Sophie Stammers is renowned for scoring tries – her four-pointer in last year’s Group 10 league tag grand final was a pearler.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But this season the Blayney Bears and Western Rams fullback is taking her try-scoring feats to an all new level.
The speedy No.1 went through the opening three rounds of the Group 10 season without crossing the stripe, but since round four she’s exploded to score 15 tries.
She scored four tries against Workies, then went try-less again in round five against Bathurst Panthers, before bagging another four against Oberon and then a hat-trick against Mudgee last week.
Couple those efforts with her form for Western, where she scored once in the Rams’ 18-14 round one win over Monaro before bagging three of her side’s four tries in a stunning 22-6 win over Riverina, and it’s fair to say Stammers is in a very purple patch right now.
The quietly spoken 18-year-old is hoping to continue that run when Western takes on Illawarra-South Coast in the semi-final of the league tag country championship at Belconnen on Saturday.
“There’s a really good team vibe this year,” Stammers, a second-year Rams representative said.
“Everyone is getting along really well and it’s a lot of fun to be with all the girls.
“It’s going to be tough, we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. They’ll be fast too. We played them last year.”
Stammers makes up one quarter of Western’s impressive back four, with Heidi Regan, Amy Hewitt and Rikka Lamb all rotating between the bench, the two wing positions and fullback during a game.
Speed is the key ingredient that makes that rotation so successful.
It’s a tactic that’s worked a treat for Mick Armstrong’s side so far, and one that’ll be called upon during Saturday’s semi-final as Western looks to reverse last year’s 30-0 loss against Southern.
“We just work as a team and we’ve got a really good kicking game. Us backs just listen to what Mick says and it works, so it’s all going well,” Stammers added.
Stammers said St Pat’s star Mish Somers has been one of Western’s best, alongside Jess Hotham, Bec Ford and Parkes girl and former Spacecat Ella-J Harris.
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WESTERN’S WIN OVER RIVERINA:
Western will leave for Canberra on Friday. They’ll conduct a training run, which often includes a video session, at Cowra on the way.
“Which is good,” Stammers said, adding she’s enjoying the professional nature the Rams have adopted this season.
“It’s working. I like the competitive stuff.
“If we start strong we’ve just got to keep that up all game, that confidence and momentum.”
Western takes on Illawarra-South Coast at 11am on Saturday.
RAMS: 1 Sophie Stammers (Blayney Bears), 2 Heidi Regan (Cargo Blue Heelers), 3 Rebecca Ford (Orange Hawks), 4 Claire Woolmington (Bathurst Panthers), 5 Amy Hewitt (Bathurst Panthers), 6 Michelle Somers (Bathurst St Pat’s), 7 Jess Hotham (Bathurst Panthers), 8 Demi Wilson (Dubbo CYMS), 9 Ella-J Harris (Orange Hawks), 10 Monique Christie-Johnston (c, Bathurst Panthers), 11 Emma Gallagher (Dunedoo Swans), 12 Lisa Travis (Cobar Roosters), 13 Chrissie West (Lithgow Workies); 14 Lauren Sullivan (Dunedoo Swans), 15 Rikka Lamb (Dubbo CYMS).
