QUEENSLAND finished their strong Championships off with a hard-fought 17-point win over the Eastern Allies.

It was an even start to the game as the sides went goal for goal in a contested arm-wrestle. Eastern Allies’ Alexia Hamilton broke the deadlock with her first goal from a set shot, but Queensland started to wrestle back momentum as Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw struck with a six-pointer coming off a strong lead. Hamilton then took a big mark deep inside forward as the clock ran down and duly converted to have the Allies up by five points at quarter time, with her efficiency helping her to stand out.

The arm-wrestle continued early in the second term with the ball swinging from arc to arc, but Queensland made breakthroughs with goals from Georgia Eller and Tawhiao-Wardlaw giving them the lead. Midfield gun, Lily Postlethwaite continued her good championship form, while Zimmorlei Farquharson came into the game with some good touches at half-forward as Queensland took an eight-point buffer into the main break. For the Eastern Allies, Alyce Parker did her best to quell Queensland’s threat going forward as she worked hard to plug gaps in defensive 50, while Netty Garlo tried hard in the midfield.

With the lead within a straight kick at goal away, Eastern fought tooth and nail to snatch it from the home side. Parker was inspirational from the midfield, but was unfortunately one of four Allies players to miss chances during the quarter as they remained goalless. In the final five minutes of the term, Taylor Smith converted a set shot inside 50 up the other end to really hurt the visitors after a quarter where they were well on top. Smith’s goal saw Queensland 11 points to the good at the final break, and Eastern had it all to do.

With the pressure on, Queensland wrestled back the momentum in the final term and the only goal came from Charlotte Hammans to seal the win for the home side. Parker was near best-on, collecting the ball just about everywhere for Eastern Allies with stoppage dominance and strong overhead marking. Hamilton was another to impact the contest with her two first quarter goals, while Garlow was also solid. For the Maroons, Postlethwaite could well have picked up her third consecutive best-afield honour, while Ellie Hampson was damaging with her agility off half-back and Farquharson stood up again in the forward line.

Final scores:

QUEENSLAND: 1.2 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.5 (35)
EASTERN ALLIES: 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.6 (18)

GOALS:

QUEENSLAND: Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw 2, Charlotte Hammans, Georgia Eller, Taylor Smith.
EASTERN ALLIES: Alexia Hamilton 2.

ADC BEST:

QUEENSLAND: Lily Postlethwaite, Ellie Hampson, Serene Watson, Chloe Gregory, Jade Ellenger, Zimmorlei Farquharson
EASTERN ALLIES: Alyce Parker, Netty Garlo, Lauren Stevenson, Alexia Hamilton, Mia King, Alice Mitchell