Written by David Redden

WOMEN’S UNDER 20S:

In Women’s Under 20s action, UTS won on forfeit from South West Sydney Blues, UNSW-ES defeated Parramatta by 61 points at Henson Park, Manly Warringah kept Pennant Hills scoreless in winning by 59 points at Weldon Oval, and Sydney University (1) defeated Sydney University (2) by 49 points at University No.1 Oval. North Shore had the Bye.

 

WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:

In Women’s Division One action, Newtown kept pressure on North Shore and Randwick City with a 92-point demolition of East Coast Eagles at Bruce Purser Reserve, Manly Warringah defeated a dogged Randwick City Saints outfit by 18 points at Weldon Oval, Sydney University accounted for Southern Power by 6 goals at University No.1 Oval, and North Shore thrashed UTS by 109 points at Trumper Oval.

 

WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

Sydney University were far too good for the struggling East Coast Eagles at Bruce Purser Oval, running out extremely comfortable 112-point victors. Final scores were Sydney University 17.10.112 to East Coast Eagles 0.0.0.

The Students kicked 10 goals in the first half then 7 in the second half as they jumped into second place on the crowded WPD ladder. Sydney Uni’s crucial Round 18 fixture at home to UNSW-ES will decide which club secures the double chance in the Finals series.

Lucy Gilfedder and Jessica-Lee Urquhart both kicked 4 goals for the Students. Frances Walsh (3 goals) and Jessica Robertson (2 goals) also made valuable contributions for Sydney Uni. Incidentally, Gilfedder now shares the League goalkicking tally with 36 majors, together with Manly small forward Isabella Rudolph.

Sydney Uni’s best players were Urquhart, Mimi Pullinger, Evie Bowie, Frances Walsh, Emma Walsh, and Ryleigh Delacour-Batch. East Coast Eagles were best served by Olivia Fuller, Skye Southon, Kahli Gilchrist, Talia Manassa, Erin Naden, and Grace Simonsen.

UNSW-ES kept the pressure on North Shore and Sydney Uni with a comfortable 48-point win over fifth-placed UTS at Henson Park. Final scores were UNSW-ES 8.6.54 to UTS 0.6.6.

The Bulldogs were patient and disciplined against a Bats outfit who could not find an effective avenue to goal for the entire 4 quarters. UNSW-ES, whilst kicking 8 goals, will be pleased that they kept UTS goalless in a game that could be a dress rehearsal for Week 1 of the Finals series.

Leila Clark, skipper Emily Conlan and Emily-Summer Hawes kicked 2 goals each for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs’ best players were Eliza McLeod, Francesca Ryan, Shelby Koh, Clark, Conlan, and the consistent Rani Sossai. UTS’ best players were not available at the time of writing.

An extraordinary 13-goal performance from small forward Isabella Rudolph led Manly Warringah’s charge to an overwhelming 197-point thumping of Pennant Hills at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 30.17.197 to Pennant Hills 0.0.0.

Rudolph was quite simply amazing as the Wolves put one hand firmly on the Minor Premiership, with her 13 majors enabling her to join Sydney Uni’s Lucy Gilfedder at the top of the League goalkicking table. 

Pennant Hills simply had no answers as the Wolves ran riot, leading by 18 goals at half-time.

If Manly defeats St George next week at Kelso Park North, they will be Minor Premiers as Sydney Uni has the Bye and North Shore and UNSW-ES are currently 6 points behind them on the ladder.

Kate Salmon (6 goals) and the deadly representative duo of Brooke Bailey & Bella Clarke (3 goals each) provided great support to Rudolph up forward.

Manly Warringah’s best players were Rudolph, boom youngster Marley Vella, Salmon, dual Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf, Kenya Fahey, and Jayme Saggers. Pennant Hills were best served by Greta Clatworthy, Caitlin Gurney, Remy Ally, Ashleigh Grubba, Jemima Cusack, and Lucy Boyd.

St George kept Parramatta to a solitary behind in the second half as the Dragons ran out 13-point winners at Kelso Park North. Final scores were St George 5.10.40 to Parramatta 4.3.27.

The Dragons trailed by 7 points at quarter-time then by 4 points at the main break. The Dragons midfield then took over, led expertly by Jasmine Baily, as, despite inaccurate shooting, they shut the door on the Goannas in a convincing second half performance.

The Dragons now sit alone in 6th place on the ladder, with their 4 wins taking them ahead of both Parramatta and East Coast Eagles. St George has gradually developed their list over the past couple of seasons and will need to continue their improvement and recruiting ahead of the inaugural SFL in 2027.

The nine goals kicked in this fixture were kicked by 9 individual goalkickers.

St George’s best players were Sophie Matheson, Bianca Rudzis, Shiloh Macfarlane-Anning, Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Tess Kokles, and Baily. Parramatta was best served by Montana Doubell, Megan Ashford, Ashley Gray, Kayla McGinty, Charlotte McKenzie, and Sienna Stanford.

 

MEN’S UNDER 19.5 DIVISION ONE:

In Men’s Under 19.5s Division One action, St George defeated Inner West Magpies by 11 goals at Kelso Park North, Sydney University belted East Coast Eagles by 91 points at Bruce Purser Reserve, North Shore thrashed South West Sydney Blues by 114 points at Gore Hill Oval, and Manly Warringah defeated Pennant Hills by 46 points at Weldon Oval. Scores from the UNSW-ES and UTS fixture at Henson Park were not available at the time of writing.

