Saints premiership makes a point

The Inverell Saints begin their 2022 premiership celebrations. Photo: Brad Greenshields

A goal late in the last term by Kayla Sims has secured Inverell the Senior Women’s Premiership by the barest of margins.

Gunnedah, who were undefeated all season, led a magnificent contest that was high pressured but fair by just five points courtesy of a set shot converted by Khobi Devine half way through the final term.

That was before Sims marked a high inside-50 entry from Gabby Mooney 20 metres out on a slight angle.

Sims calmly went back and took her shot and kicked truly to give the Saints a one point lead with just two minutes left to play.

Inverell captain Jaimie Pay was full of praise for the match winner.

“Oh Simmo what can I say? She’s a young girl who’s been with us since day one running around with her little green armband on her arm,” Pay said.

“I had 100% faith in her even though the wind wasn’t going her way, I knew she could do it.

“I was still nervous though until it went over but a fantastic feeling that was.”

Playing out that last two minutes was a focus for the 2022 premiers before the match had even started according to Pay.

“We were a team that unfortunately only plays about 78 minutes of the game,”  she said.

“We knew we had one job to do today and that was to play the full 80 minutes. So we drilled it into us all through finals.

“We knew we had a job to do to and that was to play 80 minutes of footy and I believed in the girls that they could do that so I wasn’t overly worried over the last five minutes. I knew the girls could bring it over the line even though the girls were down with a few minutes to play but just that discipline, I knew the girls could hold on.”

It was an emotional victory for Inverell for a couple of reasons.

Firstly the tragic death of the father of club mates Piper and Nash Tome.

Piper performed solidly in the grand final and Pay said she was so proud of the entire club the way they’ve rallied around the Tome family over the past couple of weeks.

“It’s heartbreaking what’s happened to the family but we’re a big family, we’re not just a footy club. We stick with our family and that’s for Nash and Piper and Ange as well,” the captain said.

“I really think that shone through during the game. We probably could’ve trained a lot harder the last fortnight and we love footy but at the end of the day family is what counts.” 

Also coach Dallas Baldwin had recently become a first time father and Pay admits their coach was torn about where he should be on grand final day with his wife Clare at home with their new arrival.

“Clare has been with us since day one and she’s a beautiful little girl, little Harriet. She couldn’t be with us today as bubs is only about 10 days old,” she said.

“A huge shout out to them and little Harriet for sharing her Dad on such an important day and thanks to Dallas and Clare for giving us the opportunity throughout the year, not just today.”

INVERELL  2.1  2.1  4.3  5.5 (35)

GUNNEDAH 1.0 3.2 4.2 5.4 (34)

Goals – Inv: Carissa Baldwin 2, Gabby Mooney, Irene Hickman, Kayla Sims. Gunn: Gyarn Waugh 3, Khobi Devine, Rani Grit.

Best on Ground: Georgia Chappel (Inverell)