Women’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – UNSW-ES Bulldogs v North Shore Bombers

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

Both sides opened with high energy, playing on from marks and driving aggressive handball chains.

North Shore locked the ball forward, taking multiple pings at goal but were unable to land it through the big sticks until Eder earned a free kick standing in the hole with courage and taking front on contact in the marking contest. She lined up from the top of the goal square and shot straight to get North Shore on the board.

Friend led the Bulldogs midfield powering through contests and applying bone crunching tackles. UNSW drove the ball forward but were unable to convert their forward opportunities, but it gave the beleaguered defence a breather from a constant Bomber barrage.

A 50m penalty on the near side wing gives Love an opportunity to shoot for home which drifts for a minor to close out the first. The Bulldogs were unable to hit the scoreboard but showing an undeniable passion for the contest, just not able to make the most of their opportunities.

Quarter Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 0.0.0 – North Shore Bombers 1.3.9

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Second Quarter

A massive mark up forward by Keeffe gets the ball rolling in the second, striking it well but hitting the post so hard someone should go through the concussion protocols with it. The Bombers kept it in their forward line and slip through another minor before the Bulldogs can break free and drive straight down the spine. The midfields continued their arm-wrestle between the arcs in the second until UNSW found their first forward opportunity of the quarter, but a goal line save by Anderson keeps them scoreless. Kukiono pays back the favour down the other end saving a certain goal from Love, both defences stepping up and showcasing their skills and determination.

Keeffe brings a marking contest to ground and soccers it through reaping the rewards of North Shores repeat forward entries and scoring the first goal of the second.

Jarrett breaks into space for UNSW, getting the ball out the back, lines up on the run but the kick drifts right. Burke breaks from a marking contest that goes to ground and snaps across the body, but this also dribbles in for a minor. UNSW are right in this and are able to get forwards in space out the back but will be rueing missed opportunities in front of goal.

North Shore drive forward again but a desperation save by Wendelin stops another Bombers goal to keep them to a single goal and 5 behinds this quarter. The UNSW defence are doing everything they can to stop this lead blowing out.

Half Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 0.2.2 – North Shore Bombers 2.8.20

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Third Quarter

Keeffe taps the ball from a marking contest over the back, spins round and dribbles it through to continue North Shore’s stranglehold on scoring in the second half.

UNSW blasts forward from the centre bounce, Tier laying a crushing tackle to secure a holding the ball free kick. Anderson plays on and finally relief for the Bulldogs as they get their first major and reap the reward for their forward efforts.

Anderson stalks the ball and is involved in everything forward in the third, she’s really turned on the afterburners after that goal. Taggart takes a big hit on the far side of the ground and goes down but is able to walk from the field under her own power much to the relief of Bulldogs fans. UNSW take that commitment to heart and are moving the ball much more aggressively this quarter and gaining ascendancy for long stretches.

The Bombers go forward through Krimmer, forcing a contest. Keeffe handballs out of the contest to Eder who side steps and launches at the sticks and scores her second.

Three Quarter Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 1.3.9 – North Shore Bombers 4.9.33

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Fourth Quarter

UNSW drive forward through Willey who finds Anderson in space once again. The goal umpire doesn’t move as she sends a towering kick straight through to get her second for the day.

North Shore’s defence solidifies again with intercept marking in adverse conditions at a premium. Conlan and Kaukiono battle through the midfield for UNSW, fending off taggers as the Bombers look to put a stranglehold on the game.

A jampacked contest from a ball in deep in the Bombers forward pocket builds, the tension released with a flicking handball from Krimmer to Eder in space who swings across her body and scores putting the icing on a stellar performance.

The Bulldogs give a last hurrah and drive forward fast from the centre bounce, Conlan breaking two tackles and streaming towards goal. The kick glides just too much to the right for a minor, North Shore taking home the win overcoming UNSW’s sporadic supremacy.

Full Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.5.17 – North Shore Bombers 5.9.39

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Final Scores:

UNSW-ES Bulldogs – 2.5.17

Goal Kickers: C. Anderson 2

Best: Gabrielle Wendelin, Hayley Stanford, Chloe Anderson, Sera Kaukiono, Ella Willey, Matilda Friend

North Shore Bombers – 5.9.39

Goal Kickers: M. Eder 3, A. Keeffe 2

Best: Lucy Yates, Ava Barraclough, Matilda Eder, Shannon Smit, Annie Wilson, Marlee Barnet