Written by David Redden
WOMENS UNDER 20S:
In Womens Under 20s action, Sydney University (2) thumped South West Sydney by 48 points at Mahoney Park, North Shore accounted for Pennant Hills by 25 points at Mike Kenny Bottom Oval, Sydney University (1) defeated UTS by 48 points at University No.1 Oval and UNSW-ES just edged out Manly Warringah by 5 points at David Phillips South Oval. Parramatta had the bye.
WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Women's Division One action, Sydney University defeated Southern Power by 46 points at Waratah Oval, Newtown thrashed Randwick City by 85 points at Mahoney Park, Manly Warringah scraped home by 6 points over local rivals North Shore at Weldon Oval, and UTS defeated East Coast Eagles by forfeit.
WOMEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
Manly Warringah rocketed into top spot on a crowded Women's Premier Division ladder with a tough 8-point win over UNSW-ES at Henson Park. Final scores were Manly Warringah 4.6.30 to UNSW-ES 3.4.22.
After the two teams were level at quarter-time, the Wolves then increased their lead at half-time and three-quarter time and then hung on in the last quarter as the Bulldogs kicked the only goal in a compelling final term.
Manly’s defence has been its rock in the 2020’s, and, led by stalwart Ash Carter, the Wolves kept the Bulldogs lethal forwards to just 3 majors on a glorious day in Sydney.
Best players & Goalkickers were not available at the time of writing.
In a thrilling finish at Gipps Rd Oval, Parramatta’s 4 behinds in the last quarter were enough to secure a heart-stopping 3-point win over St George. Final scores were Parramatta 4.7.31 to St George 4.4.28.
The Goannas kicked all four of their goals in the first half, leading by 9 points at the main break. The Dragons clawed their way back to level points at three-quarter time, then the Goannas dug deep, keeping the Dragons to just 1 behind in a desperate final term.
Representative midfielder Megan Mifsud and Tayliya Noack kicked 2 goals each for Parramatta. Paige Bauer kicked 2 goals for St George.
Parramatta’s best players were Montana Doubell, Mifsud, Noack, Skyla Seal, Ashley Gray, and Brea Trevitt. St George was best served by Delaney Gwynn, Sophie Matheson, Charlotte Bulmer, Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Tess Kokles, and Kaitlyn Sweet.
North Shore thrashed the struggling Pennant Hills by 152 points at Mike Kenny Oval. Final scores were North Shore 22.20.152 to Pennant Hills 0.0.0.
The Bombers seized their opportunity for valuable percentage with an overwhelming performance against the Demons.
Adrienne Keeffe kicked the magical 10 goals for the Bombers, with the talented Abbey Martin adding 5 goals, showing she has well and truly settled into playing in red and black.
North Shore’s best players were Keeffe, Martin, Ella Daniel, Grace Hill, Sophie Kavanagh, and Zoe Hurrell. Pennant Hills were best served by Caitlin Gurney, Eliza Michie, Allyana Levy, Remy Ally, Ashleigh Grubba, and Amelia Bennett.
Sydney University produced a solid 54-point victory over East Coast Eagles at University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 10.9.69 to East Coast Eagles.
Playing without Mostyn Medallist Maryanne Harley, the Students were made to work hard by the Eagles until then pulled right away in a confident second half performance. Uni used the switch to devastating effect on the wide expanses of Uni.1 Oval, creating many entries into their forward 50 with this tactic that is so effective on their unusually shaped home ground.
Lucy Gilfedder and Jessica Robertson both kicked 3 goals for the Students. Marley Kozak kicked both of the Eagles’ 2 majors.
Sydney University’s best players were Emma Walsh, Madison McCarthy, Ryleigh Delacour-Batch, Saskia Johnson, Amanda Farrugia, and Karina Bell. East Coast Eagles’ best players were not listed at the time of writing.
MEN'S UNDER 19.5 DIVISION ONE:
In Men's Under 19.5s Division One action, UNSW-ES and Manly Warringah drew 47 points each at Henson Park (with the Wolves kicking only 6 goals from 17 effective shots on goal), St George thumped Inner West Magpies by 61 points at Picken Oval, UTS defeated South West Sydney by 31 points at Waverley Oval, Pennant Hills defeated North Shore by 6 goals at Mike Kenny Oval, and Sydney University thumped East Coast Eagles by 87 points at University No.1 Oval.
MEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Men's Division One action, Manly Warringah defeated UNSW-ES by 23 points at Henson Park, North Shore accounted for Pennant Hills by 15 points at Mike Kenny Oval, Sydney University belted Camden by 57 points at University No.1 Oval, and Parramatta easily defeated St. George by 10 goals at Gipps Rd Oval. South West Sydney had the bye.
MEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
South West Sydney bounced back to top form with an 88-point demolition of hosts UTS at Waverley Oval. Final scores were South West Sydney 19.21.135 to UTS 7.5.47.
The Blues led by just 13 points at the main break, with their lead affected by only 6 goals from 16 effective scoring shots. The Blues then went on a rampage in the second half, kicking 13.11 to 2.2 as they methodically dismantled a UTS outfit now looking at the Top 5 from 6th place, a game and 38 percent behind the free-scoring Manly Warringah Wolves.
