The Cootamundra Bullettes are just one win away from securing a Group Nine grand final berth but they’ll need to pull out all the stops against defending premiers Brothers in Sunday’s preliminary final.
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The Bullettes did their best impression of ‘The Great Escape’ in their minor semi final against Temora, eeking out a 10-8 win over the Dragons at Anzac Park.
Matilda Bucknell and Georgina Heggaton crossed the whitewash in the hard-fought affair and Bullettes co-coach Kristen Byrne will be looking for a similarly gritty performance against the Brethren this weekend.
“It’s very, very exciting at the moment and the girls have been training well,” Byrne said.
“We were a bit nervous heading into last weekend but the nerves are gone now and we’re only one game off from the big one.”
The Bullettes have found four-pointers hard to come by against the reigning champions this season.
Abbey Platt and co-coach Renae Glanville found the chalk during their first encounter – a 16-10 loss at Les Boyd Oval back in May – but Brothers’ highly touted defence kept the Bullettes scoreless in their most recent outing.
Still, both games have been close and there’s plenty of confidence in the Cootamundra camp.
“It’s not like they’ve flogged us or anything this year and I don’t think there’s any pressure on us,” Byrne said.
“Brothers have been in pretty much all the grand finals and the expectation is on them.”
Glanville is one of four Weissel Medal nominees this season but is setting aside personal aspirations ahead of their must-win clash with a Brothers side chasing redemption
The Brethren were expected to cruise through to the decider and raced out to a commanding 10-point lead during their qualifying final before being run down by a red-hot Albury outfit.
Six-time champions Brothers have only missed a place twice on Group Nine grand final day and will prove tough opposition for the Bullettes, particularly with the late addition of dual-code flyer Ellen McIntyre.
McIntyre scored a try in CSU Reddies’ Southern Inland Rugby grand final win in the women’s sevens last weekend and will give the Brethren an extra attacking option in the backs.
Cootamundra could nevertheless be in a strong position to launch an upset from after Morris raised doubts over the fitness of star player and Leo McCarthy Medal winner Jess Absolum.
Cootamundra and Brothers will lock horns for a grand final berth at Wagga’s Equex Centre on Sunday.
Kick off is scheduled for 10.45am.
