AFTER only recently gaining top spot off the East Coast Eagles, UTS Bats showed in Round 15 of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division they had no intention of losing it. Forced to dig deep against Manly Warringah Wolves, the Bats were able to hold off their title threat by 27 points.

Manly Warringah Wolves 5.6 (36) lost to UTS Bats 9.9 (63)

In what looked like Manly Warringah’s best shot at the ladder-leading UTS Bats, the Wolves were unable to finish the job with the visitors storming home in the last quarter. Touted as one of the matches of the season, the Wolves jumped out to a three-point lead at quarter time, and seven points at the main break, looking like they were primed for an upset.

Though not playing their best football at that point, the Bats kept grinding, kicking three goals to two in the third term to draw within a point at the last change. Then they took control, slamming home 4.4 to 0.0 to run away 9.9 (63) to 5.6 (36) winners off the back of contested ball-winning efforts at the coalface, and hard running on the outside.

Manly Warringah will go back to the drawing board after the result, with an impressive game for the most part, but let the match slip in the last quarter. The Bats will be relieved by the great escape, but also able to learn plenty considering how much the Wolves had got on top early.

Danika Spamer and Georgina McDonnell were key players for the Bats through the middle, while Gillian Behan proved the difference in the win, the only multiple goalkicker with four majors. Swans Academy bottom-ager Emma Juneja was also strong across the board. For the Wolves. Lauren Bull and Holly Wickham were the better players, and teenager London Ashcroft kicked two of her side’s five majors.

North Shore Bombers 9.5 (59) defeated UNSW-ES Bulldogs 1.4 (10)

Handing their opponents a 12th straight loss, the North Shore Bombers picked up a comfortable 49-point victory over UNSW-ES Bulldogs. Never looking like losing , the Bombers kicked five goals to one in the first half, then four goals to nil in the second half to run away with the contest, 9.5 (59) to 1.4 (10).

Matilda Eder slammed home four goals with the Bombers’ skipper leading from the front, while Lucy Yates was best on ground in the win. The Bulldogs again struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with Tina Schilg named as their best. It sets up a pseudo elimination final for the Bombers with Pennant Hills next week.

Pennant Hills Demons 2.2 (14) lost to East Coast Eagles 8.7 (55)

It was a match where Pennant Hills brought everything the Demons had defensively and all onlookers would have been proud of their efforts, but ultimately they still missed out on the four points against reigning premiers East Coast Eagles. The Eagles were just able to play uncontested football and their effective kicking and overhead marking was the difference in the 41-point win.

Caitlin Reed was excellent, especially overhead and Caitlin Davidson provided a nice target up front with three goals. The combination of Abbey Martin and Renee Tomkins rebounded everything across halfback, with Demons’ Brianna Wade kicking her side’s only two goals. Co-captain Eleanor Rugg was a star for the losing side, thwarting many forward forays from the Eagles.

Sydney University 20.15 (135) defeated Southern Power 0.0 (0)

Sydney University put some percentage gap on the bottom four sides sitting in fifth spot with a dominant 135-point shellacking of Southern Power. The Students enjoyed the extra freedom and space allowed at times, but the Power also impressed in the second and fourth quarters particularly, only conceding two and three goals respectively in the huge loss.

Jasmine Smith was the star of the show and unstoppable and unselfish throughout, slamming home a ridiculous 10 goals in the win. Sarah Tutt (three goals) and Mikaela Mahony (two) were the other multiple goalkickers, while Daisy George impressed in the victory. For the Southern Power, Brianna Harvey was named best-on, while Taylor Foltman stood out with her attack around the contest.