Limestone Coast women’s football season opener a success

A Emma Macdonald, Scarlett Jarrad Crop Dsc 080820191115  TBW Newsgroup
ON THE RUN: South Gambier's Emma MacDonald looks to evade Casterton Sandford's Scarlett Jarrad during the opening game of Limestone Coast women's football for 2020 at Vansittart Park on Friday night.

A Emma Macdonald, Scarlett Jarrad Crop Dsc 080820191115 TBW Newsgroup
ON THE RUN: South Gambier’s Emma MacDonald looks to evade Casterton Sandford’s Scarlett Jarrad during the opening game of Limestone Coast women’s football for 2020 at Vansittart Park on Friday night.

WOMEN’S football returned to the South East on Friday night, with the first round providing plenty of action at two Limestone Coast venues.

Split between North Gambier’s Vansittart Park and Naracoorte, the season opener saw mixed results across the five games.

SOUTH GAMBIER 5.8 (38) d CASTERTON SANDFORD 3.5 (23)

SOUTH Gambier and Casterton Sandford kicked off the 2020 Limestone Coast Women’s Football League season on Friday in the closest game of the round.

The Demons claimed a 15-point victory over the Cats at the final whistle, but Casterton Sandford was up by seven at the first change.

A three-goal charge from South in the second term turned the game around and handed the Demons a 15-point buffer by the main break.

The Cats returned fire somewhat in the third quarter, but could only pull the deficit back to 10, before South finished strongly to earn the round-one honours.

Jasmine White led the way for South on the scoreboard with three goals to her name, while Neave Delaney and Kali Langley backed her up with one each.

However, it was the efforts of Imogen Walker which were recognised and she was named as the Demons’ best-on-ground.

Emma MacDonald, Scarlet Creek, Lauren Frost and Riley Buckingham were also among the top contributors for the victors.

The Cats were best served by the hard-working Kate Tomkins, while Scarlett Jarrad, Carlie Smith and Chantelle Lange hit the scoreboard with majors.

Erin Horsnell and Jarrad were also among the Cats’ best players.

GLENCOE 4.1 (25) d NORTH GAMBIER 1.2 (8)

GLENCOE kicked off its 2020 Limestone Coast Women’s Football League campaign with a win over host-team North Gambier at Vansittart Park on Friday night.

The final game of the round saw the two sides take to the field at 8.30pm.

A goal each in the first quarter suggested an even clash, but the Murphies found momentum in the second term to hold the Tigers at bay, while adding 2.1 to their own score.

North failed to recover in the second half and added just two behinds for the rest of the game, which Glencoe capitalised on as it added a fourth goal in the third before its scoring dried up in the
final stanza.

Dakota Trotter was the main culprit in front of goals with two to her name, while Alice Tentye and Tailah Hanson bagged singles for the Murphies.

Donna Jaeschke was Glencoe’s best on the night, while Sarah Edwards, Tentye and Tara Bonney were also among the top players.

For North, Billie-Jean Jones was the standout, scoring the Tigers’ only goal and receiving the best-on-ground honours.

Looking ahead to round two, another Friday night fixture looms, with three games played again at Vansittart Park, while the remaining two matches are to be held at Kybybolite.

A Sam Loughead, Ella Little, Heidi Clark Dsc 1072 TBW Newsgroup
NO ESCAPE: Kongorong’s Samantha Loughhead is caught between Millicent’s Ella Little and Heidi Clark during their round one women’s football clash at Vansittart Park on Friday night. Picture: THOMAS MILES

MILLICENT 5.14 (44) d KONGORONG 2.3 (15)

AS the only new team to the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League competition in 2020, Kongorong had plenty to prove heading into its round-one meeting with Millicent at Vansittart Park on Friday night.

The Hawks were off to a flying start and had the Saints on the ropes at quarter time, banging through two majors to Millicent’s one behind.

However, the Saints hit back in the second term with a return of 3.5, while holding Kongorong scoreless to steal the lead.

Millicent had the advantage from there and after a lowscoring third quarter, the Saints put their foot on the gas and ran away to a 29-point win.

Courtney Pond dealt the most damage with three goals for Millicent, while it was Kelsie Wilkinson who received the Saints’ best-on-ground honours.

Madi Thwaites and Ella Little also popped up with a goal each.

For Kongorong, Samantha Loughhead was named as best, while goals came from Lexie Kermond and Claire Ellis.

KALANGADOO 6.8 (44) d PENOLA 0.4 (4)

WHILE the opening match at Vansittart Park was a close affair, the same can not be said for the first women’s football clash at Naracoorte for 2020.

Kalangadoo made short work of Penola and returned home with a 40-point triumph under its belt.

The Magpies were away to an eight-point lead by the first break, while it was not until the second quarter where the Eagles managed to hit the scoreboard.

However, they could not find the big sticks and converted just three behinds before half time.

On the other hand, Kalangadoo kicked accurately to score two goals and a behind and extend its lead heading into the main break.

A behind each was added in a low-scoring third term, before a dominant finish from the Magpies saw them double their score and finish on a total of 44 points.

Chloe Pratt was a major contributor on the ground and was named as her team’s best, with two goals to compliment her efforts.

Emmason Ilsley also found the big sticks twice and received a mention in the best, while Narelle and Jamie Ryan scored one each and were among the top players as well.

Paris Ackland and Holly Courtney rounded out the Magpies’ best for the match.

KYBYBOLITE 5.11 (41) d MUNDULLA 2.4 (16)

IN a rematch of the 2019 grand final, Kybybolite made amends for its loss to Mundulla with a solid win over its rival on Friday.

Played in Naracoorte, the round-one encounter saw both teams start well, with Kyby up by a straight kick heading into the second quarter.

It was then the 2019 runner-up hit its straps and with two unanswered goals before the main break Kyby looked in a good place heading into the second half.

Another two goals in the third boosted the margin, before an inaccurate finish allowed Mundulla to draw in the deficit.

However, it was not enough to deny Kyby a 25-point win and assert itself as a team to beat in 2020.

Goals were shared around for the victors with Sophie Henschke, Mykaela Walker, Sarah Ottoson-Crossling, Parker Lees and Della Hannaford all contributing towards the total.