Tara McGrath-West’s St George Illawarra Dragons are out of the NRLW competition after going down 30-6 against the Newcastle Knights.
The Dragons started slow conceding two quick tries, one in the fifth minute to Fullback Tamika Upton who split the middle of the Dragon’s defence and went in untouched.
They then conceded one just four minutes later in the ninth minute when forward Millie Boyle threw defenders away from her with ease and crossed over.
Goal-kicker Kirra Dibb would convert both and it quickly became 12-0 to the Knights.
The Dragons answered back with a try of their own when winger Teagan Berry read Knight’s star Tamika Upton’s pass and intercepted it and ran it back untouched.
Five-Eight Kirra Dibb dashed out of dummy-half in the 33rd minute and gave the Knights a 18-6 lead heading into the half.
A second-half shutout from the Knights, along with them scoring two tries would see them coast home to victory in a 30-6 blowout win.
Tara played 23 minutes and was once again dominant in the middle for the Dragons totalling 106 meters, 14 tackles, and 53 post-contact metres.
In her maiden season in the top women’s rugby league competition, Tara was outstanding averaging 114 metres, 19 tackles and 43 post-contact metres each match.
Tara also made the NRLW team of the week for her outstanding performance versus the Brisbane Broncos where she racked up 230 metres, 14 tackles, 73 post contact metres and an offload.
In five games the Dragons won three games versus the likes of Brisbane, Gold Coast and eventual NRLW Grand Finalist the Parramatta Eels.
Though their season is now over the Dragons ladies can be happy with how well they’ve done and can work hard and look forward to next season where Tara and the ladies will be hoping to bring home some premiership gold.
Tully Potts
