By Lachlan Onions
HATHERLEIGH 6.3 (39) d NORTH GAMBIER 1.2 (8)
HATHERLEIGH’S inaugural Under 16 Girls’ season has continued to go from strength to strength, after the Eagles claimed their fourth victory of the season with a dominant display against North Gambier.
Hatherleigh had home-ground advantage for the Round 3 clash under lights on Friday night and the clash between the top two sides in the competition was fiercely contested for the majority of the contest.
The Eagles took an eight-point lead at the end of the first quarter and held the Tigers scoreless in a game where goals were difficult to come by.
The second stanza saw neither side manage a major score, with Hatherleigh the only team to add to its first quarter total, with a solitary behind for the quarter.
After the home side took a 9-0 lead at the main break, North Gambier hit back in the third term.
The Tigers held the Eagles scoreless and kicked 1.2 (8) for the term to set up an exciting final quarter with just the one point to separate the two sides.
However, despite the momentum seemingly in North Gambier’s favour, Hatherleigh flexed its strength in the final term and kicked five goals straight to claim a 31-point win.
The Eagles’ season to date has been faultless with four wins from as many games and have a comfortable grip of top-spot on the ladder.
Amber Chester kicked two goals for the hosts, while Macy Burns, Kalani Dunn, Chloe Bellinger and Niah Faulkner all kicked one major score.
Georgia Gentile kicked the Tigers’ solitary goal for the game.
Along with two goals, Chester was named second-best on ground for her side.
Hatherleigh’s best player for the game was Sebella Coghlan, while North Gambier’s best player was Claire Mitchell.
SOUTH GAMBIER 4.8 (32) d KYBYBOLITE 0.1 (1)
The Demons claimed their first win of the season with a strong performance against Kybybolite.
South Gambier took ascendancy of the game quickly with two goals in the opening term and kept their opposition scoreless.
The Demons added another goal in the second quarter and led 19-0 at half time.
Neither side could manage a major score in the third stanza, with South Gambier’s defence too strong for Kybybolite to score and the Demons added seven behinds for the term.
The final quarter saw Kybybolite score a minor score and South Gambier kick one major score to round out 31-point victors.
Chloe Copping was Kybybolite’s best on ground, while Lana Shepherd was the best performer for the Demons.
Faulkner continues to lead the competition in goals scored with nine for the season.
She is followed by Chester with seven and Mitchell with six majors.
After three rounds, Hatherleigh is the only side to have played four games and currently leads by eight points at the top of the ladder.
North gambier occupies second place, ahead of South Gambier, Kongorong and Kybybolite.
