With Macquarie University declaring a forfeit thus Western Wolves win by forfeit.
At Sydney University, Sydney University hosted the Breakaways in a game that was worthy of finals football. This was a literal 8 point game between the two sides as a win to the Sydney Uni Bombers consolidated the gap between 2nd and 3rd place whilst a loss would have resulted in the top 2 being consolidated. Reports from St Paul's saw a tough uncomprimising physical game between the two sides. Newtown lead from the first quarter kicking two goals to nil. In the second quarter, both sides kicked two goals each so that Newtown lead 4.2 to 2.6 at half time. In the third term the Bombers improved so they were only one point behind the Breakaways at 3/4 time 5.2.32 to 4.9.31. The Bombers although inaccurate were able to finish the game just a little bit stronger than the Breakaways with the lead flip-flopping in the final quarter. At the final siren, all players were confused as to who had won, such was the intensity of the game but the goal umpires conferred and it was Sydney University triumphing by one point - Sydney University Bombers 7.10.52 to Newtown Breakaways 8.3.51.
At Mahoney, a depleted Bondi Shamrocks recruited a patchwork team to play the league leaders Balmain Dockers. The Shamrocks were in for a long day, trying hard but the Dockers midfield and forwards combined together to runover the Shamrocks. Basically Belinda Pride made great leads to mark the ball and convert from setshots whilst other Dockers did most of the damage in general play. The Shamrocks made few opportunities in their forward line but were unable to complete their chances. Those who did well for the Dockers were Belinda Pride with 10 goals, Tracey Robinson and Rachel Barger whilst for the Shamrocks were Kate Grabowski, Lizzie Gavaghan, Taz Miller and Cara Connaire. In the words of LeBron James, there will now be an attempt to speak in the third person as the Shamrocks goal umpire apologises unreservedly for any verbal thoughts being heard by the umpires as he should know better and is ashamed of his actions. The end score was a convincing win to Balmain Dockers 19.26.140 to Bondi Shamrocks 0.1.1
In the second game, the UNSW-Easts Stingrays hosted the Wollongong Saints playing for the first time in their attractive lightblue uniforms. The first quarter was a game of attrition due to lots of pack football leading to only one behind being scored. In the second quarter the Wollongong Saints due to their six Youth Girl Players were able to dominate possession but their inaccuracy in front of the goals was reflected on the scoreboard for the Saints to lead 1.5.11 to 1.0.6. In the premiership quarter, Stingrays Coach Ben Porter asked his girls to lift and they responded to dominate the quarter and score two goals and win the quarter. In the final quarter Easts scored the first goal to lift the Stingrays hopes and dreams but the Saints rediscovered a new burst of energy as Youth Girls April Maciejowski and Sinead Bailey converted their marks into goals. At the burst of the final siren, the Stingray players initially celebrated with relief at winning the game before the goal umpires and the ground timekeeper conferred and agreed that the Saints had won their third game of the season by a single point. The end score was an inaccurate Wollongong Saints winning 3.12.30 to UNSW-Easts Stingrays 4.5.29. This is a very commendable turnaround as the Saints last time was blitzed by 183 points by the Stingrays - so well done! Best for the Stingrays was Jane Freeland, Rachie Paton, Jenna Linehan and Renee Sochor. For the Saints, Hannah Strong, Sinead Bailey, Yvette Heritage, April Maciejowski, Shellee Gibson and Loranna Child. Without being brutal, I think the Stingrays would have felt they didn't play at their best today and might not have deserved the chocolates.
My unoffical ladder has all teams remaining the same position but the Wollongong Saints now join the Southern Power on 12 points.
Development News
On July 11, the inaugural Talented Player Pathway (TPP) was launched at the Olympic Park Novotel where invited players and Youth Girls players attended an information session about the pathways going forward leading to the National Championships in Adelaide next year. The TPP is based on the Academies that other states have set up in terms of targetting and improving on high performance. Lisa "Kiwi" Roper - state player, representative coach at Youth Girls Level and SWAFL Committee Level as well as Game Development is the main driver of this initiative.
Round 14 Preview
The return of Friday Night Football sees the match of the round between 1st and 2nd place at Jubilee Park, Glebe. With the defeat of the Breakaways by the narrowest of margins and bragging rights of the potential undefeated season by the Dockers (and the minor premiership at stake), I suggest you get your blanket and jacket out to Glebe for Friday Night Football. With both players having their top-gun slingers in Belinda Pride and Krystle Thompson racing for the coveted golden boot, what a great game to think about! Will the chilly July winds play a factor once again? I'd liked to have the hot bottle rights for Friday night.
On Saturday it's the clash of the F6 Freeway Cup as the Southern Power take on Wollongong at Mahoney. The Power would have been refreshed by the week's break whilst the Wollongong Saints feel they can make it three wins in a row and capture the momentum to run out the season in great style. Of course the key to the Saints is the availability of their Illawarra Youth Girls players. It's really evident that the availability of Emma May, Loranna Child, Sinead Bailey, April Maciejowski, Sophie Lavender and Madolyn Ryan strengthens their spine as well as being a bit more direct in attack. With both teams on the same points one team will break free of the other, last time the Power emerged the victors by 18 points so it'll be interesting to see who emerges victorious.
Out at Windswept Malabar, the Bondi Shamrocks host the Western Wolves at Pioneer Park. The Saints AFC who has their home ground here play in the Sydney AFL Division 4 and you just might find one or two of the Wolves coaches in Saints colours playing afterwards. So if you have been a Wolves player currently or in the past and being encouraged by Richard or Jason during a game, this might be your turn to encourage Richard or Jason if they play against Southern Power.The actual game has the Wolves the potential to knock out the Shamrocks out of finals contention should they win. With the Wolves rested, I assume they will come out firing on all 4 cylinders for this game.
The last game is out at North Ryde on Saturday Evening, as the Stingrays calibrate their GPS Units to University Oval for the 5pm clash against Macquarie University. The Stingrays will be keen to restore pride in the jumper and Macquarie University would have enjoyed the break and an opportunity to recruit a few new players. So it's an intriguing game for both sides. The Stingrays can't afford another loss for finals contention as they have to play 3 teams above them on the ladder in the future.
Sydney University has the bye.
Last Modified on 11/07/2010 22:57