You can tell how much it means for the Dubbo CYMS players to line up alongside each other every week when captain Rikka Lamb-Lane explains how hard it was missing matches during the year.
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Lamb-Lane has enjoyed a stellar 2017, highlighted by selection in an Australian Oztag side which toured Ireland during an international tournament.
And while she enjoyed that incredible experience, she said part of her was wishing she didn’t have to miss four matches in Group 11.
Lamb-Lane will lead the side out in Sunday’s grand final against the Parkes Spacecats, a rematch of last year’s decider, and said the unity within her side will play a key role.
It is special. We class each other as sisters.
- Rikka Lamb-Lane on the closeness within CYMS
“It is special. We class each other as sisters,” she said.
“Outside of football we’re close and we stick together on days we’re not playing.
“That helps because we all really respect each other outside the game.”
CYMS lost last year’s grand final to Parkes after a Claire Barber field foal in extra time.
Lamb-Lane described that result as “shattering” but rather than dwell on it, the players used it to come closer together and the Gerry Chicka Merritt-coached outfit responded perfectly this season.
CYMS has only lost once this year and that defeat came on the very first day of the season.
“Last year was completely different,” Lamb-Lane said.
“Most of the girls were fairly new to league tag and then we lost the grand final, which was shattering, but we’ve worked hard since then, stuck together and have just been a real team.”
CYMS, without doubt the most structured and well-drilled side in the Group 11 league tag competition, will start as favourites in Sunday’s decider but the green and whites are wary of Parkes.
Not many expected the Spacecats to make the grand final when the regular season ended, even Lamb-Lane confessed she thought her side was more likely to meet the Forbes Magpies or crosstown rivals Westside in the decider.
But Parkes, a side which is driven by youthful enthusiasm, has won three consecutive sudden death matches to advance to the biggest match of the season.
“We can’t underestimate Parkes,” Lamb-Lane said.
“They’re a young and fit side so we know they’re going to play the full 50 minutes so we’ve got to come together.
“But we’ve done plenty of work on our fitness all year so we know we can play the full 50.”
One player CYMS is wary of is young half Tyannua Goolagong, who has thrived at Parkes since making the switch from the Condobolin Rams in the Woodbridge Cup while India Draper and Claire Barber are other dangers.
The much anticipated league tag rematch kicks off grand final day at 10am.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
