MANLY Warringah Wolves are back inside the top four of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division competition, defeating North Shore Bombers by 31 points at Gore Hill Oval. The Wolves were stringent in defence from the start, only allowing one goal which came in the final term, and were able to steady and hold out for a 6.5 (41) to 1.4 (10) win.

Predicted to be a tight contest between the fourth and fifth placed teams, it was clear right from the start that the Manly Warringah defence swarmed the Bombers offensive end to stifle the fluidity. After having time spent in their forward half and being unable to convert, the Bombers watched as Manly surged it forward and thanks to a snap under pressure from Jacqueline Green, got on the board in the contest.

The pressure continued straight off the second bounce, and despite clear possession opportunities, Manly was smothering all executions and still surging the ball forward themselves. Manly’s rucks Emily McGain and Lauren Bourgeois were giving great service to some sharp roving work, and had it not been repeated intercept marks in defence by the North Shore players, the score could have been quite a bit more.

Things started to change slightly towards the back half of the quarter with North Shore launching four inside fifty kicks, but they were all intercepted by Manly first and this trend continued right around the ground. They found simply find no linking play and found themselves trailing 1.2 (8) to 0.0 (0) at the first break.

North Side really tightened up its defence to start the second term, and while Manly hd the majority of the play, the repeat stoppages and pressured possessions limited the scoring. That drought was finally broken when Kate Salmon marked a dump kick at the top of 50 and put it to the danger zone for a clever Kaitlyn Manning to run into an open goal over the back of a pack.

North Shore had a couple of chances to put a goal on the board, but stumbled with the last execution kick, and Bombers skipper Matilda Eder‘s set shot could not be converted into six points. Meanwhile the Wolves were having no issues applying scoreboard pressure, adding three goals themselves in the process as their skipper Ashleigh Carter was dangerous, and youngster London Ashcroft was another to eventually hit the scoreboard.

The second half was largely an arm-wrestle with plenty of contested football and while the Bombers held their own, could not put the score on the board. North Shore had some chances in the last term after trailing by 26 points at the final break, but Adrienne Keeffe could only put the one major through after three attempts. Though it gave the home team a sniff, that hope was soon snuffed out after Manning kicked her second goal after a nice snap from long-range.

A battle all day, it was a case of the Wolves converting their opportunities compared to the Bombers being unable to put their chances through the big sticks. Top-ager Holly Cooper, Andrea Roditis and Lauren Bourgeois were named the Wolves’ best in the win, while Nadja Squires, Liv O’Donnell and Maddy Anderson stood out for the Bombers coaches.

NORTH SHORE BOMBERS 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.4 (10)
MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES 1.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 6.5 (41)

GOALS:
Bombers: A. Keeffe.
Wolves: A. Carter 2, K. Manning 2, L. Ashcroft, J. Green

BEST:
Bombers: N. Squires, L. O’Donnell, M. Anderson, O. Edwards, L. Anderson
Wolves: H. Cooper, A. Roditis, L. Bourgeois, J. Layton, J. Kennedy

AROUND THE GROUNDS

UTS Bats continued their unbeaten streak to set up a massive top of the table clash with East Coast Eagles next week, defeating Pennant Hills Demons by 67 points at Trumper Oval. The Bats held the Demons to just two behinds in the match, including scoreless in two of the four quarters, while piling on 10.9 (69) themselves.

Jessica Quade booted four goals in the win, with April Devine (three) and Gillian Behan (two) all contributing, the latter being named best on ground. For the Demons, Elly Rudd was a standout, while Kaitlin Quinlan also tried hard, as did AFLW Academy member, Olivia Morris.

Macquarie University Goannas also continued their winning ways with a fantastic defensive performance against UNSW-ES Bulldogs. The Goannas only kicked the three goals for the match and were held scoreless in the final term and goalless in the second half, but did the same to the Bulldogs, as the three first half goals proved the difference in the 3.6 (24) to 0.1 (1) victory.

Former GWS GIANTS skipper Amanda Farrugia was one of three individual goalkickers and among the best for the Goannas, while Caitlin Fletcher and JacquI Brown were also impressive. For the Bulldogs, Hayley Stanford and Chloe Anderson stood out to the coaches.

In the final match of the round, Sydney University finally got to celebrate its first win of the season, defeating fellow winless side Southern Power by 38 points at Waratah Oval. The first term was a nail-biter for the Students who led by just one point at quarter time, but dominated after that to kick six majors to nil in the final three quarters and run away with the contest, 8.2 (50) to 2.0 (12).

Stephanie Gillon booted two goals in the win and was named among the best, with Maryanne Harley and top-ager Kendra Blattman (one goal) also impressive. Amelia Martin and Grace Crittenden were the best of the Power players in the loss.