The Hunter Wildfires women are starting to believe.
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The Wildfires produced their best half of rugby to rally from 10-0 down and overpower an Ella Green-led Warringah 21-10 at Pittwater Park on Saturday.
The win was the Wildfires' third and moved them above the Rats into fifth spot behind Easts on points differential on the Jack Scott Cup table.
Barnstorming prop Candice Clay was instrumental in the revival, scoring a try, laying on another and landing a perfect three-from-three with the boot.
"Candice was involved in everything," coach Brooke Saunders said. "She came into the starting side and really stepped up. She got an intercept and ran 30 metres to score and also set up another try. She is so explosive and has speed. When she can't out-run a defender she changes hands with the ball and fends them off."
While Clay was a central figure, Saunders said everyone lifted to a new level.
"The second half was the best we have played in a long time," Saunders said.
"Every game, you get one or two players who step up. On Saturday we had three or four who played above a level that they have ever played before.
"Hopefully, by the end of the season we can get all 23 at a level above. They need to believe in themselves and know they can do it.
"Ash Walker stepped up to the Wallaroo level. You could see by her doing that, the other girls cottoned on and followed her lead.
"Our forwards stuck it to them. Sometimes the grunt work they do goes unnoticed. They soaked up phase after phase in defence.
"Halfback Peta Satler took one of the biggest hits I have ever seen in a women's rugby game from Ella Green... every single one of the girls stepped up."
Wallaroos superstar Green started at outside centre, with NSW Waratahs Super W regular Katrina Barker at fly-half.
"Ash Walker did a really good job at shutting them down," Saunders said.
Winger Voahellala Laui and centre Lia Thomas crossed in the first half to give the Rats a 10-0 advantage.
"We weren't connecting in the first half," Saunders said. "We were building phases but the ball was too slow. We needed to speed it up at the ruck so we could move the ball quicker."
Clay started the comeback shortly after the resumption with an intercept try, which she converterd.
Lock Kate Holland crashed over to send the visitors ahead 14-10 in the 55th minute before winger Anika Butler sealed the win five minutes from full-time with her seventh try in four games.
"We recycled the ball quicker and made the most of our opportunities," Saunders said.
Next for the Wildfires are the third-placed Western Sydney Two Blues at Lidcome Oval.
"That will be one of our most competitive games," Saunders said. "Anyone is beatable. It depends on how you turn up on the day."
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