Waratahs Women’s Fall Short in Finals Thriller Against Griffith

In a tightly contested SIRU Macarthur REA Women’s finals clash, the Waratahs Women’s fell just short against a spirited Griffith Women’s side, going down 17-10 in an evenly matched encounter. Despite their best efforts, the competition leaders were unable to maintain their perfect season record, ending their historic campaign with a heartbreaking defeat.

Griffith Upset the Ladder Leaders

The second-placed Griffith Women’s produced a determined display to overcome the competition’s dominant force, the ladder-leading Waratahs Women’s. In a match that lived up to the high-stakes finals atmosphere, the home side showed tremendous character to weather the early Waratahs onslaught and strike back with two well-worked tries.

Tries from Andreazza and Name Withheld gave the Waratahs an early lead, but Griffith rallied through scores from Jones (opposition) and Smith (opposition) to take a narrow 17-10 advantage. The Waratahs were unable to find the crucial try that would have levelled the scores, ultimately succumbing to their first defeat of the season.

Squad Depth and Versatility on Display

Despite the disappointing result, the Waratahs Women’s squad demonstrated their depth and versatility throughout the match. Head coach Chloe Martin made use of the interchange bench, with Megan Lonsdale, Milly Lucas, and Buadromo all making valuable contributions off the bench.

The ability to rotate players without a significant drop in performance highlighted the quality and preparation of the Waratahs squad. However, they were ultimately unable to match the clinical execution of their opponents in the closing stages of the contest.

Ladder Implications and Finals Outlook

This defeat sees the Waratahs Women’s maintain their position at the top of the SIRU Macarthur REA Women’s ladder, but their lead over second-placed Griffith has been reduced to 13 points. The loss will serve as a wake-up call for the competition leaders, who must now regroup and refocus ahead of their next finals clash.

While the Waratahs’ undefeated run has come to an end, their impressive season record of 11 wins from 12 matches still positions them as the team to beat in the finals series. The challenge now is to bounce back from this setback and channel their championship-winning mentality to secure the ultimate prize.

With the finals series heating up, the Waratahs Women’s will need to draw on their significant squad depth and experience to navigate the remaining hurdles. This defeat may serve as a valuable lesson in the high-pressure environment of the playoffs, and the coaching staff will be eager to ensure their players learn from this experience.

The road to the SIRU Macarthur REA Women’s championship remains firmly in the Waratahs’ hands, but this narrow loss to Griffith has shown that they are not invincible. The next few weeks will test the team’s resilience and determination as they strive to regain their dominant form and secure the ultimate prize.

PREVIOUS ARTICLE LINK: [Waratahs Women’s vs Tumut Women’s 2025 14 – Waratahs Women’s Maintain Perfect Record with Dominant Victory](https://waggawaratahs.com.au/match-reports/waratahs-womens-maintain-perfect-record-with-dominant-victory/) The Waratahs Women’s suffered their first defeat of the season, which may have dampened their momentum slightly compared to their recent dominant performances. However, their impressive season record and standings at the top of the ladder suggest they are still the team to beat in the finals. FIXTURE RESULTS