If the seniors had a tough day at the office, the Reserves had the equivalent of missing the train, forgetting your lunch, dropping your coffee and your computer crashing before you saved your EOFY report at 4.58pm. Chuck Norris himself was not as tough as this game.

Due to low numbers, we were without a bench, and it was hard to find the right balance to curb the enthusiasm of this very skilled team. Spirits were high as the team celebrated our favourite sassy fullback Jane-o, who has been at the gates ready to celebrate her 50th game for almost two seasons. Forever getting pipped at the post by pandemics, injury and motivation, she was granted her long-term wish of playing up in attack as the full forward for her 50th. Sadly, with such fierce competition, Jane-o wasn’t given many opportunities to live out her dream of showing us all how good fullbacks are at being full forwards. We never doubted it, Jane-o, can’t wait for your 100th game when you get your next chance to leave the backline!

If backliners make good forwards, we could only hope forwards make good backliners with Tbag filling in for Jane-o in fullback for something new and different in the first half. With a player down in the defence, it was a humbling experience for the backline as goals were getting peppered through with no consideration for how spicey it was getting.

The game was getting away from the team by the second half, so players focused on the little wins. Darcy received raucous applause from the sideline after she saw an opportunity coming out of fullback and took a bounce before launching the ball into our forward half. Rayhna proudly declared her first tackle, and we saw Han take on the challenge set at halftime to take a bounce whilst in attack. And what a bounce! Pocket rocketing through a midfield scrummage, they managed to get a lead and gain a good 30m before sending the footy into the fifty. Not to be shown up, Jo Q also showed us what she’s made of getting an incredible clearance from the centre bounce. The burst speed from these two is awe-inspiring.

Players were clearly putting their bodies on the line to try and keep Mentone at bay. We lost our star ruck, Eliza, to an epic face smother in the 3rd quarter. This left Lydia to step up to the plate and try her hand at rucking, and she did an incredible job. The third quarter also saw us lose one of our fiercest defenders, Elsie, to an ankle injury. The situation looked grim, with 15 on the field and players trying desperately to meet the gaps. Thanks to the evening-up rule, we gained a few players from St Bedes at the three-quarter break.

Despite their best efforts, the Renegades weren’t able to get on the scoreboard but, as always, kept their spirits high and focused on the positives.