Written by David Redden
WOMEN'S UNDER 20:
In Womens Under 20s action, Sydney University (2) defeated South West Sydney by 108 points at Bob Prenter Reserve, UNSW-ES edged out Manly Warringah by a mere 5 points at Frank Grey Oval, Pennant Hills defeated Parramatta by 8 points in a low-scoring fixture at Gipps Rd, and Sydney University (1) thrashed North Shore by 74 points at University No.1 Oval. UTS had the Bye.
WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Womens Division One action, Randwick City produced an impressive 46-point victory over UTS at Mahoney Park, Southern Power defeated a spirited Newtown Breakaways by 11 points at Waratah Oval, Manly Warringah defeated East Coast Eagles by forfeit, and North Shore defeated Sydney University by 3 goals at Gore Hill Oval.
WOMEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
Parramatta produced their first victory od season 2026 with a comprehensive 59-point victory over Pennant Hills at Gipps Rd Oval. Final scores were Parramatta 9.11.65 to Pennant Hills 1.0.6.
Parramatta flew out of the blocks in the first quarter, letting by 26 points at the first change. The Goannas led by eight goals at half time and then nine goals at three quarter time, with Pennant Hills producing a much better second half defensively, in which that kept Parramatta to 2.6.
Khobi Devine, Zara Stanford, Annabelle McHale and Lilly Dummett all kicked 2 goals for the Goannas.
Parramatta’s best players were ruck Marley Rhodes, Montana Doubell, Brea Trevitt, Cindy Lam, Zara Stanford, and Tayliya Noack. Pennant Hills was best served by Greta Clatworthy, Sophie Pendlebury, Lillian Ward, Caitlin Gurney, Amber Reveley, and stalwart Ashleigh Grubba.
High flying UNSW-ES systematically dismantled UTS at Trumper Park, eventually running away with a compelling 92-point victory. Final scores were UNSW-ES 16.10.106 to UTS 2.2.14.
The Bulldogs did not give the Bats a chance in the first half, careering away to a 46-point lead at the main break. The Bulldogs kicked 9 goals to 2 in the second half to establish themselves as early Premiership favourites, having now beaten Manly Warringah, North Shore and now UTS.\
Dynamic forwards Rebecca Privitelli (5 goals) and Emily Conlan (4 goals) were in great form and caused the usually reliable Bats backline nightmares on a huge day at Trumper.
UNSW-ES’ best players were Privitelli, Eliza Vale, Shelby Koh, Summah Joyce, Abby Cunningham, and the consistent Rani Sossai. UTS was best served by Gemma Casiglia, Siena Visentini, Georgina McDonnell, Elly Rudd, Marnie Robinson, and Zoe Bush.
A dominant Manly Warringah crushed East Coast Eagles by 89 points at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 12.18.90 to East Coast Eagles 0.1.1.
The Wolves performance was basically flawless, with the only exception being only 12 goals kicked from 30 effective shots at goal. Keeping the talented Eagles outfit to a solitary behind highlights an outstanding effort from Manly’s back 5 and talented midfield.
Bella Clarke kicked 4 goals for the Wolves, with small forward Isabella Rudolph chipping in with 2 majors.
In an ominous sign for the rest of the Premier Division, Manly’s best two players were midfield guns Kenya Fahey and dual Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf. They were aided and abetted by Abbie Hayes, Holly Wickham, Roxi Beuzeville and Lauren Bull. East Coast Eagles was best served by Imogen Gray, the evergreen Renee Tomkins, Nellie McMillan, Kahli Gilchrist, Grace Simonsen and Nelly Thomas.
North Shore produced a solid, professional 64-point victory over St George at Gore Hill Oval. Final scores were North Shore 12.11.83 to St George 3.1.19.
After a close first quarter (the Bombers led by 10 points after the first 18 minutes), North Shore kicked 5 goals to 1 in the second term and were never seriously threatened afterwards. The Dragons regrouped after half time and defended their hearts out, keeping North Shore to 5 goals in the second half.
Sophie Kavanagh led all goalkickers with 3 majors for North Shore. Lily Sullivan, full-forward Adrienne Keeffe, and Elizabeth Yates all kicked 2 goals for the Bombers, ahead of their monster clash against Manly Warringah at Curl Curl this Saturday.
North Shore’s best players were Kavanagh, Elizabeth Yates, Lucy Yates, representative half-back Zoe Hurrell and Liv O'Donnell. St George was best served by the reliable Delaney Gwynn, Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Ellen Soffe, Jasmine Baily, Charlotte Bulmer, and Eloise Carey.
MEN'S UNDER 19.5 DIVISION ONE:
In Mens Under 19.5 Division One action, Pennant Hills thumped Inner West Magpies by 113 points at Picken Oval, North Shore belted St George by 10 goals at Gore Hill Oval, Manly Warringah defeated East Coast Eagles by 7 goals at Weldon Oval, UNSW-ES thrashed UTS by 86 points at Trumper Oval, and Sydney University romped to a 111-point victory over South West Sydney at Bob Prenter Reserve.
MEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Mens Division One action, Camden defeated Manly Warringah by 26 points at Weldon Oval, Sydney University accounted for South West Sydney by 52 points at Bob Prenter Reserve, North Shore hammered St George by 92 points at Gore Hill Oval, and Parramatta defeated Pennant Hills by 67 points at Gipps Rd. UNSW-ES had the Bye.
MEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
UTS continued their impressive start to the season with a 28-point victory over UNSW-ES at Trumper Oval. Final scores were UTS 17.13.115 to UNSW-ES 13.9.87.
