The Cowra Eagles women’s team closed out their season with a hard-fought draw against Orange Emus, capping off a year defined by growth, grit, and a strong sense of team spirit.
In a match where both sides were evenly matched, Cowra showed just how far they’ve come, grinding out a result in a physical, emotional contest despite playing the final minutes a player down.
Coach and captain Jamie Amos described the match as a fair result.
“I thought they put in a hearty effort,” she said.
“We’ve been pretty evenly matched with Orange Emus in all of our meetings this year.”
Latest Stories
“It ended the way it should have, just a good, hard-fought battle from both sides,” Amos said.
Cowra’s performance was especially commendable considering the late-game setback of losing a player to a send-off.
But instead of folding, the remaining players lifted, holding on for the draw.
“We lost one of our players in the last 10 minutes, and the rest of us had to lift.” Amos said.
“Everyone dug in and gave their best.”
The draw not only reflected the team’s competitive edge but also highlighted the noticeable improvement made over the course of the season.
“This year has been a massive improvement,” Amos said.
“Just being competitive against a team like Orange Emus shows how far we’ve come.”
“At the start of the season, we focused on covering the basics, and I think we’ve definitely achieved that,” she said.
Looking ahead, the team’s goals are clear, to build consistency in numbers and continue climbing the ladder in competitiveness.
“Next season, it’ll just be about building.” Amos said.
“We want consistent numbers every week and to become more competitive each and every year,” she said.
The team, made up of women from various age groups, including a remarkable 55-year-old player, shows dedication.
“We have a 55-year-old playing on our team, a couple of 40-year-olds too.” Amos said.
“It’s a pretty solid effort.”
“Even when we didn’t have numbers, she was still on the field,maybe not the whole game, but always ready,” she said.
Amos praised the camaraderie within the group, noting that even during tough losses, the team stuck together.
“Even when we get beaten, sometimes quite convincingly, there’s no animosity,” she said.
“We go back into the change rooms, turn the music on, and everyone’s proud of each other.”
“We all just play for each other, we’ve got a really great group of girls.”
Taking on the dual role of coach and captain brought its own challenges, but also plenty of personal growth.
“When you first take on a position like that, it’s a lot of pressure,” Amos said.
“Waking up in the middle of the night wondering what you could have done better.”
“But as the season went on, I got better at playing that role.”
“I’ve learned to take control of the position,” she said.
As the season ends, Amos said her team should be proud of everything they’ve accomplished.
“Honestly, they should all be proud of how much we’ve improved this year,” she said.
“There’s still more to do, but we’ve come a long way.”
