After a bumpy middle portion of the season, the Yass Magpies Women’s Open Tackle team has managed to finish in third place following their defeat of West Belconnen 40-14 on Friday night.
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The Magpies began the season strongly, winning their first four matches without having a single point scored against them.
However, the team began to struggle soon after. Their first loss came against the Tuggeranong Buffaloes, and they lost the following week against Queanbeyan United.
The team was, however, still optimistic due to the nature of the first two losses, which were both close-fought and marred by injuries and unavailability.
Following a bye, the Magpies rematched Queanbeyan United the following week.
However this time the result was more decisive, with Yass being sunk 38-6, and their season was starting to look despondent.
The next few weeks saw Yass trading wins and losses, and they were able to maintain fourth place on the ladder, but looked perennially in danger of slipping into the bottom half.
But the two last rounds of the season proved to be the saving grace for the Magpies, as they hit their stride and dominated the Tuggeranong Buffaloes and West Belconnon.
This was enough to push Yass to third on the ladder, and into a minor semi final.
They will face a significant challenge this coming Friday night, as they go up against the Valley Dragons, who finished one spot below the Magpies in fourth.
Yass will be optimistic ahead of the encounter, as they soundly defeated the Dragons in the first encounter 30-0.
However, the Dragons leveled the scorecard the next time the two met, 18-12.
The Magpies will be eager to claim victory, both to vanquish the Dragons once and for all this season, and to move further toward a Grand Final berth.
The primary advantage that the Magpies will take into Friday’s encounter is momentum.
The Dragons have lost four of their last five matches, while the Magpies have dominated their last two opponents.
The Magpies’ semi-final against the Dragons will take place on Friday night at Kippax, starting from 6:30pm.