AUSTRALIAN Capital Territory (ACT) made a little bit of history at the School Sports Australia 15 & Under Championships, with the girls’ side holding off a determined Victoria White side by a solitary point yesterday.

Considering the per capita of talent between the two regions, the ACT showed it has the grit and determination to get the job done, winning 3.5 (23) to 3.4 (22). Imogen Morse was the crucial goalkicker, with the ACT forward slotting all of her side’s three goals in the win.

Trailing by 11 points at half-time, the ACT used the breeze to advantage in the third term to get ahead by three points at the last change, then desperately held on against the flow in the final term. Despite the ball camped inside Victoria’s forward 50, the ACT bravely produced contest after contest until the clock ran out.

Samantha Gibbon and Mia Cooper were named among the best for the winners in the massive result, while Brooke Kelly and Elise Napier were nominated as Victoria White’s top players. Murray Bushrangers’ Majella Day who has already made an impact at Coates Talent League, was another key player for New South Wales. The result kept the ACT in contention for a semi-finals spot, while Victoria White will end up in the bottom two positions.

In an equally impressive effort, New South Wales produced an upset of South Australia, winning by 13 points straight afterwards. Though the Croweaters are reigning titleholders at both Under 16s and Under 18s level – and had a big win over Vic White on day one – New South Wales had a strong start and then held on late to win. 5.9 (39) to 4.2 (26).

Jordan Davis kicked three of her side’s five goals in the win, while Heidi De Saxe and Camryn Harland were nominated as the coaches best. For South Australia, the three-goal final term was a case of too little, too late, though Emily Mableson and Sage Spencer were strong throughout the contest.

South Australia still has a chance to make the semi-finals despite the loss, taking on ACT in the final group stage match tomorrow, with New South Wales through, and taking on Victoria White in the other Group B match.

GROUP B LADDER
1 New South Wales 2-0 (241.03%)
2 South Australia 1-1 (155.77%)
3 Australian Capital Territory 1-1 (46.75%)
4 Victoria White 0-2 (44.87%)

In Group A, both Queensland and Victoria Navy had big wins over their respective opponents, with the former stamping their ticket into the semi-finals. The Maroons returned from a one-point win over Victoria Navy on the first day to run out 6.6 (42) to 3.1 (19) victors over Tasmania, booting the last five goals of the game.

Queensland’s damaging duo of Molly Ferguson and Mia Geere shone while Zoe Petrides booted two goals. Addison Broadbent kicked two first half goals for the Tasmanians, while Matilda Lange kicked the other and was named her side’s best.

In the other match, Victoria Navy stormed to a dominant 9.8 (62) to 1.3 (9) victory over Western Australia. Though in control throughout, Victoria Navy still only lead by eight points at half-time. Putting the foot down in the second half, the eventual winners piled on 7.3 to 0.0 to leave the Sandgropers on their half-time score of nine.

Piper Dixon (four goals) and Adele Coppola (three) were the main scorers for the winners, while Bailee Martin also impressed for Victoria Navy. Sara Spratt kicked Western Australia’s sole goal, while Heidi Ireland and skipper Lunay Van Den Heever were named in the losing side’s best players.

Undefeated Queensland takes on the winless Western Australia in the final group match, while the winner of Tasmania and Victoria Navy will take the other semi-finals spot alongside the Maroons. The side from the Apple Isle defeated Western Australia on day one, while Queensland snuck home against Victoria Navy by a point in the other match.

GROUP A LADDER
1 Queensland 2-0 (143.64%)
2 Victoria Navy 1-1 (213.04%)
3 Tasmania 1-1 (83.33%)
4 Western Australia 0-2 (37.86%)