James Murphy
ROUND 4 of Limestone Coast women’s football had a mix of close contests and big wins.
After its completion, Mundulla and North Gambier remain in the top two spots on the ladder, with only percentage the difference.
Casterton Sandford remains in third, but is now a game down on the ladder leaders.
PENOLA 7.11 (53) d KONGORONG 5.2 (32)
It looked to be the match of the round and it was indeed a close encounter when Kongorong and Penola opened the day at McLaughlin Park.
The Hawks were off to a strong start and four first-quarter goals put them in a good place at the change.
Penola managed two majors in that period and trailed by 13 at quarter time.
However, the Eagles slashed the deficit in the second term and held Kongorong scoreless to be down by only three points at the main break.
Penola kept pushing in the third and found five more scoring shots, converting one to be well placed heading into the last.
A rise in the final stanza had the Eagles run away with the win in the end.
They kicked three goals, with the last two scored by Heidi Berkin to ice the game and secure a 21-point victory.
Angela Broad and Simone MacDonald also had two majors each, while Shandeen Balshaw rounded out the goal kickers with one of her own.
Once again it was captain Caroline McGrath who topped the best players for her impressive midfield efforts, while Berkin, MacDonald and Broad also earned mentions for their performances, as did Alice Rainsford.
Kongorong also looked to its captain in Sarah Lucas, who was named best-on-ground for the second time this season.
Evie Sealey was another highlight and her presence was felt across the ground, while Zara Dirk and Jade Longbottom top scored with two goals each.
SOUTH GAMBIER 5.5 (35) d CASTERTON SANDFORD 4.8 (32)
Casterton Sandford may have entered its Round 4 clash with South Gambier as the favourite, but an understaffed Cats’ lineup succumbed to a last-quarter comeback from the Demons.
Several players from South and Penola helped fill the Cats’ roster on the day and it soon become clear it would be an arm wrestle of a match.
At quarter time both teams had two goals on the board and scores were locked at 14-all.
The Cats managed to establish a buffer in the second term, keeping South scoreless as they pushed out to an 11-point lead.
They maintained that buffer in the third and entered the final change 10 points ahead of their opponent.
However, the Demons’ day was far from done and they started to find more regular avenues to goal.
A 2.2 return was enough to turn the tide and the Cats’ single behind for the quarter was not enough to hold on.
South claimed the honours by three points, with Jarrah Altschwager best on ground.
She finished her day with three goals, two of which came in the opening quarter.
Tara Bonney and Hannah Costigan also hit the scoreboard with a goal each, while Bonney was also among the best players.
Kirra Schultz played a solid game, as did Alisha Stephens and Chloe Haskins.
Casterton Sandford looked to Carlie Smith on the day, with Maddison Cotten, Kirby Vise and Libby Altorfer also playing well.
Smith and Altorfer both found the middle of the big sticks, as did captain Chloe Finnigan and Penola fill in Angela Broad.
MUNDULLA 18.18 (126) d NANGWARRY 0.0 (0)
It was to be expected but it did not lessen the sting for Nangwarry when the Saints suffered a 126-point defeat to reigning premier Mundulla.
The going was tough for the league’s newest team and after conceding five goals in the first term the writing was on the wall.
The margin more than doubles in the second and at half time it was an 80-point game.
Another five goals followed in the third quarter, while a steadier fourth term had just the two majors added.
At the end of the day the damage could have been far worse, with Mundulla kicking 18 behinds on top of their 18 goals.
Brooke Ballinger had a day out with five goals, but it was the efforts from Erin Horsnell around the contest which earned best-on-ground honours.
Ballinger was named second best, with Tegan Milligan, Scarlett Pickett and Taylor Williams also impressive.
Captain Natalie Twigden also earned a mention, with her three goals matched by Melody Maddern.
For the Saints Skye Virtanen put in another solid performance, while Jasmine Rohrlach, Ebony Wurst and Jess Gerritsen were also among the top players.
The result keeps Mundulla on top of the premiership table, while provided Nangwarry with a good learning experience in just its second game in the competition.
NORTH GAMBIER 12.12 (84) d MILLICENT 0.1 (1)
Another one-sided battle was had between the host team and North Gambier.
Millicent may have had the home-ground advantage, but that only gained them a solitary behind at the final siren.
That came in the last quarter, with the Tigers doing well to keep the Saints away from their attacking 50.
A neat three goals in the opening term put North in a good position and another four in the second had the guests out to a 45-point advantage at half time.
The usual culprits the likes of Tess Andrews, Chloe Newton and Fiona Young were all making a mark on the contest and scoring did not dry up in the second half.
It was a less accurate third term, with only three of the Tigers’ nine scoring shots converted.
However, that mattered little with the margin still pushing out to 69 points and Millicent yet to bother the goal umpires.
A behind in the last was the Saints’ only consolation, while North added two-goals-three for good measure to wrap up the day with an 83-point win.
Andrews was best on ground for the victors, while Young, Jazz Cowling and Chloe Perryman also impressed.
Stella and Becky Davis rounded out the best players, with Newton and Alice Tentye the top scorers with five and three goals respectively.
Millicent again looked to Kelsie Wilkinson and she was the best player for the Saints.
Emily Walker, Nikki Goding, Lana Shepherd and Niah Faulkner also earned mentions for their efforts.
Next round will be split over two days, with Friday night games in Kybybolite and Sunday matches at Mundulla.
