A GOAL in the dying moments of the match kept North Shore Bombers’ finals hopes alive, after the held on in a nail-biting finish against Pennant Hills Demons. In a fitting end to a contest with huge ramifications in Round 16 of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division, the Bombers just survived to win, 6.2 (38) to 3.14 (32).

The game was a masterclass in the importance of clean football and proactive roving. Pennant Hills started with its usual two offensive set up and were blown off the park out of the middle early. Lucy Yates was just too good in the early stages with 360-degree movement and silky foot skills forward.

In the first term alone, the Bombers’ clean hands and being able to get the ball forward and hit the scoreboard was the difference, and they raced out to a three-goal lead at quarter time.

The first turning point of the game came when young AFLW draft prospect Olivia Morris was thrown into the centre. The top-ager roved cleanly, and delivered a long checkside kick forward that was marked by Rebecca Ives in scoring range. Unfortunately the shot was rushed and would only result in a behind.

That would become the story of the day for Pennant Hills, particularly through the first half. The Demons shuffled the magnets in the second term to try and earn a point of difference, but instead, North Shore earned a free kick and subsequent 50m penalty for encroachment and the Bombers kicked their fourth of the day.

However, that is when the game turned. From the very next centre bounce, Liz Gordon – who gave away the previous free kick – would rove the ball and burst through the centre contest with run and deliver it inside 50. It was a great piece of fortitude and her teammates would have appreciated the never give up attitude.

North Shore would not break away again for the rest of the match and Pennant Hills would now be determined by effort and action around the contest, and what was to unfold was staggering. The sustained forward pressure now resulted in a free to Emma Richards at the top of the fifty, and a low driving kick would fall fortuitously for Elly Rudd to slot an unopposed goal.

It was 25 to 10 and Pennant Hills had its first major on the board. Almost immediately though, Yates was back at the hard contested work on the inside, and gained a free kick. She drove the ball deep into attack for Adrienne Keeffe to mark just in front of goal. But Keefe would let Pennant Hills off the hook and just pull the kick for a behind. There was no doubt that whomever was winning the central battle was taking the momentum in this game.

Extraordinarily, Pennant Hills almost completely shut down North Shore and the Demons’ trademark scrapping defensive effort had now had become the major factor. They would go on to kick two goals and 10 behinds, and three out of bounds to make the score 32-all with two minutes to go. The Demons created shot after shot, but missed them all, inching their way to the deadlock.

Eleanor Rugg was the most influential player on the field, Kaitlin Quinlan was everywhere and Morris was manufacturing the ball to the next contest really well, and looked markedly more confident and composed with all of her recent representative experience.

But clearly the most impactful player in the clinches was Ives, and some of her work in tandem with Richards was excellent. Inch by inch, shot by shot, the Demons missed opportunity after opportunity and could not find the big sticks.

For North Shore, Yates’ impact had been curtailed slightly as she had had several hard hits and driving tackles into the ground, including two in a row, which really knocked the wind out of her at a crucial stage.

In the end, at 32-32 with around two minutes to go, the game came down to a set shot from North Shore from 55m out directly in front. It was never going to make the distance and Pennant Hills had enough players around the contest to stifle the play. However the crumbs fortuitously fell to the only North Shore player there, who got ball to boot whilst being tackled and dribbled it through for the winning goal.

North Shore had taken back the game the Bombers had nearly bungled. A fair result overall, but both teams will be frustrated with the missed opportunity and feel like they didn’t put the other away or capitalise when needed. The match was tense and tight throughout and entertaining to watch.

Yates lead her team to victory, with Elle Carroll and Ava Barraclough also among the better Bombers on the day. It allowed them to move up to sixth on the ladder, leapfrogging the Demons and sitting just two points adrift from Sydney University in the coveted fifth spot.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Ladder leaders UTS Bats extended their distance on the rest of the competition by posting a 37-point win over Sydney University. After a tight first term, the Bats booted four goals to nil in the second term to open up a lead and were never headed, taking out the victory, 7.9 (51) to 2.2 (14).

Macquarie University came back from a half-time deficit to post an all-important victory over Manly Warringah Wolves. The top four teams are battling for the double chance, and by winning, the Goannas moved into third spot. Down by six points at the main break, the Goannas kicked six goals to four in the second half to get home, 8.8 (56) to 7.4 (46).

In a battle of the bottom two sides, UNSW-ES Bulldogs snapped their 12-game losing streak with a comprehensive 86-point win over Southern Power at Henson Park. Though it was even early, the Bulldogs put the Power to the sword through the middle two quarters, kicking 10 goals to nil and eventually running away with a 14.11 (95) to 1.3 (9) victory.