The team from Baradine are never to be written off however, and they came storming home in the last 10 minutes of the game to steal the Pinkies lead away and register a 20-16 win as the hooter sounded. It was a much improved effort from the Pinkies and they get their chance again this weekend to break their duck when they are at home to the Terrier girls from Gulgong.

The Ahrens Panthers finally get their chance to play their first game of the season when they host the Gulgong Terriers at McGrane Oval on Saturday. The boys have had a long pre-season and are looking to get their season underway after having a bye in round one. Coaches Luke Ritchie and Curtis Carr will have a hard time trying to select their squad of 19 for their opening game with many new and old faces to choose from.

Once again, there won’t be any easy games in the competition this year and the boy’s face up against a big and mobile Gulgong side who would be feeling confident after their big first round win over Narromine.