Coolangatta 6.7.43 defeated Zillmere 3.2.20
Coolangatta have taken this year’s ‘battle of the birds’ tally to 3-0, scoring their biggest win over Zillmere this season.
The Eagles were up and about for this game, clearly looking to continue the impressive form of the last few weeks.
It was one of the most physical contests of the year, with players coming of battered and bruised left, right and centre.
The Bluebirds came out strong and maintained a two-three goal lead throughout the match.
True to form, they were clean and crisp with the ball in hand with Kalinda Howarth back to her best, booting three goals, and Selina Gooman relishing the ruck battle.
Captain, Ally Anderson was strong for Zillmere and Tayla Harris contributed two goals.
Final Score:
Coolangatta 3.2, 3.5, 5.4, 6.7 (43) defeated Zillmere 1.1, 1.1, 2.2, 3.2 (20)
Goals:
Coolangatta K. Howarth 3, J. Membrey, S. Adams, K. Membrey
Zillmere T. Harris 2, M. Allen
Best:
Coolangatta
S. Goodman , J. Membrey, C. Duke, N. Wallace, L. Kaslar, K. Howarth
Zillmere
A. Anderson, L. Thompson, S. Klose, B. Gaur, T. Harris , K. Lawrence
Ladder Review: Coolangatta 1st (11 Wins), Zillmere 4th (6 Wins)
Coorparoo 3.1.19 defeated by Yeronga 7.2.44
Coorparoo came back firing after last week’s 72 point loss to the Devils, but fell short of pulling off an upset win.
The contest was extremely close throughout, with a goal separating the two sides at the main break.
Yeronga came out with a mission to take home the four points and kicked five goals to Coorparoo’s one.
Coorparoo tackled hard and chased the contested ball, but the Devils were able to pile on the scoreboard pressure.
Rachel Crack continued her remarkable 2016 form; named best-on- ground for her side.
Ruck Jenna Vandyk showed her versatility, pushing forward and bagging two crucial goals.
Final Score:
Coorparoo 1.1, 2.1, 2.1, 3.1 (19)
Yeronga 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 7.2 (44)
Goals:
Coorparoo A. Mole 2, K. Deegan
Yeronga J. Vandyk 2, D. Leach 2, B. De La Cruz, H. Newberry, N. Thomas
Best:
Coorparoo R. Crack, S. Young, B. Spence, J. Revell, S. Crew, H. Cornish
Yeronga K. Welsh, S. Virgo, E. Bliss, K. McCarthy, H. Newberry, A. Mudronja
Ladder Review: Coorparoo 5th (1 Wins), Yeronga 2nd (11 Win)
UQ 17.6.108 defeated Wilston Grange 1.1.7
Saturday’s win was UQ’s biggest day in front of goals; 108 points a huge comeback from last weeks disappointing loss to ladder rivals, Zillmere.
They were kicking majors from everywhere, jumping out of the blocks early with a five goal bag in the opening term.
Wilston Grange was on the back foot from the start and were no match for a determined UQ side, who were looking to send a strong message to the rest of the competition.
The dynamic trio of Koenan, Hunt and Zielke were firing in the midfield and linking the ball up perfectly.
The Red Lionesses not only piled on the goals, they kept the Gorillas scoreless after the first quarter.
It was a big day for the UQ team, as they got the season back on their terms going into the final few rounds.
Final Score:
UQ 5.1, 10.1, 11.4, 17.6 (108) defeated Wilston Grange 1.1, 1.1, 1.1, 1.1 (7)
Goals:
UQ M. Hunt 4, E. Agnew 3, D. Herdman 2, E. Zielke 2, M. McGorm 2, S. Webb, A. Perry, A. Mack, E. Pericic
Wilston Grange G. Mooney
Best:
UQ I. Baldock, B. Koenen, E. Zielke, L. Bella, M. Hunt, E. Agnew
Wilston Grange K. Lutkins, S. Hewitt, A. Pittendreigh, T. Randall, H. Slaughter, L. Dowling
Ladder Review: UQ 3rd (9 Wins), Wilston Grange 6th (1 Win)
3 Things We Learnt:
- Tayla Harris v Kalinda Howarth: Who will win the leading goal kicker Saturday’s ‘Battle of the Birds’ was also a goal kicking battle between the competition’s two leading scorers.
As it stands, Tayla Harris is at the top of the list, booting 28 goals so far this season with Cooly’s young gun, Kalinda Howarth, only two goals behind the Lions marquee female player.
Howarth added three goals against the Eagles, Tayla furthering her lead with two majors.
The two girls are completely different players; Howarth works her magic at the ground, as a crumber and producing several pieces of magic. Harris is wonderful overhead and can pluck them from anywhere, as well as makes her presence felt at ground level.
Howarth has played two games less this season, so based on her average of scoring two goals a game, she could have been in front if she was on the field as much as Harris. With three rounds left to go, it really is anyone’s race for the leading goal kicker title.
- Annamieka Mole, Coorparoo’s shining light up forward
She’s played a crucial midfield role for her side all season, and since her return from injury she’s been playing her best football up forward. Over the last two rounds, against a strong defensive Yeronga side, she has booted four goals; two each week.
She has kicked the most goals for her side in these weeks, and been the option needed to turn her side’s hard work into scoreboard results.
It will be interesting to see if she stays in this new role over the remaining three rounds, but if she doesn’t, keep an eye out for her running back through the middle of the ground.
- Raining goals at UQ
For the first time this season, UQ scored more than 100 points; and it came against the Gorillas.
The Red Lionesses were back to their best, using the smaller field at St Lucia to their advantage to pile on the percentage.
Megan Hunt worked her magic in front of goal, finishing with four majors. Eva Agnew kicked three, with Herdman and Zielke contributing two each.
The most notable aspect was number of goal scorers. The Red Lionesses had nine; the number of UQ girls on the field.
They couldn’t have been much more accurate, kicking only six behinds.
A big win like this will give the Red Lionesses huge confidence going into the remaining few weeks, as they gear up for their first finals campaign.
By Jess Stewart
