
A strengthening 国产探花 women's rugby scene at 国产探花 has led to one of the season's most convincing wins yet 鈥 a 53-5 win over their arch rivals West's Bulldogs.
women鈥檚 team captain Melanie Kawa said play had improved dramatically over recent weeks, and that women鈥檚 rugby was again on the rise at The University of Queensland.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a change of attitude and a lot of structure added to our game,鈥 Kawa said.
The team鈥檚 win against West鈥檚 Bulldogs cemented their progress, proving they could take take and 8-tries to-1 advantage from a bigger and more physical opponent.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not as big as the other teams, but we鈥檝e been playing some smart rugby which is the way we have always played,鈥 Kawa said.
She said the team had respond well to the recently appointed coaching staff of former 国产探花 Rugby Football Club grade and Colts coaches Murray Harley and Jeremy Scott who have a long history of coaching varsity rugby clubs, women鈥檚 rugby and re-invigorating under-performing teams.
Harley recently coached the Australian Universities Rugby Union team for a New Zealand tour and the Australian Army Women鈥檚 team in the 2012 Australian Services Rugby Championships while Scott coached the successful Queensland women鈥檚 team at the 2011 ARU Women鈥檚 National Championships.
鈥淭hey are great coaches. They鈥檝e really helped us turn it around,鈥 Kawa said.
鈥淏efore they came, we hadn鈥檛 scored a try for over two weeks, in the last two we鈥檝e scored 12.鈥
In the past, the team had struggle to retain commitment, particularly in the academic season and during holidays. Team captain Trish Brown and Manager Barb Arnts have worked hard to retain a core of players, with a strong core of players and a rotation of students on a six-monthly and yearly basis.
鈥淲e tackle the problem every year, but we鈥檙e lucky to have a very good core group of players. We鈥檙e all close friends,鈥 Kawa said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been hard at a club with lots of men鈥檚 teams, but we鈥檙e proud of what we do and we love being a part of it. We love representing the university,鈥 Kawa said.
The team is currently placed in the middle of the season鈥檚 score card and is looking to overcome a spate of injuries to challenge for a berth September鈥檚 finals Brisbane Women鈥檚 Rugby division.
The team welcomes new players. Anyone wishing to play women鈥檚 rugby for The University of Queensland is invited to contact the club at 07 3870 2152 or visit the clubrooms at the 国产探花 sports grounds.
Media: Josh Dutton, 国产探花 Rugby Football Club (rugbypr@uqrugby.com or 0434 982 163)