Round 7 of the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League kicked off on Sunday and featured competitive and close games.
As the season begins to reach the back half many teams are beginning to assert themselves as title contenders.
Penola v North Gambier
Penola and North Gambier kicked off the first game of the triple header at Kongorong with the Tigers reclaiming their spot ahead of the Eagles.
In the first quarter the Tigers started hot, kicking three goals to set the tone for their game plan.
However they struggled to shake Penola off, with the Eagles finishing the quarter with one goal to only be down 15 points at the first break.
The second quarter was highly competitive with neither side able to edge out to a strong lead.
North retained its buffer, kicking two goals, while the Eagles were able to conjure a goal of their own to keep the game in reach.
At half time North held a 21 point lead.
The third quarter was similar to the first two, with both sides kicking goals and neither able to pull ahead with a decisive lead.
For a second straight quarter Penola kicked two goals, but it did not help them edge any closer as the Tigers kicked two of their own to hold the Eagles at bay, taking a 19 point lead into the final stanza.
The fourth quarter was Penola’s best defensive quarter as it held the Tigers to only one goal.
The Eagles rallied as they tried to claw back the deficit, kicking two goals to shorten the gap.
But the damage had already been done and North held off Penola’s late surge to claim the victory.
North Gambier’s Laura Chester had a great performance in the team’s win, kicking four goals.
North Gambier defeated Penola 8.5 (53) to 6.4 (40).
North Gambier now reclaims its spot in second from Penola after the important victory.
Kybybolite v Mundulla
Kybybolite and Mundulla kicked off the only game played in Naracoorte with Mundulla holding on in a closely fought battle.
Mundulla scored the first quarter’s only goal and held a six point lead at the first break.
Kybybolite continued to struggle in front of goals in the second term, only managing two points, while Mundulla was able to build onto its lead, kicking another goal.
At half time Mundulla held a 10 point lead.
The low scoring affair continued in the second half as Kybybolite struggled to capitalise on scoring opportunities, only registering a solitary point in the third quarter.
Mundulla had three scoring shots but only sent one through the middle sticks, heading into three quarter time with a 17 point lead.
With one last effort in the fourth term Kybybolite locked in defensively, holding Mundulla scoreless.
Kybybolite was not able to take advantage of the opportunity and only scored a point in the quarter.
Mundulla’s Brooke Ballinger contributed in the win with a goal along with teammate Natasha Horne.
Mundulla defeated Kybybolite 3.3 (21) to 0.5 (5) and remains undefeated after six completed games.
Millicent v South Gambier
South Gambier came away with its second win of the season in a hard fought game against Millicent at Kongorong on Sunday.
South started the game well, kicking two goals in the first quarter.
However, Milicent refused to back down, also having two scoring shots, but only registering one goal.
The Demons took a five point lead into the first break.
South did a great job at slowing down the Saints, holding them to a point in the second quarter
It was the beginning of South’s goal kicking struggles as the Demons had six scoring shots but could only convert one and at half time held a 15 point lead.
In the second half Millicent bounced back from its first half performance and scored a goal.
South continued to struggle in the forward line, only scoring four points in the quarter.
Despite losing the quarter, the Demons retained a 12 point lead at the last change.
South lifted its intensity and held the Saints scoreless in the fourth quarter.
To add to the defensive minded quarter South finally registered a goal, along with five points.
Demons captain Jarrah Altschwager had another great game, kicking three goals as well as Sophie Wight who had multiple incept marks in the game.
South Gambier defeated Millicent 4.14 (38) to 2.3 (15)
Kongorong v Nangwarry
Kongorong and Nangwarry finished off the triple header at Kongorong on Sunday with the Hawks coming away with a statement victory.
Kongorong came out blazing, kicking four goals from 13 scoring shots and holding Nangwarry scoreless in the quarter.
After the first quarter the Hawks held a 33 point lead.
In the second term Kongorong started to pile on the goals, kicking six goals while again keeping the Saints scoreless.
By half time Kongorong had a 73 point lead and any hope of a comeback from Nangwarry was gone.
The Hawks did not skip a beat at the start of the second half and kept the chain on Nangwarry while kicking five goals and burying the Saints, with Kongorong holding a 107-point lead going into the final term.
The Hawks kicked another four goals to close out the game and kept Nangwarry scoreless for a fourth and final time.
Kongorong’s Zara Dirk had a brilliant game, kicking five goals in the team’s decisive victory.
Kongorong defeated Nangwarry 19.19 (133) to 0.0 (0)
With round 7 complete, North Gambier’s Chloe Newton remains the league’s leading goal kicker with 19 majors.
Breathing down her neck is Penola’s Angela Broad who is only a goal behind with 18.
Mundulla’s Brooke Ballinger is third with 15.
After seven rounds of footy Mundulla remains top of the ladder with North Gambier moving back to second after its win over Penola which drops back to third.
Casterton Sandford sits fourth, followed by Kybybolite and Kongorong.
South Gambier and Millicent have switched places with South in seventh and Millicent in eighth, with Nangwarry retaining bottom spot.
Next week Casterton and Millicent will host two games each on Friday night.
Nangwarry and Kybybolite will kick off the first game at Casterton followed by the hosts facing North Gambier.
In Millicent the hosts will play Kongorong followed by Mundulla and Penola.
