LOOKING to atone for last year’s grand final defeat, Orange CYMS league tag gun Olivia Patterson says Sunday’s grand final rematch with premiers Bathurst Panthers will be her side’s toughest assignment of the 2014 season thus far.
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With one eye on Sunday's’s clash at Wade Park, the green and golds have coasted to three wins from their opening three games this season.
Set to back up from her first representative cap with Group 10 today in Dubbo, Patterson believes a few new faces will be the difference as CYMS look to turn the tables on last year’s 20-0 grand final day loss to Panthers.
“We’ve kept the majority of our team, we’ve picked up a few quick players, that always helps. Speed in this game helps,” Patterson said.
“We had a few girls last year that I don’t think were ready for it.
“Panthers were the better team on the day. You’ve got to give credit where it’s due, they played out of their skins.
“We got a bit flustered ... it happens.”
Sunday’s game coincides with the NRL’s launch of the women in league round, which is set to be contested from May 16.
Celebrating the impact the fairer sex has on the game, women’s rugby league has enjoyed a remarkable 66 per cent increase in player registration over the course of the last 12 months.
Patterson says she took up league tag because “it’s something different”.
“I used to play Oztag when I was little, but this is different,” the 21-year-old said.
“It’s a little bit slower ... you’ve got to create more holes for each other; you’re tags float and people can snatch them.
“You’ve always got to have someone supporting you.”
Patterson said she’s excited to be playing against a composite Woodbridge Cup-Group 11 outfit in Saturday’s Western Division trials at Apex Oval.
After missing last year’s 30-0 win, she was hoping to help Group 10 bring up another victory in 2014.
“It’s a different team this year,” Patterson said.
“But (Woodbridge Cup) is also missing a few girls, it’ll be interesting.”
ORANGE CYMS: 1 Holly Gibson, 2 Sam Laing, 3 Olivia Patterson, 4 Kate Foran, 5 Brigette Jasprizza, 6 Tori Moore, 7 Nikki D’Aquino, 8 Courtney Lamb, 9 Mandy Moore, 10 Tracee Honeyman, 11 Ellie McDonald, 12 Ellie Madden, 13 Sophie Beer, 14 Naomi Stanley, 15 Heidi Regan, 16 Ema Regan, 17 Rhiannon Lamb, 18 Sam O’Neill-Baker, 19 Taylah Hall, 20 Cailin O’Connor.
