Final-minute thriller: Indigenous women win All Stars

[Pelican Press 0]

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Final-minute thriller: Indigenous women win All Stars

The Indigenous team have claimed a second-straight – and dramatic – women’s All Stars win, scoring a last-minute penalty through Lailani Montgomery to defeat the Maori 20-18.

Montgomery was awarded a shot from right under the sticks after the playmaker’s legs were taken out while attempting a field goal just a minute earlier.

Maori five-eighth Ash Quinlan was the guilty party and replays showed she made glancing contact with Montgomery’s planted legs.

Bunker official Matt Noyen awarded a penalty for the Indigenous and Montgomery nudged the ball through the sticks to seal the win.

The loud Maori contingent which formed part of the 14,279 crowd at CommBank Stadium on Saturday made their feelings known as the Indigenous team celebrated.

Their victory was the first time a team had won back-to-back games in the women’s All Stars since its inception in 2019.

The Indigenous side’s victory was all the more impressiven given starting five-eighth Kirra Dibb failed to finish the match with an ankle injury.

There was also concern for Bobbi Law, who was the victim of a Tiana Raftstrand-Smith hip-drop tackle that led to the Maori back-rower spending time in the sin-bin in the second half.

Dibb had helped get the Indigenous side off to a red-hot start when a well-weighted kick to the right flank was touched down by Monique Donovan.

Jaime Chapman was next to breach the Maori line, the Gold Coast flyer chiming in from deep to push the Indigenous All Stars further ahead.

Chapman’s try was her fifth at this level, making her the leading Indigenous tryscorer in the history of the women’s All Stars clash.

The Titans speedster’s effort seemed to spark the Maori into life and in the space of 10 minutes, they sliced through the Indigenous line on three separate occasions.

Chante Temara got the Maori going with a barge-over out of ****** half before Laikha Clarke bashed her way over next to the posts.

Lilly-Ann White was next to find a gap in the Indigenous line when she cut back against the grain, with Raecene McGregor converting all three tries.

The Maoris’ defence was impressive but they eventually wilted when they were reduced to 12 and Ella Koster finished in the corner.

After missing her conversion, Montgomery kicked a penalty goal to make it 18-18.

McGregor shanked one field goal attempt in pursuit of a winner.

And Montgomery did likewise but she was given a second chance from the tee in the final minute to wrap up the win.

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