In the GE Womens Competition Grand Final played on Saturday at Newcastle No.1 Sportsground, the Newcastle City Stars secured the club’s third Womens Premiership in the four-year history of the competition with an extremely efficient and composed performance, comfortably defeating a physical Wyong Lakes Magpies by 33 points. Final scores were the Stars 5.10.40 to Wyong Lakes 1.1.7.
The Stars have been superb in the finals series after suffering a plague of injuries during the season, hanging on grimly in their semi-final against hosts Maitland, professionally accounting for hosts Killarney Vale in last Sunday’s Preliminary Final, then, inspired by superb performances from guns Tayla Brathwaite, Sarah Halvorsen, skipper Ashlee Hayllar and unsung hero Kate Gilbert, producing a compelling performance to completely shut down a game but outgunned Wyong Lakes outfit.
The Magpies have used a stingy defence, lead by Emily Bohan and Sarah Ball, to great effect this season, but the tables were turned today, with the Stars making scoring almost impossible for them. Indeed, the Magpies only goal came on the back of a lazy 50m penalty awarded to skipper Rebecca Ives, who kicked the goal from 5 metres out.
Halvorsen’s duel with Sarah Ball was a beauty, with Halvorsen made to earn every kick as she shaded the very talented Ball over four quarters. Halvorsen’s speed and ability to produce second and third efforts completed a wonderful finals series for the dynamic centre-half forward.
Bohan was thrust into the centre after half-time in a bid to use her long kicking to set up attacking opportunities for the Magpies. Bohan was solid in the centre but City’s defence structures held up superbly all day.
Braithwaite won the Best on Ground Medal, and she was well-supported by Hayllar, Halvorsen, Gilbert, Casey Eacott and forward Stephanie Miniter.
Bohan produced her usual excellent display, well-supported by Jesse Graham, ruck Kanesha Murray, the tireless Rachael Potts, Ives and Abby Pearce.
Halvorsen kicked two goals for City, with singles to Kristel Gavenlock, Stephanie Miniter, and Braithwaite. Ives kicked the Magpies only goal.
Last Modified on 26/10/2018 20:30