Round 8 Women’s Premier Division Match Review: UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Sydney University

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

Fans and players alike welcomed a wintry sun at Henson Park as they watched UNSW-ES and Sydney Uni battle for their second wins of the season and a chance to climb a tightly contested ladder.

The Students started with engine’s running hot as Harley burst from the centre bounce to drive them into attack. A rolling contest grinds towards the goal square allowing Race a glimpse at goals but the kick drifts right and the defence sets up their zone to lock it in. Cameron stands tall and intercepts at the 50m arc and drives it to Blattman who takes her first shot on goal, the ball bouncing cruelly away from the line and is touched through for a minor.

The Bulldogs control the ball skilfully to transition up the centre wing, but the Sydney Uni midfielders put the clamps on every time they break from the contest to shut down quick movement. The Students midfield keep the contest tight with repeat ball ups but every one moves them closer to goal as they flood forward. Mahoney finds space where there is none, surrounded on all sides, and slams the ball across her body in a mighty effort for another behind. Sydney Uni has dominated forward entries this quarter but hasn’t been able to capitalise yet.

And finally, the dam breaks! Ashford bursts from the contest to find Warnock free in the pocket, she unselfishly kicks to Seroukas streaming towards goal. She sprints off her opponent, makes no mistakes and secures Sydney Uni’s first of the day in a true team effort. The Bulldogs midfield look fired up for this as they charge forward from the centre bounce in response. They soccer it off the deck and wrong foot the Students defence through some chaos ball before Taggart collects at full pace. She flies around the outside of two defenders and kicks a low dart goalward, but the bounce isn’t in her favour, and it slides through for a minor and UNSW-ES is on the board.

The student transition down the field through lightning-fast handballs and constant pressure, Bulldog tackles slowing them at every stage. Smith wrestles the ball from her opponent and shoots from almost 50m out, the ball skidding left for a behind and a chance for the defence to set up and lock down again. Seroukas gets involved again, kicking from the contest, and finding Smith. She handballs over the should finding Waterson who immediately loops it to Gilfedder in the goal square without hesitation. Another goal born from synergy and teamwork as the Students forward line combine.

The midfield battle evens out as both sides look for dominance between the arc and opportunities to break into the forward 50s. Sydney Uni finds the next avenue forward and Seroukas can’t help but be involved as she snaps across her body, adding another behind to the Students tally.

Sydney Uni dominated forward in the first through coordination and teamwork but couldn’t capitalise on a lot of their opportunities. UNSW-ES will be looking to find more avenues out of defence to stop repeat forward entries and get the ball back into the hands of their midfield who’ve transitioned well up the ground.

Quarter Time UNSW-ES 0.1.1 – Sydney University 2.5.17

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Second Quarter

The Bulldogs forwards have been champing at the bit to get involved after a quiet first quarter and make their presence known through shattering tackles across the forward line whenever it comes near. Mann earns herself a free kick and the pressure valve is released as a 50m penalty is paid. She uses her long kicking to give the Students multiple forward entries but the UNSW-ES midfield floods back to support and forces the battle back to the midfield. Stanford rallies the Bulldogs and fights through multiple tackles in each contest before being brought down. Finally, her repeated effort pays off and she bursts through to send UNSW-ES forward for repeat entries. Now it’s the Students turn to be under siege, Palazzo making a magnificent dive on the line to kill the latest attack.

Her efforts grant them some respite and they use this moment of calm to separate from their opponents and create a corridor down the ground to transition swiftly forward. Accurate kicking gets them within range before the ball tumbles out deep in the forward pocket. Smith and Mahoney combine for the perfect ruck to rover tap down, Mahoney streaming into goal from the contest and sending the Sherrin straight over the umpire’s head for Sydney Uni’s third major of the day.

Taggart wastes no time in responding, bursting from the centre bounce with a long bomb down field and giving the Bulldogs forward line another chance to bury the ball forward. Smith collects a touched ball above her head and suddenly finds Koh with a step on her opponent. She sides steps deftly and shoots for goal, but the kick is off by millimetres and smacks off the post. Ball works hard in the midfield to shut down any avenues out of defence and the Bulldogs reap some reward for their repeat entries with two more behinds to close out the quarter.

