What a way to open the season. The Magpies Women hit the ground running in their first game of the 2026 BMD Premiership, putting on a dominant display against the Northern Pride to claim a stunning 40-20 victory.
The Pride drew first blood inside three minutes through Indianna Tillett, but the Magpies fired back immediately. Chante Bates crossed in the 7th minute, before Kiarah Siauane added another in the 15th and Alessana Betham crossed in the 19th to have the Magpies racing out to a 14-6 lead. The Pride hit back through Jairel-Ellen Martin-Savage in the 21st and Siauane crossed again in the 25th and 29th minutes, getting a hattrick in the bag before half time. Pride crossed the line again to send both sides to the sheds with the Magpies leading 22-16.
The second half was all Magpies. Siauane crossed again just after the restart, before Lilianah Lewis and Te Rina Pearse both crossed to push the margin out. Despite the Pride crossing late to make it 20-40, the Magpies were never threatened.
40-20. A statement opening round win. The Magpies BMD Premiership team mean business in 2026.