Matches have been extended to 15-minute halves in the open women’s after players and their coaches wanted more field time to get to grips with the emerging code. 

“We’ve got 16 players, and the extension has given them so much more time,” Bega coach Cael Kelly said. 

Many are coming from a league-tag background and having to adapt to full contact, but plenty are also from a union background, or never played a contact sport at all. 

Narooma could be the club to beat after a narrow win over Bega shot them to a flawless record on two wins, but Bega and Tathra are both nipping at their heels with one apiece.

Kelly believes the competition will only grow in future with players travelling from all over just to play. 

“All the girls are keen and you can’t wipe the smile off their faces: and I reckon they’re easier to coach than us blokes too because they’re so willing to learn,” he said. 

“It’s all about getting more girls involved and having fun.”

Kelly said his team were leading for most of the game, but Narooma were too strong in the dying stages – winning 18-8 with some late tries. 

“Trudi [Badullovich] was a standout, she was in everything, and Alex Spivey was really good, she copped a head-knock early but soldiered on. 

He said there were girls from Eden and Cooma travelling to clubs like Bega and Candelo-Bemboka just to get a game. 

“That’s how keen they are, they’re travelling that far to play and they’ve been unreal.”

Meanwhile in the other game, Moruya’s Natasha Brunhuber added impact for Tathra out of the front row in the Phoenix’s 22-4 win over CBU. 

Elouise Russell said it was exciting to have a full roster and put a win on the cards. 

“It clicked a lot better for us having a full side and were working well as a team looking for those gaps,” Russell said. 

Twins Gabi and Rochelle Tarlinton scored three tries between them, while Sam Crowley landed two herself and Alliera Bower-Scott provided a conversion.

Unfortunately play was cut short when Kirsty Whitby suffered a broken ankle in the second half, but Tathra had the result wrapped up 22-4. 

“We are all feeling for her, it wasn’t a nice end to the game for them,” she said. 

A spokeswoman for the Candelo-Bemboka women said she was impressed by the forward pack. 

“Nikki Perry, Kylie McDonald and Ellie Murdoch all played really well,” she said.

Jackie Scott also set up Caitlin Johnson for the club’s sole try. 

In the under 14s games, the host team were able to card a 20-0 win over Bombala, while Bega defeated Merimbula-Pambula 20-4 and Narooma’s second side downed Cooma 16-0. 

Cooma carded a 16-4 win over Bombala in the under 17s, while the second game had Narooma winning a narrow 10-8 draw over Bega. 

Group 16 chairman Allan Wilton said there were strong crowds in attendance and the quality of play had improved exceptionally in such a short time. 

“They’re adjusting so well,” Cael Kelly said. “All these teams are showing the camaraderie in the last month you would expect it to take months to see”. 

“Their first training session was only about a month ago and it is leaps and bounds to where they are now.”

The third round will go ahead in Bega this Saturday with finals to be held November 24.