UNSW-ES have turned the tables across the ground here in the second but with all shots on goal being wayward they’ll be wishing they had more time and space. Sydney Uni’s defensive unit stood tall against the onslaught, and the midfield and forward line combined to extend their lead in a quarter that did not go their way for most of it.

Half Time UNSW-ES 0.5.5 – Sydney University 3.5.23

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Third Quarter

UNSW-ES dive forward first in the second half through a fortuitous 50m penalty but the delay grants the Students midfield precious time to flood back and they shut down the entry quickly. Sydney Uni transition up the wing methodically and Cameron seals the ball forward with some terrific ruck efforts. They plink through two behinds until Blattman intercepts a wayward kick out gifting her a shot on goal from 40m out at a difficult angle. She makes it look easy with a textbook kicking motion and blasts it through for a goal.

The Bulldogs midfield isn’t going down without a fight as Standford and Taggart combine to shutdown Student possessions and crash through opposition. For the Students, Race works hard inside to extricate the ball as Durante makes the most of her opportunities to jab the Sherrin forward in darting low kicks which leave defenders with little time to react. Stanford’s efforts pay off first as her kick finds Jarrett’s sure hands in a striking pack mark. Her kick drifts left, and Sydney Uni hastily kicks out of defence. They fly down the far side of the ground, the midfield finding each other with accurate kicks and playing on immediately. The speedy entry works as Gilfetter finds herself alone up forward and holds up two defenders long enough for support to arrive. Sydney Uni receives a free kick at the top of the goal square, Mahoney makes an absolute certainty of it and pounds it through the big sticks to extend the Students lead to 31.

Ball looks to be on the warpath through the centre as she easily bypasses defenders and crashes at a full head of steam into the next contest. Kohlrusch similarly finds another gear as she intercepts across the Bulldogs defensive arc to send them forward repeatedly. Smith finally breaks the tension as she receives a push in the back free deep forward and slots it through for the Bulldog’s first goal of the afternoon. Players swarm from everywhere to celebrate and the crowd joins in vocally as effort is rewarded in the truest fashion possible.

Three Quarter Time UNSW-ES 1.6.12 – Sydney University 5.7.37

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Fourth Quarter

A dour start to the final term as Cameron takes a heavy knee to the ribs in the first contest, the loss of her presence felt in repeat ball ups as she receives treatment. Smith steps in to fill her shoes for the Students as they grind forward through repeat stoppages. She puts her ruck skills on full display, deftly finding the rovers with a tap down at the top of the goal square. Harley bursts through the contest untouched, gets the handball receive and booms the kick through for the first of the final quarter.

Wendelin continues to be rock solid down back for UNSW-ES, intercepting forward entries and sending scything kicks back to the midfield. Stanford, Taggart and Koh continue to combine through the midfield for the Bulldogs, making their presence felt in every contest and leaving bruises in their wake. Walsh turns the momentum for the students, holding up two opponents on the boundary before forcing the turnover. The kick is long to goalsquare and in the chaos Gilfedder calmly sidesteps two defenders charging her down, kicks around her body and slices it through like a 9 iron for the final goal of the game.

UNSW continues to give 110% across the ground, perfectly exemplified by Ferreira killing a Students drive forward dead with a diving fist over the boundary through heavy contact. Koh and Smith link up through accurate kicking to dissect defenders streaming back and grant the Bulldogs a final shot on goal. In line with the theme of the day, the kick floats right for a behind.

UNSW will be hoping for better luck in front of goal in coming games as they have shown their ability to manufacture shots on goal, just tripping at the final hurdle. Their midfield efforts were outstanding and the defensive work down back shattered countless forward forays. Sydney Uni’s midfield ruck rover combination and lightning-fast ball movement proved overwhelming, and alongside some very proactive defensive forward efforts, closed off many avenues out of defence. Their defenders applied constant pressure and where they couldn’t intercept or force a turnover, they squeezed their opposition into having to take snap shots on goal without time or space.

Full Time UNSW-ES 1.7.13 – Sydney University 7.7.49

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Final Scores:

Team Name: UNSW-ES Bulldogs 1.7.13

Goal Kickers: W. Smith

Team Name: Sydney University 7.7.49

Goal Kickers: L. Gilfedder 2, M. Mahoney 2, K. Blattman, M. Harley, N. Seroukas