In what was the first competitive match for many of the Inverell Saints and New England Nomads players, the Saints edged out the Nomads by just a few points.

The final score came down to 6.20.56 and 5.4.34 respectively at the game at Varley Oval on Saturday.

The Saints have a bye this weekend before playing the Tamworth Kangaroos in that city on May 13.

Club president Jason Gobbert said both sides on Saturday had “had a ball”.

“It was fantastic – we had a full side, Armidale had nearly had a full side and we played under proper rules; everything was right.”

Gobbert said the Inverell team had been training hard.

“The Inverell side weren’t kicking very straight, unfortunately – we kicked a lot of points instead of goals and let Armidale stay a bit closer than they should, but it was a great game and played in great spirit,” he said.

“We probably had a few standout players, but they all just worked so well together and were enjoying it so much. They didn’t want the game to end, I don’t think, they were just having such a good time.”

The official comp comes after some well-received exhibition games last season.

Sam Barber had her first competitive game back after having played more than 50 for Chirnside Park in Victoria then “retiring”.

The centre half forward and full forward said she felt her skills had improved since the team’s exhibition matches, but “the fitness needs a bit of work”.

“It was good to be back out there,” she said.

“The girls were great. Some had never played before and they did really well. There are a couple of 15-year-olds up to 40-plus, and some of the 15-year-olds ran rings around the rest of us.”

Gobbert said the round had also attracted some good spectator numbers.

“There were a fair few there watching; a fair bit of interest – probably a few more there to watch the women than for the men, actually,” he said.

AFL NSW/ACT development officer Sonia Martin said to see the competition “come to fruition after a lot of hard work was just fantastic”.​

“In a rural area where in 2015 there was one division of football – the open men’s, in 2016 we got the juniors on board, and in 2017 the open women’s as well, so there has been incredible growth in the sport in the region.

“Women’s footy is the fast-growing area, so we’re very pleased to see it up and happening in the north-west.”