Juggling schoolwork and scrummaging paid off for teenage Western Force back-rower Keira MacAskill when she became one of the youngest players to debut in the Super W competition.
The 17-year-old Aranmore College student, who has been playing for Wests Scarborough for five years, debuted in the starting side that gave reigning champions Waratahs a huge scare last Sunday.
Four-time premiers Waratahs, unbeaten in four years, needed two late tries to see off the Force 31-14 at Leichhardt Oval with the match tied at 14-14 until the 63rd minute.
MacAskill will be taking schoolwork with her when she flies back to NSW to face Fijiana Drua on Saturday.
It is her second season with the squad but she didn’t get a chance to play last year when the competition was cut short by the COVID pandemic.
“I was so nervous before the game,” she said.
“It is such a big step up from club rugby, so different, but I loved it.
“We really stepped up. We had a good mix of older (players) and youth and we really gave it a crack.
“I can’t wait to pay the Fijian side It will be a whole new experience.”
MacAskill said juggling school and rugby can be tough.
“I have to make sure I complete my work to graduate,” she said.
“Sometimes, particularly in the club season and training for Super Rugby, I do have to juggle things.”
At the other end of the experience scale is second row Rebecca Clough, a Wallaroo veteran of three world cups.
She said the side would take plenty of confidence from the Waratahs game.
“We went there with the attitude of nothing to lose,” Clough said.
“We gave everything we had, we didn’t want to leave anything in the tank and we gave them a good rattle. We started to believe and trust each other.
“At half time we were in it and the belief in that change room was something I haven’t felt for a very long time in that jersey.
“We were pumped to say the least. We just couldn’t finish strong, the last 20 sucked it out of us.
“We were disappointed with the finish but I’m so proud of the girls.
“I had so much fun.”
Clough said playing the free-flowing Fijians will be a different ball game.
“Their brand is like nothing we’ve faced before,” she said.
“It’s going to be a good one. We’re all looking forward to playing them.
“We have to focus around the tackle, the breakdown, the defensive line.
“You need to hit them where it hurts, hit them in the ribcage and stop their sneaky offloads.”
This article was originally written by Nick Taylor of The West Australian.
