{"id":124466,"date":"2023-02-15T12:21:29","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T02:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=124466"},"modified":"2023-02-15T12:21:30","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T02:21:30","slug":"finals-become-clearer-but-not-all-is-done-and-dusted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2023\/02\/15\/finals-become-clearer-but-not-all-is-done-and-dusted\/","title":{"rendered":"Finals become clearer but not all is done and dusted"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE Northern Territory Football League Women’s (NTFLW)\u2019s penultimate round of the saw the ladder settle a little ahead of finals, but it is not all set in stone as the season comes to a conclusion next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an enthralling top three clash it was St Mary\u2019s who prevailed over Waratah by 13 points. It featured many lead changes but the Saints held on and proved to be too strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the momentum early was with the Saints. Although they struggled to kick accurately in front of goal, they had all the attacking momentum as the \u2018Tahs struggled to get the ball out of their defensive 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took five minutes for either side to get a goal on the board, and it finally come for St Mary\u2019s off the boot of Danielle Ponter<\/a>. The restart turned out to be just what Waratah needed to finally get the ball into their attacking 50, but they still could not put a goal on the board as the Saints\u2019 defence held strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Tahs did eventually get a goal though in the ninth minute via Nikki Watts<\/strong> and the margin was back to three. They kicked a second via Lisa Miceli<\/strong> with a couple of minutes left to go in the quarter to take the lead, but Kaitlyn Armstrong<\/strong> responded from the restart to restore the lead for the Saints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armstrong\u2019s goal ensured the Saints lead would be four points at the first change. In a starkly different second quarter, goals became hard to come by for both sides. It took nine and a half minutes for either side to register a goal, and that goal finally came for the \u2018Tahs off the boot of Megan Hunt<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunt\u2019s goal would ultimately be the last goal as the intensity of the match ensured that goal scoring would become a premium. It also saw the \u2018Tahs as the ones with the lead at half time, but it was only three points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It did not take nearly as long in the third term for a goal to be kicked, as both sides had a major inside the opening minute. Marlee Gundersen<\/strong> converted from a tight angle first to restore St Mary\u2019s lead before Hunt responded from the restart to counter Gunderson\u2019s goal and ensured Waratahs took the lead back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lead changed again minutes later as Armstrong kicked her second to ensure St Mary\u2019s had the lead yet again. That was not going to be the last lead change of the quarter as Hunt kicked her third to take the lead back for the Tah\u2019s again in the shadows of three quarter time. So as the teams headed into the final change the Waratah\u2019s lead was just two points so it was very much all still to play for in the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saints kicked a major within the first minute of the quarter again in the last as Eliza Shannon<\/a> converted s the goal for goal run continued and the Saints took the lead back. They had a second minutes later via Armstrong, and their lead grew to a game high 10 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Billie Byers<\/a> kicked St Mary\u2019s third of the term and those in Green and Gold were no doubt starting to feel good about where the game was heading. Jenna Singh<\/strong> got one back for the Waratahs, but unfortunately for the \u2018Tahs that would be the end of their goal scoring as the Saints held on for the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AROUND THE GROUNDS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n