By Ant Wingard
Robina v Morningside
The first Morningside women’s team since 2012 has taken little time to reacquaint themselves with the club’s winning ways with a hard-fought win against Robina in the QWFA Division 2 South Grand Final.
In unflattering conditions, the Panthers prevailed over the Roos in a low scoring 1.4 (10) to 2.4 (16) to capture the premiership in the club’s first season in seven years.
The rainy conditions meant direct passages of play were hard to come by with the game played well and truly between the arcs, but Mary Ross’ third term major paid dividends as the only real difference. Neither side could will themselves ahead in the opening term as the rainy conditions ensured the game was played mainly on the ground.
Morningside, who managed to secure the ball deep inside their 50 for much of the opening term, produced the term’s only score – a rushed behind.
The Panthers broke the goalless affair early in the second term through an intuitive toe-poke by Ash Towie. Moments after laying a tackle on half-forward that produced the inside 50, Towie found herself at the top of the goal square and produced the game’s first major.
Hayley Wray had an opportunity to edge Robina back into the contest, but her snap was saved right on the goal line by a Morningside defender. The Roos’ forward pressure soon paid dividends after Ashlee Flick snapped truly to level the scores in the eighth minute.
Morningside drew first blood in the second half through Mary Ross to extend their lead to six points early in the premiership quarter. Ross’ intuitive snap would prove the difference in the end with neither side able to land a knockout blow in the final term.
Despite the loss, Robina captain Hannah Blaine earned Best On Ground honours after starring for the Roos through the midfield. Blaine operated through her usual role as an outside midfielder and stood head and shoulders above the rest with clean disposal and special awareness. For the Panthers, Tammie Lauritsen, Emma Lewis and Nat Black were among the side’s best in the win.
QWFA Division 2 South Grand Final
Morningside: 0.1 1.1 2.1 2.4 (16)
Robina: 0.0 1.1 1.3 1.4 (10)
Goals, Robina: A Flick. Morningside: A Towle, M Ross.
Best, Robina: H. Blaine, C. Millington, D. Campbell, M. Purton, S. Crosswell, T. Solien. Morningside: B. Schilg, A. Lupo, S. Norris, M. Evans, T. Lauritsen.
Best On Ground: Hannah Blaine (10 Robina)
Jindalee v Sandgate
The Jindalee Jags have produced a perfect 2018 season in the QWFA Division 2 North following a dominant 34-point win over Sandgate at Leyshon Park Yeronga.
The Jags had already won all 16 games on their fixture throughout the season and capped off a remarkable year with one last win to lift the Premiership Cup.
In heavy rain, Jindalee proved once again why they are the premier team of the Division 2 North competition, asserting themselves quickly in the contest with the first clearance of the game. The ball was locked firmly inside Jindalee’s forward half and given the conditions and pedigree of both sides, the challenge to rebound effectively provide a herculean task for the Hawks.
Despite their continued dominance, Jindalee couldn’t find the goals and coughed up a number of early opportunities that faded through for behinds. The home side scored a string of six behinds for the quarter; the best coming via a Lisa Thompson set shot – which faded right, and Torrie Boyd’s snap, which hit the post.
Sandgate managed to break the halfway mark for a period in the opening term, but even they couldn’t find the big sticks.
Jindalee finally broke the goalless drought in the third quarter through Torrie Boyd and soon again through Kataraina Bennett to hand the Jags an 18-point lead at the main break. By this stage, a result looked all but confirmed despite Sandgate needing just three goals to level the scores as rain failed to relent throughout the second half.
Torrie Boyd added her second early in the third term to all but ensure Jindalee’s perfect record would remain intact with the margin now sitting at 26-points. Nikki Kersnovske nailed one home in the final term to put an emphasis on the Jags win, while their stout defence, led by Bennett, kept the Hawks goalless on the big stage.
Despite the lop-sided result, Hawks captain Kara Fabian earned best on ground honours after a superb clearance masterclass in the wet.
QWFA Division 2 North Grand Final
Jindalee: 0.6 2.8 3.10 4.12 (36)
Sandgate: 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 (2)
Goals, Jindalee: T. Boyd 2, N. Kersnovske, K. Bennett. Sandgate: n/a.
Best, Jindalee: L. Thompson, J. McCartney, H. Dewberry, N. Kersnovske, E. Whyte, A. Holland. Sandgate: K. Fabian, A. Long, T. Beaven, A. Piczak, T. Smith, T. Gavine.
Best On Ground: Kara Fabian (42 Sandgate)
