Round Twelve Women’s Premier Division Match Review, Sydney University v Pennant Hills Demons

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

As the run to finals begins, the Students and the Demons sit together on the ladder after Sydney Uni’s massive upset against the Goannas and Pennant Hill’s close loss to the Bombers. In such a tight competition, games at the pointy end of the season are must win for everyone.

And were off! Pennant Hills flies forward from the centre bounce only to be rebuffed by Pajor patrolling the back line. The Students transition down the far wing, making use of the full width of the ground. The final kick inside finds Gilfedder locked arm in arm with her opponent, the ball tumbling past. She breaks away, collects off the deck and kicks across her body right as she’s tackled, the footy thumping into the post for the first points of the match.

Smith and Wade battle in the ruck relentlessly early as the midfield defensive pressure shuts down easy movement early. Pennant Hills strike with repeat forward forays but the Sydney Uni backline holds strong keeping points off the board. Gilfedder is looking dangerous early for the Students, screaming for the footy and leading all across the forward 50. She marks at a full sprint on the 50m arc, spins, and snaps in hope. The ball glides left in its goalward flight, another minor for the Students.

The Demons find their latest avenue forward through Ives who takes a tackle over the shoulder and slams a long bomb to Lowe deep in the pocket. Lowe’s kick to the goal square pinballs around, the defensive pressure off the charts here early. Finally McDonald tears through defenders, sprints into space and kicks a low, spearing ball goalward. It sweeps across the goal face and through for a behind. Pennant Hills are on the board.

The Students are struggling to clear from their defensive 50 now, with both midfields flooded back the congestion is wrecking their drive out. It breaks down and a ball up is thrown directly in front of goal 20m out. Wade and Cameron jostle for position, the tap crashing down to earth and is immediately flicked to Harvey out the back. She stops and swings a high up and under goalward but it falls just short and is punched through, scores level.

Finally Sydney Uni break free after being stuck in their defensive half for the past 5 minutes. They transition swiftly down the near side, accurate passing through the midfield catching their opponents behind. Harley breaks from the contest and lobs a pass to the contest at the top of the goal square. Everyone remains tangled up and the ball is punched away, but directly into the hands of Gelsomino. She snaffles it up as she sprints past, barrels into space and kicks it directly over the goal umpire’s head. Goal Sydney Uni!

The Demons strike back straight from the centre bounce through Ives. She roves the tap down to perfection and slams it on the boot. The drop of the ball favours the defenders but Smith dives in immediately and wraps up with a crushing bear hug, earning herself a free kick for holding the ball. She sees the time left on the clock, takes a few deep breaths, builds a long run up and releases a thumping kick straight through the big sticks! Scores level here at the end of the first.

Quarter Time Sydney University 1.2.8 – Pennant Hills Demons 1.2.8

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Second Quarter

Sydney Uni flood up their mids early and fill the forward line like a tin of sardines. Its working too, the Demons defence is swarmed and unable to maintain possession for long in the face of pressure from all angles. Finally the kick for goal comes, the Students handballing backwards until it finally reaches a player in space. The kick is a high flying up and under, clearing the defender’s outstretched arms but sliding right as it approaches, going through for a behind.

At long last the Demons clear the ball through Rowe and relieve the pressure on their backline after being under siege for the last 5 minutes. Wade continues to be instrumental as she puts her head over the footy and shrugs tackles with ease in the contest. Rugg also has stood out this quarter, lurking across half back intercepting and shutting down anyone getting into space.

Gilfedder continues to be a nuisance for the Demons defence, her footy smarts getting the better of opponents and her skills ensuring she is deadly with ball in hand. Walsh snatches the ball off the deck with one hand and burst from the contest, spots her deep forward against two and kicks her direction anyway. And Gilfedder marks it! Right on the boundary line, directly next to the behind post and against two she clunks it and clutches it tight to her chest. After such a difficult mark, an equally difficult shot on goal faces her. She catches her breath, runs around the mark to open up the angle, kicks a right foot check-side and slams home the goal for Sydney University.

Pennant Hills aren’t happy with that one so close to half time, flying out from the centre bounce and finding Donohoe leading strongly out into space from the goal square. She takes contact all the way out but still marks with terrific strength to give them a chance to strike back in less than a minute. She wastes no time, showcasing her textbook kicking mechanism as she guides the footy directly over the goal umpire’s head for a goal that was never in doubt. Goal Pennant Hills with less than a minute remaining before the main break.

Donohoe gets another chance almost immediately as the Demons strike forward again. Pajor spots Harvey lurking in space unmarked. Her kick is precise and finds its mark, Harvey wasting no time and lobbing it long straight down the spine to the rucks who’ve sprinted forward. The footy tips over the back into the lap of Donohoe who squeezes off a low dart whilst being tackled, slamming into the post. Scores are level again as we head into half time!

