THE top two teams in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s competition continued to shine, as East Fremantle and Claremont came away with big wins against their respective top four opponents. The Sharks dished out a 15-point win over Peel Thunder that was largely flattered by consolation goals in the final term, whilst the Tigers came back from a two-goal quarter time deficit to slot seven of the last eight goals of the match to secure the 31-point win. In the standalone Sunday game, winless West Perth put up its greatest fight yet, falling four goals short of South Fremantle after a costly first half.

Claremont bounced back from its loss to top of the table East Fremantle last week, to further solidify its spot inside the top two. The Tigers are now 12 points clear of third placed Swan Districts after defeating the Swans by 31 points, all but locking up that double chance. Swan Districts started strongly in front of a home crowd at Steel Blue Oval, but could not sustain the 12-point lead at quarter time. After that point, the Tigers piled on 7.10 (52) to 1.3 (9), with the 31-point final margin being the largest of the game. Tall forward Brooke Whyte was the only multiple goalkicker of the game with two, but the match was largely played between the arcs with only 50 inside 50s (28-22 in Claremont’s favour).

Whyte booted her two gaols from 10 disposals, as captain Ella Smith returned to have a day out, racking up 17 touches, three marks, nine tackles, two inside 50s and a goal. Mikayla Western (14 disposals, two marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal), Tessa Doumanis (10 disposals, two marks and a goal), Mhicca Carter (10 disposals, four tackles and a goal) and Sarah Garstone (10 disposals, 10 tackles, 12 hitouts and a goal) all hit the scoreboard. Matilda Dyke (12 disposals, three tackles and 29 hitouts) took control in the ruck, whilst Madeleine Scanlon (15 disposals, three marks and two inside 50s) was also busy.

Swan Districts midfield still found its fair share of the ball, with captain Jessica Cox (16 disposals, 12 tackles and five inside 50s) leading from the front, with experienced defender Lauren Osborne (18 disposals) lead all-comers. Ruby Mahony (14 disposals five tackles) was a standout, as youngster Jaime Henry (12 disposals, eight tackles) and reliable defender Eliza Gelmi (10 disposals, two marks and six tackles) were also among the best for the losers.

Claremont will rest up for its final bye of the season next week, whilst Swan Districts travel to Subiaco to take on the Lions in a must-win contest on Sunday, May 15.

SWAN DISTRICTS 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 3.4 (22)
CLAREMONT 0.1 | 3.6 | 5.7 | 7.11 (53)

GOALS:

Swan Districts: C. Zappara, H. Ugle-Hayward, T. Beros
Claremont: B. Whyte 2, M. Western, S. Garstone, T. Doumanis, E. Smith, M. Carter

RMC BEST:

Swan Districts: R. Mahony, J. Cox, L. Osborne, E. Gelmi, J. Henry
Claremont: M. Western, E. Smith, M. Carter, M. Dyke, M. Scanlon

East Fremantle has provided another incredible defensive effort – at least for three quarters – to withstand reigning back-to-back premier Peel Thunder’s attack to run out 15-point winners at East Fremantle Oval. The Sharks got on the board through Doma Fedele, before the floodgates opened up in the second term. Usual suspects, Larissa Versaci, Anjelique Raison and Julia Teakle all converted majors, whilst youngster Taya Chambers found herself up the right end to put one home. Raison slotted her second just after half-time to make it a 38-point ball game, with Peel Thunder not kicking their first goal until the 12-minute mark of the third term through competition leading goalkicker Kate Bartlett. The Sharks would respond three minutes later through Teakle’s second, and though they would not score in the final 21 minutes of the match, they held on as Bartlett kicked two more and the Thunder cut the final deficit to just 15 points.

The East Fremantle midfield might have been missing some talented players, but the pairing of Ashleigh Gomes and Sharon Wong continued to thrive, sharing in 45 disposals and eight inside 50s, with Ashlee Atkins (23 disposals, three marks, two tackles and three inside 50s) and Amber Kinnane (21 disposals, two marks and six tackles) also busy. Up forward, Teakle slotted two goals from 17 touches and two marks, with Raison (two goals from 11 disposals and 15 hitouts) and Versaci (21 disposals, four marks, six tackles, four inside 50s and a goal) continuing her wonderful season.

For the Thunder, teenager Aisha Wright had her best game of the year, amassing 20 disposals, three marks, two tackles and seven inside 50s, with the reliable defensive pairing of Ebony Dowson (18 disposals, four marks and two tackles) and Cassie Davidson (15 disposals, two marks and three tackles) repelling numerous Shark attacks. Bartlett slotted three goals from 12 touches and five marks, as youngster Jorja Haines kicked the last goal of the match, and had 13 disposals and three inside 50s in a hard-working effort.

East Fremantle hosts West Perth in Round 13 in a top-against-bottom clash, whilst Peel Thunder will head to Fremantle Community Bank Oval to take on the Bulldogs; both of which are Saturday games.

EAST FREMANTLE 1.2 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 (46)
PEEL THUNDER 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 4.7 (31)

GOALS:

East Fremantle: J. Teakle 2, A. Raison 2, T. Chambers, D. Fedele, L. Versaci
Peel Thunder: K. Bartlett 3, K. Srhoj

RMC BEST:

East Fremantle: A. Gomes, L. Versaci, J. Teakle, A. Raison, A. Amaranti
Peel Thunder: A. Wright, C. Davison, E. Dowson, J. Haines, K. Bartlett

A strong start from South Fremantle set up a four-goal win over West Perth in what was the Falcons’ most competitive effort yet. In a scrappy contest from start to finish, the Bulldogs gritted their teeth and had a bit more polish early, kicking five goals from nine scoring shots to race out to a 34-point half-time lead. After half-time though. the Falcons kicked into gear, booting four goals to two, and kicking the highest score in club history. It would not be enough though, as South Fremantle won 7.8 (50) to 4.2 (26).

South Fremantle captain Lauren Vecchio was a standout across four quarters, picking up 27 disposals, five marks, four tackles and four inside 50s, whilst Liusaidh Gilchrist also tore it up with 31 touches, three marks, three hitouts and seven inside 50s chopping out in the ruck. Kahra Sprylan (25 disposals, four tackles and six inside 50s) and Molly O’Hehir (24 disposals, two marks, five tackles and six inside 50s) also found plenty of the ball, whilst forward Poppy Stockwell really caught the eye with an impressive 14 disposals, three marks and two goals in the win.

For West Perth, it was really even across the board, with Kaitlyn Roper (18 disposals, five marks and five tackles) providing some good rebound out of defence alongside Liliana Grassenis (nine disposals, four marks and four tackles) and Karla Stagg (10 disposals). In midfield, Kayla Van Den Heever (16 disposals, three tackles and four inside 50s) really cracked in alongside Megan Norbury and Jessica Roper, whilst Lea Caccamo was a good link going inside 50.

Both sides play next Saturday, May 14, with West Perth taking on East Fremantle, whilst South Fremantle hosts Peel Thunder.

WEST PERTH 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 4.2 (26)
SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.2 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 7.8 (50)

GOALS:

West Perth: E. Price, J. Heer, C. Scott, G. Betti
South Fremantle: P. Stockwell 2, A. Ugle 2, C. Byrne 2, E. Ward

RMC BEST:

West Perth: K. Roper, K. Van Den Heever, L. Caccamo, M. Norbury, J. Roper
South Fremantle: L. Vecchio, L. Gilchrist, K. Sprylan, M. O’Hehir, K, Templeman