Women’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – UNSW-ES Bulldogs v North Shore Bombers
Written by Lucas Holmes
The UNSW-ES Bulldogs won a tight contest by seven points over Macquarie University in round 5. The North Shore Bombers suffered a heavy defeat to the Inner West Magpies by 56 points.
First quarter
After the football was camped inside the Bombers’ forward 50 in the early stages, it was the Bulldogs who kicked the first major after 10 minutes.
North Shore looked to run and carry out of their defensive 50, Gabrielle Anthony executed a perfect chase down tackle and was awarded a free kick. Anthony converted the set shot deep in the forward pocket for the opening goal of the afternoon.
The Bulldogs made it two goals in a matter of minutes.
From a ball up 30 metres out from goal, Sophie Griffiths’ secondary tap proved crucial. It allowed Matilda Friend an extra second as she turned onto her right side, straightened, and kicked low as the ball skidded through the vacant goal square.
After the middle period of the quarter when the Bombers were starved of the football, they hit back in the closing minutes of the first term.
Following a kick out, North Shore intercepted as the Bulldogs looked to use the near centre wing. Lucy Krimmer’s sweeping handball opened the centre corridor. The low kick inside the forward 50 was met by Shannon Smit who evaded two defenders before she kicked on the run from 30 metres out.
Quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.1.13 North Shore Bombers 1.2.8.
Second quarter
Both sides struggled to get the ball inside the respective forward 50’s in the early stages of the second term as both sides half back lines began to impose themselves.
This was until the UNSW-ES struck in the tenth minute once again, this time through Willow Smith.
After a North Shore turnover on their half-back flank, Gabby Ferreira quickly sent the ball inside the forward 50 where Emily Conlan took a strong contested mark. Concerned about the distance, Conlan handballed to a flat-footed Smith. Smith broke through Louise Anderson’s attempted tackle before she kicked from 25 metres out.
The Bulldogs led by 12 points.
North Shore had their chance to kick their second right at the end of the second quarter.
Ariel Belger took her free kick on the centre wing quickly. Her short handball was met by Smit in stride who kicked to a leading Melissa Brydon, who was pushed out of the marking contest.
Brydon’s kick from 35 metres out just inside the boundary was pushed across the face of the goal and tapped over for a minor score.
Half Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 3.3.21 North Shore Bombers 1.3.9.
Third quarter
The Bombers wasted no time to begin the third term as they went inside their forward 50 from the opening bounce through Kara Selvarajah.
After North Shore we able to lock the ball inside 50, their second goal of the contest came with less than two minutes of elapsed time.
From a ball up on the half-forward flank, Alannah Green followed up her tap work and sent the ball to the hotspot. Matilda Eder collected the ball on the bounce, turned and snapped it across her body. Eder who had been the creator for the Bombers in recent weeks had a goal of her own.
After a stoppage laden few minutes, the Bulldogs were able to get the ball inside the forward 50 for the first time in the third term.
After Shelby Koh laid a strong tackle on the half-forward flank she kicked into the forward pocket. A centred ball found Conlan whose high kick saw Alex Davison infringed in the marking contest. Davison converted the set shot from close range as the margin was back to 12 points.
Sera Kaukiono continued to be a force for UNSW-ES across half-back as the Bombers struggled with the entry inside the forward 50.
Following a free kick inside the Bombers forward 50, a hacked clearance was sent straight back in by Liv O’Donnell. Her kick to the hotspot was roved by Alyce Keating who kicked the Bombers third around a pack of Bulldog defenders.
Matilda Eder had a huge chance to level the scores minutes later but pushed her set shot across the face of the goal. North Shore was back within a straight kick.
A late North Shore behind closed the margin further as the Bombers closed the margin to four points.
Three quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 4.3.27 North Shore Bombers 3.5.23.
Fourth quarter
The Bulldogs had a chance to extend their lead early in the fourth term.
Koh took a strong mark from a Davison kick at centre half-forward. Koh pushed back off the mark quickly and kicked to the hotspot.
Anthony who was unfavoured by the bounce just trapped the ball inside the boundary but couldn’t work the ball back enough from a tight angle.
Kaukiono applied a goal-saving tackle before she gave away a free kick for a ruck infringement moments later.
Smit deep in the forward pocket left her set shot to the near side, the margin four points.
The margin didn’t stay inside a goal for much longer.
From a boundary throw-in deep inside the forward 50 for UNSW-ES, Smith grabbed the ball directly from the throw-in. Her kick was smothered in the direction of Conlan who somehow got a low kick away around three North Shore defenders and rolled through the vacant goal square.
Smith added her second goal with a little over a minute remaining as the Bulldogs caused an upset at Henson Park.
Full time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 6.6.42 North Shore Bombers 3.6.24.
Sera Kaukiono was a force for the home side across half-back and in contested situations. Shelby Koh impressed around stoppages whilst Emily Conlan was a focal point in the forward line.
In the absence of some key teammates, Liv O’Donnell was everywhere for North Shore. Kara Selvarajah showed her physicality and explosiveness around the contest and Alannah Green battled in the ruck on her own all afternoon.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs 6.6.42
Goal kickers: W. Smith 2, M. Friend, A. Davison, G. Anthony, E. Conlan
Best: L. Taggart, L. Brennan, H. Stanford, I. McDonald, G. Anthony, S. Koh
North Shore Bombers 3.6.18
Goal kickers: M. Eder, A. Keating, S. Smit
Best: L. O’Donnell, L. Krimmer, A. Wilson, K. Selvarajah, B. Taylor, A. Belger
