Women’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – Pennant Hills Demons v Sydney University
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Written by Lachlan Scott
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First Quarter
A stunning Sydney day gifted fans a nail biter in this clash of genuine contenders.
Pennant hills drove deep into the forward line early, but the drive stalled as Natalie Pajor pulls her hamstring and can’t contest the entry. They kept pressure on however and Wade took a textbook key forward clunking mark and converts for the first goal of the day for the Demons.
Injuries abound for both sides as Mays goes down in the ruck contest from a knee to the ribs. Thankfully she is able to get up and walk off the ground unassisted.
Desperation defence set in for the Dees as the Students pushed forward and locked it in for 2 minors. Pennant Hills was able to finally break out and charge downfield at full tilt, Smith spots Wade out of the corner of her eye and nails a pinpoint across the body kick. Wade doesn’t wait for anyone, spinning and goaling from the top of the 50 for her second.
The tempo stayed high with goal after goal, Sydney Uni driving downfield from the centre bounce. A soaring handball over 2 defenders from Smith to Walsh in the goal square gets the Students on the board.
Direct attacking by the Students stalled out as the Dee’s tackling pressure halts any forward progress. In response the midfield spreads it wide with a fast handball chain to Walsh in the pocket who nails her 2nd in as many minutes, putting Sydney Uni in front.
Down the other end moments later Hutchings wins an over the shoulder free kick 20m out directly in front and converts for the Dees.
A colossal kick by Mead into the 50 from the centre square drives Sydney Uni forward but they are unable to convert on the entry with the ball coming swiftly back out and being locked down in Pennant Hill’s forward line. Thankfully for the students the repeat entries are held to 2 behinds with forwards at both ends are marking at will in the first.
Quarter Time Pennant Hills Demons 3.2.20 – Sydney University 2.2.14
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Second Quarter
Sydney Uni navigates through a pressing defence early but can’t lock it in after a behind with the Dees transitioning wide and attempting a switch to try and find a way forward but are rebuffed. The Midfield battle intensified in the second as the game stayed between the arcs for extended periods. Syd Uni begin to win out and gain some hard-earned forward entries but are unable to convert yet with only behinds. The Dees are defending grimly, forcing contests or the ball to the boundary wherever possible.
The run of behinds for Sydney Uni continued as a bone crunching Jasmine smith on the boundary in the forward pocket taking out the boundary umpire earns her a shot on goal. Almost immediately afterwards Walsh gets out the back and snaps, adding to the growing behind tally.
The Students are finally able to capitalise on their forward dominance with Mays snagging a completely uncontested mark on the goal line, Dees defenders kicking themselves they couldn’t contest. Mays runs around the mark and slams it home for Sydney Uni’s only goal for the quarter.
They’d be hoping they had capitalised more with 1 goal, 3 behinds from one way traffic in the second.
Half Time Pennant Hills Demons 3.2.20 – Sydney University 3.5.23
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Third Quarter
The Students looked to continue their last quarter of ascendancy up forward but a 50m penalty brings the ball out of their forward line and back to the centre. Defensive marking and free kicks to the Dees keep stalling any Sydney Uni drives and lock them out of the forward line.
Finding a path through the traffic, Pennant Hills transition down the near side to Court who sidesteps her way through defenders to find Lowe lace out who steps back and converts with exceptional precision.
From the bounce the Students are finally able to crack through the airtight Dees defensive marking supremacy through quick transition as Walsh marks 18m out from goal directly in front but just misses right. Another 50m penalty for not returning the ball after a free kick send the Students forward again and this time they lock it in. A Mann kick from the contest has a mind of its own and refuses to go over the goal line, instead bouncing straight up where it lands, into the hands of Smith who turns a full 360 and goals for Sydney Uni.
The Game levelled out in the third with most of the contest fought between the arcs as Pennant Hills tightened up defensively and shut out Sydney Uni for extended periods.
Three Quarter Time Pennant Hills Demons 4.2.26 – Sydney University 4.6.30
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Fourth Quarter
A Pennant Hills Free kick for holding the ball becomes yet another 50m penalty as the ball wasn’t passed back properly. Gordon is the beneficiary this time and makes a certainty of it, putting the Dees in front for the first time since early in the second.
Smith responds with a shot from approximately 40m out but misses right to put Students within 1-point and this game has come down to the wire.
Another 50m Penalty! This time for dissent. Sydney Uni are scrambling desperately to drive forward and create momentum but are hobbling themselves here. To add injury to insult Mays goes down again with another rib injury on the far side of the pitch. She can’t come to the interchange gates and remains down behind play.
A desperate smother by Mead prevents a kick on goal by Court for the Dees with the Students holding on desperately in defence. The intensity has gone up a notch as the physicality also ramps up. Both sides know the score and know a single goal can win it. Risk taking is now at a premium with risky kicks across the field and almost everyone playing on from marks.
As the ball Ping-Pong’s between the arcs, neither side able to penetrate the opposition defensive 50 as intercepting marks by the defences shut everything down. Finally, the Dees drive forward through repeat stoppages, and use the grind to eat away at the clock.
The final siren sounds and Dees take it home by a single point.
The Students will be rueing their inaccuracy in front of goals in the second quarter. In positives, both side’s defensive line ups stood tall today and coaches would be impressed with the ferocity of tackling and willingness to put body over the ball.
Full Time Pennant Hills Demons 5.2.32 – Sydney University 4.7.31
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Final Scores:
Pennant Hills Demons 5.2.32
Goal Kickers: B. Wade 2, E. Gordon, B. Hutchings, H. Lowe
Best: Elizabeth Gordon, Amy Court, Hayley Lowe, Brighid Tielman, Rebecca Ives, Eleanor Rugg
Sydney University 4.7.31
Goal Kickers: E. Walsh 2, G. Mann, E. Mays
Best: Ashley Dribbus, Emma Walsh, Maryanne Harley, Kara Durante, Georgia Mann, Molly Cameron
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