Resilient Blues beat Maroons in women’s State of Origin thriller
An Isabelle Kelly double has fired New South Wales to a 16-10 win over Queensland in the inaugural women's State of Origin at North Sydney Oval.
While Friday night was the first time the game was branded an Origin match, it was the Blues' third straight win over the Maroons.
The Blues were resilient after losing centre Corban McGregor (shoulder) and hooker Rebecca Riley (foot) in the first half.
The Maroons looked like they were starting to get on top when winger Karina Brown got the first of her two tries to make it 6-6 at the break.
But the Blues were the better side in the second half, crossing for two tries to one.
The Blues' left side was crucial in the victory, racking up all three of their four-pointers including Kelly's opener.
After Queensland looked to be getting on top, Nakia Davis-Welsh took advantage of a massive overlap to give the Blues a 10-6 advantage seven minutes after the resumption.
Queensland levelled things up when five-eighth Ali Brigginshaw, who had looked ominous all night, took it to the line and sent Brown over for her second.
But it was the Blues who found something extra in front of a healthy crowd of 6,824.
After Brigginshaw charged down the ball in her own end, the Blues regained possession and Kelly found space on the left edge for the match-winner.
AAP
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
