South Gambier’s dream start to the 2022 Veolia Limestone Coast Women’s Football League season reached new heights after it emerged victorious in the headline act of round 5 last weekend.
The Demons had previously set the competition alight by recording crushing wins in every encounter without conceding a single behind.
Although South showed it was the class of the competition by playing on another level against its rivals in the first four rounds, the only counter argument to the success was how the club was yet to test itself against one of the premiership contenders.
But on Sunday that all changed when the Demons made the long journey up to Mundulla and took on the might of Kybybolite in a possible Grand Final preview.
The clinical Demons were as classy as ever and proved they were more than up for the fight by dominating the opening term.
With co-captains Melanie Bateman and Kendell Saffin leading the charge in the middle, South showed why its skillful and structured style of play is the envy of the competition.
Despite scoring the first ever point of the season against the Demons, a Kyby side full of steam could only manage the solitary scoring shot for the entire first term, while six were produced at the other end.
By the time the siren sounded South enjoyed a 15-point lead and was well in control.
Georgie Maggi, Ella Jones and Gorgia Sealey launched a fightback for Kybybolite, which allowed the yellow and black team to make some inroads on the scoreboard.
Key target Sophie Henschke was once again the goal kicker for Kyby.
Despite Luke Crossling’s team looking to regain some bragging rights following last year’s Grand Final defeat, their efforts were not enough to stop the rampaging Demons.
South still found ways to counter Kybybolite’s offense and maintain its advantage on the scoreboard.
The likes of Lauren Frost, Dakota Trotter and Tess Andrews were prolific around the ground, leading the Demons in the key departments.
Their hard work was the secret behind South’s success in the third term which almost pushed the game out of its opponents reach.
Saffin continued to be an unrelenting force pushing towards the goals and she finished up with two classy majors to boost the lead beyond 25 points.
Despite an evenly matched final term, the Demons remained untouchable for Kybybolite.
Of the 19 scoring shots, Saffin, Scarlet Creek, Anja Gardsenni, Alice Tentye and Maddy Wormald converted six of them to win the game 49-23.
Henschke was the only player to break through the South backline booting a hat-trick of goals.
Another competitive contest followed in the afternoon where Mundulla managed to defend home turf from Casterton Sandford.
It was goals galore from the opening bounce as both sides went on the attack.
The forwards could not miss as five goals were banged home to keep the scorers busy.
Despite the best efforts of Scarlett Jarrad and Emma Lynch, Mundulla emerged on top after the blitz by one kick.
It set the stage for what onlookers hoped to be a goal-scoring shootout to the death.
However, the Cats could not keep up with the might of Mundulla as the home side powered on.
The scoreboard dried up as only one major was possible in each of the remaining quarters, but the sporadic blows were enough for the hosts to ice the game.
Kaylene Nuske, Casey McElroy and Natasha Twigden were the leading lights around the ground, while Kellsie Turner was the golden boot kicking a hat-trick of goals to confirm the 26-point win.
The round started under lights at Vansittart Park on Friday and the home side put on a show for its supporters to create the occasion.
Coming up against a Kalangadoo team hungry for its maiden win of the year, North Gambier came to play and dictated terms from the opening bounce.
Led by the likes of Luca Roulstone, Hayley Pudney and Dana Jones, the Tigers emerged on top of the competitive fights for possession and had a greater ability of utilizing space.
The beneficiary of North’s good work up the ground was Dianne Wilson, who did the damage on the scoreboard.
Wilson was deadly in free air, using her speed to run into open goals and her accurate boot delivered more often than not.
Her hat-trick was the backbone behind the Tigers journey to a confidence-boosting 43-4 triumph.
Abby Thompson, Shanen Pulkkinen and Kellie Wallace fought hard for the Magpies.
In the night fixture, Kongorong hoped to continue its unexpected winning streak against Penola.
But the scoreboard showed why the Eagles are perched in the top two on the ladder as they flew to a one-sided win.
Despite the big margin on the scoreboard, the Hawks managed to show plenty of intent and fight hard in the battle for possession until Penola ran away with it, late in the last quarter.
Following another big round of women’s football, the venues for the 2022 finals series have been released.
The semi-finals will be held at Casterton on Sunday, April 3, while one week later the roadshow heads to Kalangadoo for the preliminary game, plus juniors and presentations.
Penola will be lucky enough to host the big one at McCorquindale Park on Sunday, April 24.
