NELSON Bay Gropers are proving a force to be reckoned with in the Hunter Rugby Womens competition.

The Bay girls have made an impact with their power up front and backline skills in the early rounds – winning five of their seven fixtures to date to zoom into finals calculations.

With games in hand, the fast-developing Gropers are currently entrenched in the top three, behind the all-conquering Hamilton Hawks and second-placed Wanderers.

Nelson Bay Rugby stalwart Gavin Rocher told News Of The Area the team was “well in the mix for a finals berth in the women’s division this season.”

“The girls are playing some positive rugby and have assembled a very competitive unit with strike all across the park,” Rocher said.

“They continue to produce each week and will take some stopping at the business end of the competition when key players return from injury” he added.

Nelson Bay has registered victories over Southern Beaches/Medowie (31-12 and 28-0); Maitland (38-5); Waratah (24-19) and Merewether Carlton (43-7) with powerful number eight Jessica Beam a stand out.

The talented Beam has proved a prolific-scoring forward for the Gropers – using her strength, ball-playing skills and tricky step to nab more than 10 tries and many a goal with her trusty boot.

Coach Josh Gamgee has the team humming at the midway mark of the competition, with plenty of room for improvement.

Other players to impress include dashing fullbacks Brie Napoli and Katrece Duggan, centres Victoria Hawthorn and Emjay Walters, crafty playmakers Ngaomi Stone, Shannon Hawkins and Bak O’Donoghue, hooker Kira Ortolani, Taya Jones and Tash Harris, prop Taylor Rich and back rower Lydia McQueen.

By Chris KARAS