Women’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – Manly Warringah Wolves v North Shore Bombers

Written by Lucas Holmes

 

The Manly Warringah Wolves were defeated by fellow premiership contenders East Coast Eagles by 30 points in Round 1. North Shore Bombers accounted for Macquarie University by 75 points.

 

First quarter

Players were greeted with a heavy downpour as play commenced.

Despite the challenging conditions, it didn’t take long for North Shore to kick the first goal.

Following a boundary throw-in on the Bombers’ half-forward flank, Jemma Thorp’s clearance went to the top of the goal square. Phoebe Gray floated in from the side of the contest and knocked the ball to her advantage, and kicked it off the ground from close range.

North Shore had a chance minutes later. Some slick ball from Ally Morphett and Gray led to an Alyce Keating set shot from a tight angle. Keating’s shot was pulled to the near side for a minor score.

Manly Warringah’s best chance of a major occurred with their first entry inside the forward 50.

The returning Emily Goodsir found Roxy Beuzeville with a short pass in the middle of Weldon Oval. London Ashcroft took off immediately following a mark but her running shot on goal skidded through for a behind.

As the sunshine broke through (momentarily), the Bombers scored their second. A wide handball from Melissa Brydon gave enough time and space for Kara Selvarajah as she delivered a high kick inside the forward 50. A rushed Wolves clearance was pounced on by Keating, whose pass found Brydon who took an uncontested mark in the goal square.

Quarter time Manly Warringah Wolves 0.3.3 North Shore Bombers 2.2.14.

 

Second quarter 

Both sides’ pressure and intensity lifted around the football as the rain continued to fall.

This pressure from the Wolves led to their first goal six minutes into the second term. Following repeated forward 50 entries, Jessica Doyle laid a strong tackle just outside the goal square and was rewarded with a free-kick. Doyle made no mistake from the set shot and Manly Warringah was back to within two points.

Each team toiled away as the weather conditions started to improve, yet the conditions at ground level still proved difficult.

Manly Warringah closed the gap to one just before the main break.

Half time Manly Warringah Wolves 1.7.13 North Shore Bombers 2.2.14.

 

Third quarter

The intensity and physicality went up another gear in the early stages of the third term.

Three minutes into the quarter,  Woolf was the beneficiary of a 50-metre free-kick which bought her into scoring range. Woolf found Ashcroft’s long searching lead which began in the opposite pocket. Ashcroft’s athleticism was on full display as she turned onto her non-dominant side, straightened and kicked at goal with her effort grazing the left goal post.

Repeated inside forward 50 entries led to the lone goal of the quarter.

After an initial intercept mark from Bourgeois, the Bombers re-entered their attacking 50. A low skidding ball favoured forward Kate Nespeca who was pushed in the back. Nespeca converted the set shot from 15 metres out on a tight angle as North Shore retook the lead.

Three quarter time Manly Warringah Wolves 1.10.16 North Shore Bombers 3.2.20.

 

Fourth quarter

The sun was out in full force as the fourth quarter got underway.

Manly Warringah won the opening centre clearance and the ball was sent deep inside the forward 50. North Shore was outnumbered on the last line of defence, luckily a free-kick was paid for a trip.

The Wolves continued to pile on the pressure deep inside their forward 50 but couldn’t break down the stout Bombers’ defence.

After they absorbed Manly Warringah’s early efforts, North Shore was able to do some attacking of their own. Kate Reynolds one of the Bombers’ best, long shot just fell short as they were able to create repeated forward 50 entries (but with no reward).

However, Wolves Captain Holly Graham didn’t need a second chance minutes later. Having transitioned the ball from their back half, Graham applied a strong tackle deep inside the forward 50. Tucked just inside the boundary, Graham confidently strode in and put the Wolves back in the lead.

In the dying stages (trailing by three points) North Shore had one last opportunity. After a brilliant chase down tackle on the centre wing, Olivia Edwards sent the ball high inside the forward 50. With both sides having plenty of numbers around the contest, the ball was seen over the boundary line in the forward pocket.

From the resulting boundary throw-in, a wonderful tackle from Asha Turner Funk allowed Andrea Roditis to make the crucial clearance to the centre wing where the full-time siren blew.

Full time Manly Warringah Wolves 2.12.24 North Shore Bombers 3.3.21.

 

For the home side, Andrea Roditis was a crucial link between the midfield and forward line. London Ashcroft provided spark across the half-forward line whilst Emily Goodsir’s experience and poise in the weather conditions couldn’t be unstated.

From a North Shore perspective, Kate Reynolds was impressive not only in the ruck but around the ground. Phoebe Gray provided a target inside the forward 50 and Kara Selvarajah found plenty of the football across the ground.

 

Manly Warringah Wolves 2.12.24 

Goal kickers: J. Doyle, H. Graham

Best: C. Johnson, L. Ashcroft, H. Woolf, L. Bourgeois, J. Doyle, E. Goodsir

 

North Shore Bombers 3.3.21

Goal kickers: M. Brydon, P. Gray, K. Nespeca

Best: E. Carroll, L. Forrest, K. Reynolds, A. Morphett, L. Anderson