Half Time Sydney University 2.3.15 – Pennant Hills Demons 2.3.15

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Third Quarter

The midfield battle remains neck and neck after the main break with Smith and Wade battling it out in repeat stoppages as rovers swarm around them. Smith and Durante are everywhere for the Students, racking up possessions across the forward 50 and locking the ball in through lightning fast intercept marks. The forward pressure pays off as Harley earns a free kick for over the shoulder contact and lines up at a sharp angle 20m out. The kick starts right and stays right, through for a behind to start scoring here in the second half.

Rugg leads the drive out of defence, kicking long to the contest beyond the 50m arc and the screen set by the Students. The Demons transition at speed down the near side of the group through rapid fire handball chains, overwhelming the opposition midfield flooding back. Sydney Uni’s defence rushes to meet them and breaks up the attack with ferocious pressure.

The Sherrin continues to ping between the arcs, this time Walsh and Gelsomino careening forward for the Students, locking it forward in another fantastic display of teamwork. The final kick comes inside to Smith who’s drifted forward to provide a tall marking target. Her opponent engages early and ties her down long enough to spoil the ball away. And it falls directly into the lap of Gilfedder! She turns and snaps in the blink of an eye from 20m out directly in front and Sydney Uni have the first goal of the second half.

This match has seesawed continuously as both sides gain ascendancy for periods, so far only the Students have been able to capitalise on the scoreboard this quarter. The Demons look dangerous in the forward 50 but the final connection is being broken up by oppressive pressure from the Sydney Uni backline and shucked back out to the midfield.

Three Quarter Time Sydney University 3.4.22 – Pennant Hills Demons 2.3.15

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Fourth Quarter

The Students fly forward from the centre bounce to kick off the final term. With scores so close goals are at a premium with little time remaining. Smith lurks forward to cause the Demons defence some headaches and it pays off. She earns a free kick for holding 40m out almost at the boundary line, worrying her opponents into making mistakes. She takes her time with the run up, kicking a mammoth towering ball goalwards but it drifts left in the air for a behind.

The Demons charge straight down the spine in response, in two kicks they’re in the forward line. Ives marks at the top of the arc, obviously meant to be the next link in the chain of long and precise passes. She ignores the forward options, brings out the 9-iron and sends the Sherrin sailing straight over everyone’s heads. And it has the distance! Tumbling through past the outstretched arms of the defence for the first major of the final quarter. Pennant Hills within 2 points!

They strike forward again, this time finding Lowe at an impossible angle balancing precariously on the boundary. She slices inboard with a sizzling kick that looks a certain goal, but the ball has a mind of its own and bounces directly upward less than a meter short of the goal line. Suddenly what looked to be the tide turner is a no score and the Students defence clears it.

The Demons try again from the boundary line, this time to the contest at the top of the goal square. Sydney Uni’s defence has flooded back however and overwhelm the static forwards to bring the ball to ground and punch it through for a minor. Sydney Uni up by a singular point!

Dribbus is stalwart down back for the Students when they need her most, intercepting or killing every entry that comes remotely near her. The efforts of the backline allow the midfield to get back to their free-flowing best, Gilfedder with an auspicious use of the body to bump her opponent off and send the final kick to Smith deep forward. Smith again causes headaches for her opponents and draws a free kick in the marking contest. The Demons just don’t have an answer for her height and control of the space at the drop of the ball. She wastes no time with the kick on goal, but the rushed run up doesn’t pay off as the ball starts right and stays there. Sydney Uni by two.

The Demons are trying to force the middle of the ground but the Students are on them like a rash. There’s absolutely no breathing room anywhere around the contest and the Sydney Uni backline has pressed up to build a wall and hold the ball forward. If Pennant Hills can break out of the contest and THEN break past the defensive screen they’re home and free but it’s a very big ask as time ticks down.

Tensions begin to spill over as desperation plays lead to plenty of heavy and high contact. The Demon’s final play is another last-ditch effort to drive straight down the middle of the ground but Smith reads it best and puts the game to rest. An incredible final quarter here with the Students hanging on to win by 2.

Full Time Sydney University 3.6.24 – Pennant Hills Demons 3.4.22

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Final Scores:

Sydney University: 3.6.24

Goal Kickers: L. Gilfedder 2, E. Gelsomino.

Best: Kara Durante, Maryanne Harley, Lucy Gilfedder, Sarah Tutt, Mikaela Mahony, Ashley Dribbus

Pennant Hills Demons: 3.4.22

Goal Kickers: L. Donohoe, R. Ives, J. Smith.

Best: Eliza Harvey, Hayley Lowe, Rebecca Ives, Kaitlin Quinlan, Elizabeth Gordon, Laura Donohoe

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