Emma James said, “We have a few new girls in the side and we have all gelled well, after each game week we look at what we need to work on for the coming game.”
The Hawkettes continue to be the benchmark in the George Tooke Shield competition but the Hawkettes just continue to focus on their own game. Emma James has been playing for the Hawkettes for the last 6 Years. First in Touch Football and then in League Tag when it transitioned. She has been kicking goals and helping direct the team around the paddock again in 2019 as the Hawks maintain a great defensive record and attacking prowess.
Emma strikes one from the sideline at McLean Oval at Harden.
Emma doesn’t practice her kicking at training but does head up to McLean Oval on the odd occasion to practice the dark art.
Originally coming from a soccer background Emma thinks it has helped with her kicking. “I don’t really focus on kicking just more on attacking, I don’t think about it too much, you can’t let the kicking worry you or it takes away from your game.”
At 21 Emma is woking with the Nrl as a Game Development Officer where she teaches the next generation how to play all types of footy. She said, “ It’s pretty good, you can see how big the ladies side of the game is becoming as big as the men’s game.”
Emma normally represents Monaro but didn’t participate this year as it was held on the same day as her competition match for the Hawks.
Leading into the finals it will take a huge effort to knock the Hawkettes off. “We got off to a slow start but we haven’t played a game with a full squad, we are getting back to full strength now.” Obviously we will ramp up the training now and continue to work on our defence. I think we are looking pretty good.”
After the weekend’s win over arch rivals Bungendore, Emma has amassed 68 goals, 42 more than the competition’s next kicker. She has 172 points which puts her in front of team mate Georgia Smith who has 104 points from 26 tries.
Hawkettes played Bungendore in a very tight first half to lead 10 to 0 at the break with 2 tries to Clare smith from a couple of well placed Emma James kicks. The second half would see the Hawkettes pick their attack up and Maddie Douglas was a constant threat, breaking the the line while Georgia Smith was in everything, scoring a great try. Clare scored another try to bring up a hat trick and Maddie Douglas scored a very good try from a backline play to see the score finish at 28 to 0. It was another great defensive effort in 11 games this year they have conceded only one try.
