With their season on the line at Davies Park, the Magpies delivered when it mattered, overcoming the Ipswich Jets 30-16 in a hard-fought Elimination Final to keep our finals campaign alive.
Kiarah Siauane got the Magpies off to the perfect start, crossing inside the opening two minutes to make it 4-0. The Jets responded through Rowena Koonwaiyou in the 14th minute to level the scores, but from there the Magpies began to take control. Lilianah Lewis crossed in the 19th minute before Sienna Ibrahim added another just four minutes later to push the lead out to 12-4. Lewis then grabbed her second in the 30th minute, with Skyla Adams converting to extend the lead to 18-4. A Jets penalty goal right on the stroke of halftime reduced the deficit to 18-6 at the break.
Ipswich came out of the blocks fast after the restart, with Claudia Finau finding the line and the conversion bringing the Jets back within six at 18-12. With the pressure building in a do or die situation, April Ngatupuna took matters into her own hands, powering over in the 50th minute before the conversion restored a 12-point buffer at 24-12. The Jets weren't finished, with Tarleah Fisher-Pearson crossing in the 64th minute to cut the margin to eight.
Despite the late push, the Magpies' defence stood tall. With six minutes remaining, they refused to let the Jets creep back into the contest, holding firm under pressure and shutting down any chance of a late comeback. Skyla Adams then put the finishing touch on the performance in the final minute, crossing for the Magpies' fifth try before the conversion sealed a 30-16 victory.
Five tries, a Lilianah Lewis double and a composed response every time the Jets threatened to work their way back into the contest. In an Elimination Final where there was no room for error, the Magpies stood tall and earned themselves a spot in the Preliminary Final.
The season stays alive. Our BMD side now turns its focus to the Norths Devils at Premiers' Park this Saturday, with a 12:05pm kick-off and a place in the Grand Final on the line.