James Murphy
KYBYBOLITE 15.10 (100) d KONGORONG 2.2 (14)
A BIG statement was made by the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League reigning premiers on Sunday.
Kybybolite hosted Kongorong for Round 5 of the 2023 season and after four one-sided quarters emerged 86-point victors.
Both teams carried strong form into the match, but in the end the home team proved too hot to handle.
The northern Tigers established a 20-point lead by the first change before a four-goal second term set them up with a buffer of 47 points at the main break.
Kongorong managed just one behind for the opening half.
Despite finding the big sticks once each in the following quarters, there was little the Hawks could do to stem the flow at the opposite end of the ground.
A huge seven-goal third term from Kyby added salt to the Hawks’ wounds, before the hosts backed off somewhat for a 1.3 return in the fourth.
The result was a neat 100-point return for Kybybolite, while Kongorong was left with a dismal 14-point total.
Those goals were kicked by Jasmin McKinnon and Evie Sealey, while it was Jade Longbottom who was named best on ground for the Hawks.
Riley Buckingham and Sheba Miller were also solid, but there were few chances to shine against the tidal wave of Kybybolite possession.
Kybybolite looked to Dellie Brown on the day and her efforts around the contest earned her the best-on-ground honours.
Genevieve Blake and Sophie Henschke were the main culprits in front of the big sticks, finishing up with five and four goals respectively.
Their efforts earned themselves a place among the best, while Sarah Ottoson-Crossling and Taylor Ryan also made double figures with two each.
Jamie Wachtel, Emily Cattuzzo and Tahlia Kavanagh rounded out the best players, in a result which should see Kyby move up the ladder.
MILLICENT 6.11 (47) d KALANGADOO 4.1 (25)
Millicent has claimed its first win of 2023 after its bottom-order battle with Kalangadoo at Kybybolite Oval.
Entering the round neither team had tasted success this season, so there was no shortage of incentive on the day.
The Saints won the game with a solid opening half, which was enough to fend off the Magpies when they found a few second-half goals.
A 21-6 point opening term put Millicent in a good place, before it added two unanswered majors in the second to carry a 27-point lead into half time.
Kelsie Wilkinson was in fine form for the Saints and her efforts were rewarded with the best-on-ground honours at the end of the match.
Kalangadoo attempted a comeback in the third quarter and two goals to Millicent’s three behinds reeled in the margin to 18.
However, with a goal each in the fourth and an extra four minor scores from the Saints, the difference sat at 22 when the final siren sounded.
Megan Tilby and Michelle Robinson joined Wilkinson as frontrunners for Millicent, while Meredith Turner top scored with three goals.
Turner also earned a mention in the best, with Lauren Potter and Alannah Pratt rounding out the top performers.
For the Magpies is was Natalia Edwards who got the nod as best-on-ground.
She was accompanied by Georgia Gentile, Kristina Simmonds, Jade Brennan and Elodie Burr among the best.
The remaining two games of the round were played last night at Vansittart Park, after a last-minute change from the original Thursday night schedule.
Host team North Gambier played South Gambier in the opener, followed by a meeting between Casterton Sandford and Penola.
The games were yet to be played at the time of print.
