Written by David Redden
WOMEN'S UNDER 20:
In Womens Under 20s action, Manly Warringah edged out Sydney University (2) by a mere 2 points at Weldon Oval, UTS and Parramatta played out a thrilling 4.4.28 each draw at Bat & Ball Oval, Pennant Hills defeated North Shore by 15 points at Gore Hill Oval and Sydney University (1) defeated UNSW-ES by 15 points at David Phillips South Oval. South West Sydney had the Bye.
WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Womens Division One action, Southern Power received a forfeit from South West Sydney Blues, Sydney University defeated UTS by 42 points at University No.1 Oval, Manly Warringah accounted for Newtown Breakaways by 26 points at Mahoney Park, and Randwick City thrashed East Coast Eagles by 97 points at Bruce Purser Reserve. North Shore had the Bye.
WOMEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
On Back to Baulko Day at Bruce Purser Reserve, East Coast Eagles hammered Pennant Hills by 81 points. Final scores were East Coast Eagles 12.9.81 to Pennant Hills 0.0.0.
The Eagles led by 36 points at half-time and piled on the pressure in the second half to gain valuable percentage against the struggling Demons outfit.
Rylee McGartland kicked 4 goals for the Eagles, whilst Skye Southon, Caitlin Davidson and Bailee Hourigan all chipped in with two majors each for East Coast.
East Coast’s best players were Southon, Jess Whelan, Chloe Arndt, Imogen Gray, Kahli Gilchrist, and Hourigan, Pennant Hills was best served by Ava Clegg, Amelia Bennett, Makayla Bleza, Stephanie Este, Ella Gillard, and Caitlin Gurney.
Manly Warringah showed they are back closer to their best form with a crucial, professional 33-point win over Sydney University at University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 7.6.48 to Sydney University 2.3.15.
The Wolves led by just 2 goals at the main break but kicked away to lead by 30 points at the final break. Keeping Uni to 1 goal in each half will please Wolves Head Coach Phil Spratt, with Manly’s defence a major factor in their great run over half a decade.
Bella Clarke and Peggy Stanbury kicked two goals each for Manly Warringah.
Manly’s best players were Andrea Roditis, Clarke, Stanbury, Lauren Bull, dual Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf, and representative utility Holly Wickham. Sydney University was best served by Maryanne Harley, Amanda Farrugia, Emma Juneja, Molly Cameron, Yasmin Sayer, and Anna Langford.
In an outstanding performance at Henson Park, UNSW-ES defeated North Shore by 13 points Final scores were UNSW-ES 7.3.45 to North Shore 4.8.32.
The key to the Bulldogs superb win was their tackling. They tackled the Bombers out of the game and kept them under pressure for the entire 4 quarters. North Shore will use this loss as motivation for the rest of the season, and again, their poor shooting (4.8) needs work on the training track this week.
Key forwards Rebecca Privitelli, Emily Conlan and Taylor Smith all kicked 2 goals for UNSW-ES. Adrienne Keeffe kicked two goals for North Shore.
UNSW-ES’ best players were Eliza Vale, Sera Kaukiono, Rani Sossai, Smith, Francesca Ryan, and Ella Willey. North Shore was best served by Ella Daniel, Sophie Kavanagh, Isadora McLeay, Liv O'Donnell, Lucy Yates, and Keeffe.
UTS thrashed Parramatta by 82 points at Waverley Oval. Final scores were UTS 14.11.95 to Parramatta 2.1.13.
In their second successive convincing performance at home, the Bats never gave the Goannas a chance, leading by 29 points at the main break then by 70 points at three-quarter time. The undefeated Bats have a massive home fixture at UNSW-ES at Trumper Park on Anzac Day, and they will need to be at their best to topple the high-flying Bulldogs in one of the games of the season.
Kate Stanton, Brianna-Lee Wade and Ella Parker all kicked 3 goals for UTS.
UTS’ best players were Beth Martini, Olivia Morris, Taylah Canobie, Parker, Hannah Cerezo, and Stanton. Parramatta’s best players were not listed at the time of writing.
MEN'S UNDER 19.5 DIVISION ONE:
In Mens Under 19.5 Division One action, UNSW-ES defeated North Shore by 21 points at Henson Park, Manly Warringah accounted for Sydney University by 18 points at University No.1 Oval, East Coast Eagles defeated Pennant Hills by 30 points at Bruce Purser Reserve, UTS belted Inner West Magpies by 69 points at Waverley Oval, and St George defeated South West Sydney Blues by 11 points at Kelso Park North.
MEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Mens Division One action, North Shore thrashed UNSW-ES by 124 points at Henson Park, St George just hung on to defeat South West Sydney by 6 points at Kelso Park North, Camden edged out Pennant Hills by 9 points at Fairfax Reserve, and Sydney University defeated Manly Warringah by 19 points at University No.1 Oval. Parramatta had the Bye.
MEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
North Shore kept rolling onward and upward with a clinical 73-point victory over an undermanned UNSW-ES at Henson Park. Final scores were North Shore 16.17.113 to UNSW-ES 6.4.40.
