The Caboolture Snakes women’s rugby union team wrapped up their 2025 campaign with a memorable — if agonising — showing in the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final, narrowly losing to the Noosa Dolphins in extra time, 17–14, on Sunday, 31 August at the Noosa Rugby Union Club.
From the first whistle, the match was a test of will. The teams remained deadlocked at 0–0 at half-time, a testament to their defensive intensity and competitive parity.
The breakthrough came 18 minutes into the second half, when Noosa exploited a scrum penalty. Georgie Daniels took a quick tap and, after several hard-fought phases, powered over from close range to give the Dolphins a 7–0 lead.
Caboolture wasn’t deterred. With just four minutes remaining in regular time, they earned a scrum penalty of their own. Taking another quick tap, they busted through the line and crossed over to tie the match at 7–7, forcing 70 minutes of grueling rugby into seven-minute extra-time halves, with no golden point.
Extra time proved to be a roller-coaster. Noosa scored first when Shelbie Beardmore capped off an attacking raid, pushing the score to 12–7. The Snakes, showing no signs of fatigue, hit back soon after with a converted try, swinging the lead to 14–12 and momentarily silencing the home crowd.
However, the drama wasn’t over. With time nearly expired, Noosa worked hard for field position. After a quick tap followed by strong phase work, Lydian Alo-Emile seized the final opportunity, diving over in the dying seconds to seal a 17–14 victory for the Dolphins.
This final was nothing short of extraordinary — a gripping display of grit, endurance, and skill. This result signals one of the most notable seasons for the Snakes in recent years, reinforcing their emergence as a genuine force in regional women’s rugby.
As the club turns to 2026, the lessons learned from this performance — along with the confidence gained in pushing a formidable opponent to the limit — will undoubtedly serve as fuel for the Snakes’ next chapter.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Trevor Gensch
Published 2-Sept-2025
CLICK ANY LOGO TO SEE PUBLICATION