Talented utility Luke Parkinson kicked 6 goals for the Blues, well-supported by Bailey-Dean Latanis (4 goals) and Matthew Ronan (3 goals). Ash Backlund and Thomas Charles kicked 2 goals each for the Bats.
South West Sydney’s best players were Kyle Veerhuis (again), Ronan, Parkinson, Latanis, Ryan Shipard, and Jack Rule. With several key backmen around the League injured, Veerhuis could be an option as a key back in the Sydney/Canberra team to play Queensland Country Origin on 11 July at Southport. UTS was best served by Lachlan McNamara, Charles, James Warton, Benjamin Lenarduzzi, Nick McGill, and Tom Gordon.
Inner West Magpies recorded their first victory of the season with an emphatic 52-point win over near neighbours St George at Picken Oval. Final scores were Inner West Magpies 16.12.108 to St George 8.8.56.
The Magpies set up their victory with a huge second quarter, in which they kicked 8 goals to 2 in yet another high-scoring quarter at Croydon Park. The Magpies led by 51 points at half-time, and despite a third quarter fightback from the Dragons, coasted to victory with a 4 goal to zero final term.
Ryder Eberhard, relishing time up forward, kicked 4 goals for Inner West. Tom Coughlin, Ki Currie and Daniel O’Connell all chimed in with 2 majors each for the Magpies. Key Dragons forward Hunter Pickett kicked 6 of St George’s 8 goals in an excellent display.
Inner West Magpies best players were O’Connell, Jonty Inglis, Eberhard, Kevin Clark, Callum McEvoy-Gray, and Mathew Lemme. St George was best served by Hunter Pickett, Mac Winchester, Dominic Soffe, Riley Taylor, Taj Nicol, and Roman Pickett.
An astonishing display from a rampant Manly Warringah saw the Wolves thrash UNSW-ES by 112 points at Henson Park. Final scores in an historic performance were Manly Warringah 29.4.178 to UNSW-ES 10.6.66.
The history books will come out this week, with 29 goals out of 33 scoring shots from the Wolves surely some kind of record. Manly kicked 15 goals in the first half and 14 in the second half as they took advantage of pristine June conditions on a ground (Henson Park) similar in size and shape to their own home track at Weldon Oval.
The Bulldogs tried hard, kicking 10 goals of their own, but simply had no answers to a dynamic, quick, and accurate Manly forward line.
Riley Dillon and Zac Youlten kicked 6 goals each for the Wolves, with Phelan Medallist Kale Gabila chiming in with 4 majors for Manly. Archer Dunstan provided some joy for the Bulldogs faithful with 4 goals for UNSW-ES.
Manly Warringah’s best players were Jasper Crouch, Mackenzie Allen, Cooper McClennan, Lachlan Kilpatrick, Youlten, and Gabila. UNSW-ES was best served by key recruit Conor Haswell, William Foster, Dustin Inglis, Dunstan, Fionnán Madden, and Alex Norris.
North Shore showed their premiership credentials once again with a solid, hard-earnt 25-point win over Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval. Final scores were North Shore 11.7.73 to Pennant Hills.
The Bombers have won 2 away games in 7 days against fellow Top 5 teams South West Sydney and Pennant Hills, as they seek yet another Minor Premiership.
Pennant Hills led by 6 points at the main break, but then the Bombers kicked 8 goals to 3 in the second half as their Back 6 again came to fore, despite the absence of representative backman Christian Loone.
Thomas Hitchens kicked 3 goals for the Bombers, with Matt Buskariol and Nick Pavlou adding 2 majors each for North Shore. Oscar Irwin kicked 3 goals for Pennant Hills, with Josh Stern adding 2 majors for the Demons.
North Shore’s best players were Nicholas Brewer, Pavlou, Cooper Donald, Frane Babic, returning skipper Jake Veale, and Harry Edwards. Pennant Hills were best served by Cooper Lee, Michael Carroll, Ryan Mardling, Phelan Medallist Stephen Wray, Ben Lamb, and Cameron Este.
Carroll’s return after a long-term injury is crucial for the Demons as they seek a Top 3 finish and double chance in September.
Three huge quarters from Sydney University saw them set up a 101-point mauling of East Coast Eagles at University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 22.13.145 to East Coast Eagles 6.8.44.
The Students kicked 6 goals in an entertaining first quarter, 6 in the third quarter and then secured vital percentage with 7 goals in the final term.
Like their WPD clubmates, Uni used the switch to devastating effect at Uni No.1 Oval, and their delivery to key forwards Alex Withderden and Lachlan Keeffe was superb as they launched countless attacking raids against a beleaguered Eagles Back 6.
Alex Withderden had a field day for Uni at full forward, kicking 8 goals in a superb display. Rory Barkley kicked 3 goals at half-forward for the Students, with Lachlan Keeffe, Vasili Malempre and Michael Nettheim all chipping with 2 goals each for Sydney University. Nathan Penna kicked 2 goals each for the Eagles.
Sydney University’s best players were a dominant Declan Fitzpatrick, Barkley, Ricky Meyrick, Witherden, Wilson Baade, and Lucas Newman. East Coast Eagles were best served by Baylee Jones, Nick Johns, Blake Rundell, Lyndon Hupfeld, Cameron Edwards, and Scott Brown.