Women’s footballers return for successful second round

ON THE RUN: East Gambier's Annabel Plunkett chases down the ball with Penola's Annie Hudson in pursuit.

 

ON THE RUN: East Gambier’s Annabel Plunkett chases down the ball with Penola’s Annie Hudson in pursuit.

THE difference between the top and bottom teams of the Limestone Coast Women’s Football league is becoming clear, with some surprising results across Sunday’s five games at Malseed Park.

After the completion of the second round only two teams have won both games, with Millicent and South Gambier sitting one and two on the ladder respectively.

Kybybolite made its first appearance for the season with a big win over Mundulla to prove it will be a hot contender to defend its 2018 title.

Penola was not so fortunate, as an expected close encounter with East Gambier resulted in a 32-point loss.

South opened the day with a big win over Glencoe, while Millicent was all class against West Gambier/Port MacDonnell in the final game of the day, which saw the Saints win in a 113-point massacre.

The closest game of the round saw Casterton Sandford come from behind to defeat North Gambier by three points, while Kalangado had the bye.

 

SOUTH GAMBIER 10.13 (73) d GLENCOE 0.0 (0)

THERE was little Glencoe could do to suppress the South Gambier onslaught in Sunday’s opening game as the Demons ran away to an easy 73-point victory.

The Murphies were held scoreless for the full four quarters, while South established its dominance early.

At the first change the Demons led 22-0, with the margin extended to 36 by the long break.

Heading into the second half, the third term saw South replicate its first quarter with another three majors and four minors added to the total.

By then there was nothing Glencoe could do and it was a desperate struggle just to put a score on the board, but it did not come.

A consistent effort in front of goals for the Demons saw Kendell Saffin again lead the way with three goals for the match, while Toneya Carraill found the big sticks on two occasions and was named best-on-ground for her efforts.

Darcie Kuhl, Jasmine White, Imogen Walker, Chelsea Frost and Jessica Kennedy added a goal each throughout the game.

For Glencoe, Chloe Pfitzner was named as best, while Sarah Edwards and Madi Zuijdveld also worked hard despite the result.

 

CASTERTON SANDFORD 3.5 (23) d NORTH GAMBIER 3.2 (20)

IT was a classic come-from-behind victory which saw new side Casterton Sandford claim its first win of the year against North Gambier in Sunday’s second game.

The Tigers led until the final change, but a last ditch effort in the fourth term saw the Cats claw ahead to a three-point lead by the final siren.

Both teams were eager to put their previous performances behind them, after they both suffered losses in round one.

North hit early to find the big sticks in the opening term, along with a minor score to carry a six-point lead into the first break.

The Tigers replicated that feat in the second, while the Cats found the middle of the posts to put a major on the board before half time.

A slow third term saw North with another goal, while its cross-border rivals managed only a behind, to see the margin at 12 points approaching the final term.

It was then the Cats found some momentum and slotted through two goals and three behinds to claim the lead, leaving the Tigers scoreless for the quarter.

A consistent effort saw Tanya Henty-Anderson, Erin Munro and Maggie Craig with a major each, while Madison Mutch was named best-on-ground.

Munro also played her part well, while Bethany Bates, Henty-Anderson and full-back Prue Harvey were all in fine form.

For North Tayla Lowe led the charge with two goals and the best-on-ground honours, while Chloe Lindner also found the big sticks.

Piper Killick, Billie-Jean Jones, Fiona Young, Sarah Pilven and Nashemia McNamara were also among the Tigers’ best.

 

EAST GAMBIER 8.9 (57) d PENOLA 3.7 (25)

WHAT was expected to be a close encounter between East Gambier and Penola saw an eventual 32-point deficit to the Eagles, in their second game of women’s football.

The majority of the damage came from East’s Neave Delaney, who had a field day in front of goals to bag six majors for the match and take the lead in the league goal-kicking standings on nine.

She was backed up by Niamh Graney and Jemma Heraper who each scored one, but her efforts alone would have been enough to take the win.

It did not take long for the Bulldogs to take the lead, with a 16-point margin established by the first change.

The Eagles fought back in the second term to score 2.2 to East’s single major, but that was as close as they would get.

Another goal and two behinds from the Bulldogs were answered by three minors in the third term, while the lead was extended further in the final quarter.

Delaney was named third best for her team, with Maria-Lina Tralongo’s efforts awarding her the best-on-ground honours.

Olivia Turner was also in fine form, while Isabel Redemski, Taysha James and Nic Collins also performed well.

For Penola, Anglea Broad managed one goal for the day, after an impressive five the week before, while Karmel Finch and Shakayla Summerhayes also found the big sticks.

Amanda Wurst was named as the Eagles’ best, while Finch, Samantha Freeman and Chloe Long were also recognised for their efforts.

 

KYBYBOLITE 8.5 (53) d MUNDULLA 2.3 (15)

REIGNING premier Kybybolite made its 2019 debut with a bang, as it claimed a solid win over Mundulla in the fourth game of the day.

It was expected to be the match of the round, but after a slow first quarter the reigning premiers wasted no time creating a margin.

The scoreline at quarter time saw seven points the difference, before Kybybolite added a second and third major to its total before half time.

Mundulla scored its first major in the second term, to trail by 13 points at the long break.

Another goal each was added in the third, while the final stanza saw Kybybolite take control with four majors and a minor unanswered by Mundulla.

The final result was a 38-point victory to the defending champions.

Hayley Sellars had a day out to bag on four goals for the victors, while Mieka Crook, Georgia Irvine, Parker Lees and Felicity Slotegraaf scored one each.

Despite Sellars’ efforts in front of goal, it was Casey McElroy who secured the best-on-ground honours for the match.

For Mundulla, Abbie Excell and Tegan Roberts both found the big sticks once, while Tracey Poulton was named best player.

 

MILLICENT 17.18 (120) d WEST GAMBIER/PORT MACDONNELL 1.1 (7)

THE Saints came marching in to Malseed Park with a round two match-up against West Gambier/Port MacDonnell and went out with a monstrous 113-point triumph over the host team.

Millicent has established itself as a team to beat early in the competition and sits on top of the ladder heading into round three.

It will be eager to test its metal against the top teams, with both its matches so far resulting in convincing victories.

A 13-point margin at the first change saw West/Port still in the match, but from there the hosts did not touch the scoreboard until the final quarter.

With just one minor score prior to their goal in the fourth term, the Roos were at Millicent’s mercy.

The Saints had edged out to a 56-point lead at half time and the onslaught did not end there.

A further six majors and four behinds were added in the third to see a 96-point difference, before another big quarter saw the final percentage-boosting margin reached.

Ella Little had an accurate day to find the goals on five occasions, while Kristie Rowe scored four majors.

Kimberley Varcoe was named as best-on-ground, with two majors to show for her efforts, while Kelsie Wilkinson was second best with a goal to boot.

Also among the best players were Rowe, Little and Lauren Potter.

For West/Port, Ebony Lawson kicked her team’s single goal and was also named as best for the side.

Looking ahead to this weekend, team’s will travel to Kybybolite for round three, with East Gambier having the bye.