MILLICENT entered the 13 and Under B grand final undefeated, but several tight tussles with South Gambier meant it loomed as a tight contest.
The match followed a similar script to previous encounters with Millicent getting the better of the start and only a late surge from South saw the margin at three at the first change.
Millicent’s Jade Little looked dangerous, while defensively Sophie O’Connor and Annalise Janssen created plenty of turnovers.
Fortunately for the Demons, Chelsea Dunn and Maelee Dalton also had important defensive touches to keep South in touch.
The second quarter was the typical arm wrestle these two teams have previously contested.
The battle between Phoebe Sneath and Saige Gibson was intriguing with both being the go-to player for their teams in transition.
At the main break, the margin was still three goals.
They call the third quarter the championship quarter and it proved so in this contest as the Demons dominated.
Both sides made changes at the main break – Millicent adding Aislinn Schultz and Mia Grant to the mid court and South bringing Edie Jones into keeper and Phoebe Beare into wing attack.
For the Demons, the errors started to be minimised, the defensive pressure across the court was impressive and the finish was impressive as Chanelle Sims and Lara Munro found good space.
Sneath also started to be critical in transition and defensively Dalton and Jones continued to good work of Dunn.
Jade Jennings also started to be a factor with her determination to win the ball back.
It was South, for the first time this season, in the lead against the Saints at three quarter-time, but the four goal margin was not insurmountable.
The last quarter could be described in one word – tension.
Millicent challenged as Abby Denton started to find some ball and converted truly while the Saints’ defence created turnovers.
South, through the defensive efforts of Jones, Dalton and Jennings, kept its nose in front and Sims and Munro finished the good work.
In the end, it was a three goal win to the Demons. Sneath, Munro and Dalton were the backbone of the victory with Ashlee Cooper and Beare sharing the attacking wing role and both got to the right spots and delivered safely.
Association runner-up best and fairest Gibson worked hard for Millicent, while Little finished strongly and O’Connor contested everything.
Final score: South Gambier 28 d Millicent 25
