MUNDULLA 1.2 (8) D KYBYBOLITE 0.2 (2)
MUNDULLA upstaged Kybybolite to win the 2019 Limestone Coast Women’s Football League grand final at Blue Lake Sports Park on Sunday.
In challenging conditions, Mundulla held its nerve to win the decider by a narrow one-goal margin after an intense four quarters.
The premiership win capped off an impressive debut season for Mundulla, with only one loss during its campaign.
Heading into the contest, Kyby was tipped as the overwhelming favourite to raise the cup, after the side proved a dominant force all season, comfortably winning every game on route to the minor premiership.
However, Kyby fell at the final hurdle and was denied back-to-back premierships by a determined Mundulla outfit.
The match commenced with strong winds blowing around the venue, which played a major role on proceedings.
It was the reigning premier which dominated the opening bounce, with a fast clearance pushing the ball deep inside the forward 50, before the Mundulla defence resisted, which set the tone for the game.
Mundulla opened the scoring with a behind, which Kyby answered and by quarter time the scoreboard remained locked at a point a piece.
The second term began in the same fashion, before key Mundulla forward Amy Bruce performed the game-changing moment.
Bruce broke free from the defence to score a goal against both the wind and run of play.
Kyby failed to land a blow for the remainder of the quarter, with Mundulla’s six-point margin standing at half time.
The weather provided another challenging factor for the players as heavy rain had set in during the third term, which saw many stoppages interrupt play.
Both teams managed a point each during a scrappy period, which saw the one-goal difference remain.
However, Mundulla appeared in worse shape, after it lost both Abbie Excell and Paige Marra to knee injuries during the premiership quarter.
The rain had cleared in time for the final term, as both sides’ defences continued to dominate.
Tessa Merra and Natalie Twigden were solid all day down back for Mundulla, as they resisted Kyby’s continuous inside entries, while Brooke Ballinger was a major contributor in the midfield.
For Kyby, Susie Maber and Casey McElroy kept their side’s relentless pressure up, but struggled to provide their forward target, Hayley Sellars with many opportunities.
As the minutes ticked over, the intensity continued to escalate, with the crowd more involved, but both teams struggled to break free.
A pivotal inside entry from Bruce eased the nerves slightly as the final siren sounded on a scoreless final quarter, to spark Mundulla’s celebrations with the scoreboard eight points to two in its favour.
Mundulla’s premiership-winning coach Michael Hunt said to win the flag in the side’s debut season was amazing.
“It is just an awesome feeling,” he said.
“Kybybolite certainly raised the bar and were a very strong side this year, so to go and beat them was just amazing.”
Hunt put the win down to his players’ determination to gain first use of the ball.
“I think it was down to both sides’ defensive pressure, as there was a few mistakes with marks not held,” he said.
“I was really proud of our girls with the way they went really hard and put their nose over the ball.”
As the game reached its climax, Hunt said he was full of nerves and struggled to watch the closing stages.
“If you look at the scores people would say, ‘oh it was women’s footy, it was a bad game’, but it was actually one of the most exciting games I have seen,” he said.
“I called for trainers to bring the defibrillator out because I was about to expire.
“It was a ridiculously tense game, credit to both sides and the way they played.”
Hunt said he was proud of how his team improved throughout the year and resisted the pressure on the big stage.
“You should have seen our first training, I thought what have we done here,” he said.
“We have definitely improved as the season has gone on and the girls were amazing to soak up the pressure in their first year.
“When we played Kybybolite the first time, it was only our second game ever and the girls did not really know what to expect.
“But Sunday they held their position really well and Kybybolite struggled to break through because we had numbers behind the ball.
“They are just an amazing bunch of girls and to have 30 players just so focused on the one goal is just fantastic.
“I have never been involved in a group that are just so thirsty to be the best.”
Picture: THOMAS MILES
SOUTH GAMBIER 4.6 (30) D MILLICENT 1.1 (7)
SOUTH Gambier proved too strong on home turf for Millicent in the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League consolation final on Sunday.
Two goals from Kendell Saffin and Jasmine White ensured a comfortable 23-point win for the Demons.
South kicked truly to post the first major of the game and held the Saints scoreless in the opening term to stamp their authority on the consolation final early.
However, the momentum soon swung and Millicent held the host side scoreless in the second term.
Just two points separated the two sides at the long break, which set up an intriguing second half of football for the large crowd.
However, the Demons dictated terms for the remainder of the match, as the home side kicked three unanswered goals to claim third place.
Imogen Walker and Chelsea Frost were key performers in the midfield to be named best-on-ground for the victorious team.
KALANGADOO 6.10 (46) D PENOLA 2.0 (12)
KALANGADOO finished its season on a high note with a commanding victory over Penola in the second consolation final.
Alyssa Boylan was the star for the Magpies with two goals and a best-on-ground performance.
Jessica Stone, Jamie Ryan and Emmason Ilsley also contributed to the scoreboard with a major each, to lead the Magpies to a 32-point winning margin.
Angela Broad was the only Eagle who troubled the scorers, with two major scores, while Samantha Freeman was the top Penola player.
GLENCOE 3.6 (24) D EAST GAMBIER 3.4 (22)
IT was Glencoe who managed to escape with a narrow two-point victory after an intense contest with East Gambier.
Carly Schultz, Hanner Kuhl-Miller and Tara Bonney scored a goal each for the Murphies, while Bonney and Sarah Edwards received best-on-ground honours.
The Bulldogs remained hot on their tails for the entire game as Neave Delaney, Jemma Heraper and Sara Smith all found the big sticks, but their efforts were not enough to steal the win from Glencoe.
CASTERTON SANDFORD 3.4 (22) D WEST GAMBIER/PORT MACDONNELL 2.2 (14)
THE day’s proceedings were kicked off by Casterton Sandford, who secured an eight-point win in a scrappy affair with West Gambier/Port MacDonnell.
The game began at a slow pace with neither side able to hit the scoreboard, before the Cats stretched out an eight-point advantage at half time after a three-goal second term.
The Roos clawed the deficit back to just two points with a goal in the third, but led by Kate Tomkins and Prue Harvey, the Cats kicked away in the final term to end the season in positive fashion.