After an entertaining first half, the Bulldogs led the Bats by 18 points at the main break.
Whatever was said in the confines of the Bats rooms at half-time worked a treat, with UTS kicking 7 goals to 1 in the “premiership” quarter to lead by 20 points at three-quarter time. The Bats then kicked 3 goals to 2 in the final stanza to record back-to-back victories over their great rivals Sydney University and UNSW-ES.
Blake Tabe kicked 3 goals for the Bats, with Nathan Lanham, Henry Gosse, Lachlan McNamara, and Sam Langley all chipping in with 2 majors for UTS. Jacquin Mifsud kicked 4 goals for the Bulldogs in an impressive display, with Jackson Tikkeros, Luke Swan and Charlie Burgess-Hoar all kicking 2 majors for UNSW-ES.
The Bats’ best players were McNamara, Jack Jarvis, Gosse, Nick McGill, Tabe, and Matthew O'Hanlon. UNSW-ES was best served by Noah Harper, Swan, William Foster, Mifsud, Giovanni Douziech and William Spencer.
Manly Warringah was ruthless in their 133-point victory over the struggling East Coast Eagles at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 22.14.146 to East Coast Eagles 1.7.13.
The Wolves needed a quick return to form after their heartbreaking loss to Sydney University last week, and they jumped East Coast from the outset, kicking 4, 6, 8 and 4 goals respectively in a simply dominant performance. The Wolves gained crucial percentage as well, in keeping East Coast to just 1 goal & 7 behinds.
Veteran full-forward Trent Dennis-Lane was in vintage form, kicking 9 goals in a superb display. Representative forward Zac Youlten also kicked 3 goals for Manly Warringah.
Manly Warringah’s best players were Dennis-Lane, Phelan Medallist Kale Gabila, Cooper McClennan, Mackenzie Allen, Kyle Martin, and Lachlan Kilpatrick. East Coast Eagles were best served by Reeve Simmons, the consistent Jacob Jones, Lyndon Hupfeld, Marshall Poynter, Mitchell Bradley, and Brady Mackay.
In by far the game of the weekend, Sydney University edged out South West Sydney by 6 points at Bob Prenter Reserve. Final scores were Sydney University 8.8.56 to South West Sydney 7.8.50.
In a terrific, hard-fought game upon the vast expanses at Macquarie Fields, the teams were locked at 6.6.42 at three-quarter time. University held their nerve in the final term, kicking 2 goals to 1 as they dug very deep against a young and talented Blues outfit.
Rory Barkley and Brayden Pilot kicked 2 goals each for the Students. Nic Dunshea kicked 2 goals for the Blues.
Sydney University’s best players were Lucas Newman, Nicholas Andreacchio, Oscar Bosnjakovic, Jack Lewsey, Rory Barkley, and Sam Barkley. South West Sydney was best served by Jerome Lawrence, Bailey Stewart, Max Lower, Uchenna Egbu, Angus Langley, and Edward Cole.
In the traditional Anzac Day fixture, an accurate Pennant Hills was too strong for Inner West Magpies, running out 103-point winners in front of a big Anzac Day crowd at Croydon Park. Final scores were Pennant Hills 22.9.141 to Inner West Magpies 5.8.38.
After an entertaining 9-goal first quarter, Pennant Hills, on the back of a magnificent performance from key forward Nick Hey, kicked 16 goals to 2 over the final three quarters as they continued their resurrection under second-year coach Jason Blakemore.
A notable move by Blakemore, in the absence of League fullback Mikey Carroll, was to have League ruckman Mitchell Blow mark veteran Magpies full-forward Ben Zoppo. Blow played superbly as a stopgap fullback, with Zoppo switched into the ruck in the second half to get his hands on the ball.
Hey was unstoppable for Pennant Hills, kicking 9 goals despite the best efforts of gallant Magpies defender Keegan Litchfield. Josh Stern, in great early season form, kicked 3 majors for the Demons, as did small forward Oscar Irwin.
Pennant Hills’ best players were Hey, Blow, Oliver Williams, Stern, burly ruckman Charles Allison. and Cooper Lee. Inner West Magpies were best served by Finnegan Ritchie, William Sabolch (who had the ball on a string in the first half), Jonty Inglis, Kevin Clark, Ethan White, and Litchfield.
North Shore had a huge day against St George at Gore Hill Oval, hammering the Dragons by 146 points. Final scores were North Shore 28.17.185 to St George 6.3.39.
The Bombers were dynamic in the first tern, kicking an almost unheard of 12.5.77 in the first 25 minutes. The Dragons, at least, fought hard after the first-quarter avalanche, kicking 6 goals over the final 3 quarters whilst the Bombers continued on their merry way, kicking 16 more goals in a quite simply awesome display in front of the faithful at Gore Hill.
Matt Buskariol kicked 7 goals for the Bombers, with the League’s most improved player Cooper Donald adding 5 majors of his own. Thomas Hitchens (4 goals) and Ned hardman (3 goals) hit the scoreboard regularly for North Shore. Hunter Pickett kicked 4 goals for St George in an impressive display, given limited opportunities.
North Shore’s best players were Donald, Jake Veale, Buskariol, Mitchell Rogers, returning ruckman Mitchell Crisafulli, and Ned Hardman. St George was best served by Jack Druery, Liam Taylor, Eddie Marning, Nelson Carey, Nathaniel McKenzie-Hicks, and Dominic Maunder.