Indigenous All Stars overcome loss of Dibb to snatch late victory

Both penalty goals were the result of successful captain's challenges by Indigenous skipper Quincy Dodd as the game twisted and turned on big moments.

The Māori All Stars led 18-12 at halftime after hitting the front for the first time when Knights winger Lilli Ann White crossed just a minute before the interval.

The Indigenous All Stars had dominated the opening stages of the match, with right winger Monique Donovan scoring the first try in the eighth minute off a perfectly placed Kirra Dibb cross field kick.

Titans and NSW Origin star Jamie Chapman stormed over to score in the left corner seven minutes later after a trademark 20 metre run and with Dibb converting both tries from out wide the Indigenous team led 12-0.

However, Māori halfback Raecene McGregor showed why she is regarded as one of the best playmakers in the game as the Dragons captain took control of the match to inspire her team's comeback.

Eels hooker Chanté Temara crashed over in the 19th minute after a McGregor grubber forced a goal line dropout and Titans forward Laikha Clarke levelled the scores when she charged over to score in the 26th minute.

With Dibb having left the field in the 23rd minute, momentum was clearly in favour of the Ferns and they snatched the lead when dual code superstar Tyla King put White over in the 29th minute.

The game turned again after Māori and Cowboys forward Tiana Raftstrand-Smith was sin-binned for a 32nd minute hip drop tackle on Bobbi Law and Indigenous replacement Ella Koster scored three minutes later.

A successful captain's challenge against the ruling of a loose carry by Essay Banu resulted in a penalty within kicking range and Montgomery levelled the scores.

Montgomery had a field goal attempt charged down by Bulldogs recruit Ash Quinlan but after reviewing a captain's challenge over a knock the bunker ruled that there had been dangerous contact with the kicker's legs.

The decision gave Montgomery the easiest of penalty goal attempts in front of the posts and she calmly slotted the kick to snatch back-to-back victories for the Indigenous All Stars against the Māori Ferns for the first time.

Play of the game

What they said 

Indigenous coach Jess Skinner and co-captains Tallisha Harden and Quincy Dodd

Māori coach Keith Hanley and captain Shannon Mato