Queensland Country have claimed the win in a tightly-fought first women's XXXX City versus Country clash.
Country captain Imogen Healy, who hails from Mackay, said it was good to get the bragging rights over City in the first women's clash of its kind and help put the regions on the map.
Errors from City handed their opponents the best opportunities of the opening 10 minutes and Country managed to cross in the 8th minute, but the City defenders did enough to keep Jordii Mahendrarajah planting the ball down.
City started to grind their way back into the clash and found space down the left through Shanarlii Peckham, who was shut down by Country fullback Georgia Bartlett.
A couple of quick play-the-balls later the ball was swung out to the right as Alexandrea Kiriwi fended off Country's Toni Daisy and offloaded to her winger Tarnisha Lyons to score in the right-hand corner.
But City's play went back to the trend of the first 10 minutes after the try, continually making errors around halfway to invite Country back into the game.
Country finally broke through in the 22nd minute when captain Imogen Healy put an inside out grubber into the in-goal, the kick staying inside the dead ball line just long enough for Bartlett to touch down and lock up the scores at 4-4.
Country kept receiving opportunities from the City side but could not capitalise further before half-time.
They were made the pay for it when play resumed, as City immediately took their first opportunity and took an 8-4 lead through Gold Coaster Shanarlii Peckham.
City held the ascendancy for much of the half and looked set to ice the game 10 minutes from time until Melody Tass stole an intercept and raced downfield.
After shifting to the left, Kortney Deguara was left unmarked on the wing and dotted down to tie the scores. Malia Ting's conversion attempt fell just short of going over the black dot.
Country received a piggy-back penalty on the set after points, and following a brilliant charge from Genavie Tabuai off the tap, the ball was spread left and into the hands of Kortney Deguara, who offloaded to Gagie Mackie Namok to fall over the line.
City then kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as they looked to score with seconds to go, but it was disallowed, and Country crowned victors - a huge thrill for captain Imogen Healy.
"Awesome game... big shout out to QRL for bringing the concept back… obviously you get performances like that out of it so hopefully it sticks around for the foreseeable future,” Healy said.
"The City girls leave nothing in the tank... they're big and they're perfectionists, especially towards the line, and they can throw a ball around, so it's awesome to get the win.”
Healy said the standout performers for her were Country No.6 – and player of the match - Malia Ting and fullback Georgia Bartlett.
"Definitely Mals, our No.6 and Georgie, our fullback… she was everywhere… City had a couple of runs through our middle and she was there to clean up the scraps,” Healy said.
"We leave it all on the field but this win is awesome to give it back to our home towns... all the girls are from the regions, so we love to get the win over City.”
Healy said the support at Kayo Stadium was uplifting and helped get her side over the line.
"It was awesome... when we were in those blinding moments, we could hear the families getting around us and that energy they were delivering to us was a bit infectious so helped get us over the line,” Healy said.
“Go Country.”
City prop Crystal Tamarua said it was a tough game in hot conditions, especially after losing captain Patrice Chambers to a dislocated elbow midway through the second half, and centre Alexandrea Kiriwi to a knee injury in the first stanza.
"To be 8-8 and then 12-8, I think we tried to sneak a last one in but unfortunately it didn't go our way,” Tamarua said.
"The whole Country side were the standouts to be honest; they came out firing and we probably took them too easy.
"Good to see a good crowd here to support women in league.”
