James Murphy
PENOLA 12.9 (81) d SOUTH GAMBIER 0.2 (2)
THE final minor round of Limestone Coast women’s football was contested on Sunday, with placings now locked in ahead of next week’s semi finals.
Penola finished off the minor rounds with a win, but it was not enough to keep the Eagles in the top four of the competition.
They hosted South Gambier at McCorquindale Park on Sunday and cruised their way to a 79-point victory.
A modest start with two goals and three behinds started things off, before a five-goal return in the second quarter boosted the margin significantly heading into half time.
The third term was Penola’s quietest, with just one goal and a behind, but it still extended the margin.
The Eagles finished off with a four-goal effort, leaving the Demons in their dust after a strong four-quarter performance.
Caroline McGrath has been a regular at the head of Penola’s best players and the captain served her side again with another best-on-ground performance.
Amanda Wurst was also impressive, while Heidi Berkin, Angela Broad, Ali Ey and Shandeen Balshaw were other players of note.
Simone MacDonald topped the scorer’s list with her four goals, followed closely by Broad with three majors.
South looked to the in-form Sophie Wight on the day and she was named best on ground for the Demons.
Jarrah Altschwager and Ella Guest were also prominent, but in the end they were simply outclassed by the Eagles.
Both teams will now contest the B finals series, with Penola having finished a close fifth and South down in seventh at the conclusion of the home-and-away season.
CASTERTON SANDFORD 6.12 (48) d MILLICENT 5.1 (31)
The closest game of Round 9 opened proceedings at Nangwarry Oval when Casterton Sandford bested Millicent by 17 points.
The Cats had faced trouble with numbers in recent rounds but managed to lead the Saints at every change to book their fourth win of the season and settle into third position.
Holly Smith had a strong day in the ruck, earning herself the best-on-ground honours, while Hinemoa Biddle-Maitland topped the scoresheets with three goals.
The Cats had a strong start and generated plenty of forward entries, which created 11 scoring opportunities.
However, only two of those found their mark, with a return of 2.9 for the quarter.
That still kept the Cats ahead, with Millicent only kicking one major for the term.
The Saints hit back in the second, scoring three goals of their own while the Cats added just one major score and a behind.
At half time the margin was a slim four points, but the Cats extended their lead once again in the third quarter.
They snagged two goals and a behind, while holding the Saints scoreless.
That had them carry a 17-point advantage into the final term.
Millicent managed to add another major during this time, but the Cats kept their rival at arm’s length with one of their own.
Smith and Biddle-Maitland led the Cats’ best players, while Elise Thurman, Kirby Vise, Chloe Smith and Claire McKenry also earned mentions for their efforts.
Thurman bagged two goals, while Chloe Smith found the middle of the big sticks on one occasion.
For Millicent it was Kate Patten who topped the best players’ list, followed by Chloe and Amelia Gronn.
Macy Burns was another standout, while Ellie Walker and Kelsie Wilkinson rounded out the top performers.
Jess Arnold and Keelie Lindner both kicked two goals each.
The Cats will now gear up for the main finals series, while Millicent finished eighth and will compete in the B finals.
KYBYBOLITE 7.16 (58) d KONGORONG 0.2 (2)
A strong win over Kongorong has leapfrogged Kybybolite into fourth position on percentage alone, booking the northern Tigers a place in the main finals race.
Kyby played the Hawks at Penola’s McCorquindale Park on Sunday where it was clear from the first quarter the Tigers were going to be tough to beat.
They slotted four goals in the opening term, along with five behinds, to lead by 29 at the break.
Kongorong was left scoreless for the quarter and would face the same fate in the second and third.
Meanwhile, Kyby continued to build on its solid foundation, with Taylor Ryan finding plenty of action in the forward line.
She finished the day with a game-high four goals, while it was the efforts of Amelia Frick which earned the best-on-ground honours.
A quieter second term had Kyby up by 33 points at half time, before extending the lead to 46 at the final change.
The Hawks finally had an impact on the scoreboard in the final stanza, albeit in the form of two behinds.
Another two goals to Kybybolite finished things off nicely and at the siren it was a 56-point game.
Jedah Huff was another who impressed for the victors, as did Dellie Brown, while Maryann Thompson, Summer Batchelor and Tahlia Kavanagh rounded out the best players.
Zara Dirk was the best of the Hawks, not for the first time this season, while Rach Perry, Riley Buckingham and Evie Sealey also featured highly.
Kongorong finished the minor rounds in sixth position and will now meet Penola in the B qualifying final.
NORTH GAMBIER 27.9 (171) d NANGWARRY 0.3 (3)
Despite the positive of hitting the scoreboard for the first time since their Round 2 debut, Nangwarry still suffered its biggest defeat on Sunday.
The winless Saints matched up against North Gambier at their home ground on Sunday and were ravaged by the Tigers in a 168-point thrashing.
A 62-point opening quarter said it all.
North pulled no punches in establishing an unassailable lead, with 10 goals and two behinds setting up the day.
The Tigers slowed things down somewhat in the second term, but still put through five majors to be up by 95 at half time.
A seven-goal quarter followed, before another five in the fourth capped the game at the devastating margin of 171-3.
Tess Andrews was the leading Tiger and she generated plenty of movement through the midfield.
A huge 11-goal effort from Chloe Newton was another highlight and she was aptly named second best behind Andrews.
Clare Jenkins and Layla McPherson also impressed, while Alice Tentye was another prominent figure up forward with five goals and a mention in the best.
Penny Coleman rounded out the best players, while Maddy Bonanno (four goals), McPherson (three) and Andrews (two) all scored multiple goals.
Nangwarry was best served by Ebony Wurst, while Elodie Burr and Skye Virtanen also stood out.
However, it was another tough day at the office for the Saints and they will now watch the coming finals from the sidelines after failing to qualify.
North will take on the main finals series and a tough qualifying final against Mundulla awaits this weekend.
