GRAND final defeats always hurt, but they don't hurt as much when a former teammate suffers a serious neck injury that forces the abandonment of the fixture.
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Wauchope Thunder were beaten 22-19 by Wallamba in the lower Mid North Coast women's 10s decider at Taree on Saturday, but the result came second to player safety.
Grace Tijou had to be taken from the field in an ambulance after she suffered the injury that forced the game to be halted for nearly an hour.
The Bulls led by three points at the time with laws requiring the game to be "timed" for its scheduled four 10-minute quarters.
Under those guidelines, the score at the time of the injury stands as the official score if play does not restart.
While understandably disappointed, Thunder president Paddy Bowen said the result came second to player safety.
"You never want to see a player leave in an ambulance and Grace played for Wauchope last year as well," he said.
"A few of the girls were a bit upset on two parts - they were worried about their friend because it was a pretty serious injury and then to lose a grand final by default is never enjoyable."
Ironically, Tijou scored one of her team's tries before her unfortunate injury.
Bowen was proud of the team's achievements after they had a significant player turnover in the off-season following their premiership success in 2019.
"Considering they had a complete rebuild with coaching staff and players it just shows the kind of culture of the women's program," he said.
"They love playing footy and they're a really close-knit group of girls socially so that translates to the field.
"They were the most consistent team all year which is a good sign."
A few of the girls were a bit upset on two parts - they were worried about their friend because it was a pretty serious injury and then to lose a grand final by default is never enjoyable.
- Wauchope Thunder president Paddy Bowen
The nature of women's rugby in the country means the club is likely to again lose a large portion of their 2020 side, but they have secured coach Lauren Nott for the 2021 season.
"We're the only club in the zone with a female coach and she's staying on next year which is really good so she'll start playing again next year as well too," Bowen said.
"The nature of women's rugby is that you tend to lose a third, keep a third and the other third rotate through."
For Daniel Sawyer, the Wallamba team's coach, his team's success was a reward for perseverance.
He has coached the Bulls to the last three grand finals, and this was their first premiership triumph.
Later, at the presentation ceremony, Wallamba's brilliant little champion, Courtney Currie, deservedly received the Mid North Coast Zone player of the year award.
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