 

MEN’S DIVISION ONE:

In Men’s Division One action, North Shore defeated South West Sydney by an even 100 points at Gore Hill Oval, Camden jumped into second place with a hard-fought 13-point win over Sydney University at Fairfax Reserve, Parramatta kept their faint hopes of a double chance alive with a tough 17-point win over hosts St George at Kelso Park North, and, remarkably, Manly Warringah kicked 5 goals to 1 in a desperate final term to somehow draw their crucial fixture with Pennant Hills 10.6.66 to 9.12.66.

 

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

St George produced their best four quarters of football this season in defeating Inner West Magpies by 45 points at Kelso Park North. Final scores were St George 15.10.100 to Inner West Magpies 8.7.55.

The Dragons led by 6 points after an entertaining first quarter but then kicked 11 goals to 5 across the final three quarters in an impressive display in front of the faithful at Kelso Park North.

A key to the Dragons win was their intercept marking across half-back. Inner West turned the ball over far too often to St George’s hungry backline, and the Dragons made them pay with a convincing display through the middle of the ground.

Hunter Pickett kicked 5 goals for the Dragons, aided and abetted by impressive youngster Dashiel Delaney-Fielding (4 goals) and Dominic Soffe (3 goals). Stalwart Ben Zoppo kicked 3 goals for Inner West Magpies.

St George’s best players were the dominant Joshua Nicholls, Lucas Flower, Eddie Marning, Matthew Marning, Nelson Carey, and Soffe. Inner West Magpies were best served by their B & F favourite Will Deller, Max Fasolo, Ben Brooks, Zoppo, Daniel O’Connell, and Ki Currie.

North Shore produced a huge second half against South West Sydney Blues to run out 53-point victors at Gore Hill Oval. Final scores were North Shore 15.11.101 to South West Sydney 7.6.48.

After the Blues raced out to an 11-point quarter-time lead, scores were dead level at 4.4.28 at the main break. North Shore simply exploded in the second half, kicking 11 goals to 3 as they improved their record to 14-2 as they seek a rare three premierships in succession.

Tom Gillis kicked 4 goals for the Bombers, with Matt Buskariol, Cooper Donald and Luke Giacometti chiming in with 2 majors each. Bailey Stewart kicked 2 goals for the Blues.

North Shore’s best players were Gillis, Nicholas Brewer, Nicholas Pavlou, Donald, Sean Netting, and Maximilian Toohey. South West Sydney was best served by Matthew Storey, Callum Burns, Alex Norris, impressive youngster Sullivan O’Dwyer, and Ryan Shipard.

Sydney University thrashed East Coast Eagles by 127 points at Bruce Purser Reserve. Final scores were Sydney University 22.15.147 to East Coast Eagles 3.2.20.

Uni led by 10 points at quarter-time but then ran riot in the second quarter, kicking 10 goals to 0 as they effectively had the game won at half-time. The Students kicked 9 more goals to 1 in the second half as they once again boosted their percentage.

Alex Witherden kicked 7 goals for Sydney Uni, with Rory Barkley, relishing up forward, kicked 5 goals for the Students. Ben Rogers kicked 2 goals for the Eagles.

Sydney University’s best players were Reuben Sachs, Arlo Merewether, Hugo Blacker, Felix Rugge Price, Nicholas Andreacchio, and Barkley. East Coast Eagles were best served by Nick Johns, Riley Hayman, Jacob Jones, Lyndon Hupfeld, Scott Brown, and Rogers.

UTS kept their faint Finals hopes alive with a 20-point victory over UNSW-ES at Henson Park. Final scores were UTS 11.12.78 to UNSW-ES 8.10.58.

UTS set up their victory in the second quarter, kicking 5.3 to 2.3 to head to the main break leading by 26 points. Despite a fightback from UNSW-ES in the fourth quarter, UTS held on for a gritty win. The Bats have a tough finish to the season, hosting North Shore then heading to Bob Prenter Reserve in Round 18 to play a Blues outfit hoping to secure the double chance.

Chris Beaty kicked 3 goals for UTS, with Ash Backlund chipping in with 2 majors for the Bats. Ben Pignatelli kicked 4 goals for UNSW-ES in an impressive display.

Best players for both teams were not available at the time of writing.

In one of the games of the season at Weldon Oval, Pennant Hills kicked the last goal of the match to secure a thrilling 3-point victory over a desperate Manly Warringah. Final scores in a wonderful game of football were Pennant Hills 15.9.99 to Manly Warringah 14.12.96.

After a great first half, Manly led by 4 points at the main break. Pennant Hills kicked 5.0 to 2.4 in the third term to lead by 10 points at the final change. In an amazing final term, the Wolves kicked 4 of the first 6 goals to lead by 5 points at the 18:15 mark. The Demons steadied, kicked the final goal of the match and two late behinds to seize a vital 4 points as they home in on a possible double chance in the Finals.

Josh Stern kicked 4 goals for the Demons, with Mitchell Blow and Oscar Irwin chipping in with 3 goals each. Trent Dennis-Lane kicked 4 goals for the Wolves, with Guy Jenkin, Henry Meaney and Nathaniel Newman managing 2 majors each for Manly Warringah.

Pennant Hills’ best players were Aidan Russell, Ryan Mardling, Michael Carroll, Stern, Wilson Mudge, and Cooper Lee. Manly Warringah was best served by Meaney, Cooper McClennan, Jenkin, Newman, and Conrad Blackwell-Smith.