The Bombers led by 32 points after an entertaining first half, in which UNSW-ES, in patches, were able to counter-attack effectively, using their running game well on a ground they know so well.
North Shore put the hammer down in the second half, kicking 7 goals to 1 in yet another accomplished performance.
Jackson Nelson and Matt Buskariol kicked 3 goals each for the Bombers. UNSW-ES had 6 individual goalkickers.
North Shore’s best players were Mitchell Rogers, Jarvis Hemmings, Luke Robertson, Cooper Donald, Ned Campbell, and Guy Richardson. UNSW-ES’ best players were not listed at the time of writing.
UTS comfortably accounted for Inner West Magpies by 59 points at Waverley Oval. Final scores were UTS 17.12.114 to Inner West Magpies 8.7.55.
The Bats defence was superb over the first three quarters, as they restricted Inner West to just 3 goals to lead by 78 points at the final break. To the Magpies’ credit, they kicked 5 goals to 2 in the last stanza as UTS took their foot of the pedal, something the Bats cannot afford moving through the home & away season.
Talisman Ash Backlund kicked 5 goals for the Bats. Ryan Lymn and Blake Tabe chipped in with 3 majors each for UTS. Lachlan Tiziani and Alex Touma kicked 3 goals each for Inner West.
UTS’ best players were James Warton, Henry Gosse, Joshua Lee, Nick McGill, Lymn, and Damian Ryan. Inner West Magpies were best served by Finnegan Ritchie, Max Fasolo, Tiziani, Jonathon Bowyer, Kevin Clark, and the consistent Bililign Robertson.
Pennant Hills thrashed East Coast Eagles by 99 points at Bruce Purser Reserve, as the Demons produced their second outstanding performance in 7 days. Finals scores were Pennant Hills 19.16.130 to East Coast Eagles 4.7.31.
Pennant Hill simply raced out of the blocks, leading by 5 goals at quarter-time and 55 points at the main break. Mikey Carroll’s defensive back six again shone for the Demons, which will please head Coach Jason Blakemore ahead of their traditional Anzac Day fixture against Inner West Magpies at Picken Oval.
Nick Hey and Oscar Irwin kicked 4 goals each for the Demons, whilst skipper Mitchell Blow, Josh Stern and Darcy Carnahan all chimed in 3 goals each for Pennant Hills. Marshall Poynter kicked 2 goals for the struggling Eagles.
Pennant Hills’ best players were Stern, Xavier Russell, Irwin, Hey, Aidan Russell, and Blow. East Coast Eagles were best served by Poynter, Lyndon Hupfeld, and Benjamin Roughan.
South West Sydney continued their flawless start to the season with a 101-point drubbing of St George at Kelso Park North. Final scores were South West Sydney 20.14.134 to St George 5.3.33.
Much like Pennant Hills, South West Sydney raced out to a 32-point lead the quarter-time and were never seriously threatened by the Dragons. Keeping a Premier Division team to 5 goals over 4 quarter on a glorious autumnal Sydney afternoon is a great effort by the well-organised Blues back six.
South West Sydney now prepares for a huge home Anzac Day fixture against Sydney University at Bob Prenter Reserve, whilst the Dragons face the ominous task of visiting Gore Hill Oval to play the rampant North Shore outfit.
Luke Parkinson (surely about to be named in the AFL Sydney Rep Squad) starred with 5 goals for the Blues. Key forward Nic Dunshea added 4 goals of his own for South West Sydney, whilst Willaim Lockett chimed in with 3 majors. Hunter Pickett kicked 3 goals for the Dragons.
South West Sydney’s best players were Liam Burns, Parkinson (possibly leading the Phelan Medal count after 3 rounds), Joshua Croft, Eddie Keogh, Matthew Belbasis, and Josh Thomas. St George was best served by stalwart Nathaniel Mckenzie-Hicks, Hunter Flower, Pickett, Joshua Nicholls, Jack Logan, and Lucas Flower.
In what will go down as one of the games of the season, Sydney University hung on to defeat Manly Warringah by a mere 5 points in an absolute thriller at University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 16.11.107 to Manly Warringah 15.12.102.
The Wolves led by 12 points at quarter-time, then Uni came back to lead by a solitary point at the main break. Uni eked out a 7-point lead by three-quarter-time, then hung on in an outstanding 10-goal last quarter.
Scores were level at 94-94 in the 16th minute of the final term, then Uni kicked two goals in a row (from Nathan Tang then Declan Fitzpatrick) before Oliver Rojo kicked the final goal of the match for Manly in the 27th minute. This is huge win for Uni after a tough loss to UTS at Waverley Oval last week.
Former GWS Giant Lachlan Keeffe kicked 4 goals for the Students, with skipper Nathan Tang chiming in with 3 pivotal goals himself. Trent Denni-Lane (4 goals) and Zac Youlten (3 goals) led Manly’s goalkicking.
Sydney Uni’s best players were Tang, Sam Barkley, Alex Witherden, Jack Lewsey, Wilson Baade, and Oscar Bosnjakovic. Manly Warringah was best served by Rojo, Mackenzie Allen, Byron Laws, former Phelan Medallist Kale Gabila, Lachlan Cameron, and Ryan Stubbs.