Women’s Development League Match Report – Round 4

SANFLW Development league – Round 4
West vs Sturt

Our reserves women’s team came up against Sturt in the late game on Saturday following on from the league. Based on what we had been able to determine, Sturt had a young side that would challenge us with their leg speed and run.

We had four changes this week with Simi Dhaliwal and young Ruby Ballard playing their first senior games for West Adelaide.

Ins: Erin Horsnell, Michaela Lappin, Ruby Ballard, Simi Dhaliwal

Outs: Georgie Pater (League), Sarah Campbell (League), Grace McNicol (unwell), S. Kustermann (Unavalable)

We entered the game determined to impose ourselves early and ensuring Sturt were not allowed to get their running game going and the players seemed focused and ready to play.

We began strongly, controlling the game into the wind for the first 10 minutes and creating numerous forward entries and shots on goal. Unfortunately, we squandered opportunities, missing three relatively easy shots before allowing Sturt to score late in the quarter to take the lead. We also lost Renee Freeman early with an ankle injury so were down one mid-fielder.

QT: West 0.3 – 3 to Sturt 1.1 – 7

Again, in the second quarter we began strongly and with repeated inside 50’s finally seeing Tamika May score a goal but not before having 7 behinds on the board. With the wind dragging the ball into the right forward pocket, our entries were not ideal and made it difficult for us to capitalise on our dominance and create scoreboard pressure. Sturt continued to work hard and made the most of their limited entries converting late in the quarter to retain the lead into the main break.

HT: West 1.7 – 13 to Sturt 2.2 -14

Asha Dufour and Charlotte Spence were winning plenty of football and Tamika May and Michaela Lappin were providing us with key forward options. Scarlett Griffiths, Teagen Usher and Astrid Powell were also giving us some run and impacting around the ground and Sadie Lienert in ruck and Hannah Scholar in defence were working hard.

With the use of the wind in the third quarter, Sturt managed to extend the lead to 13 points before young Ruby Ballard took a courageous mark deep inside 50 to get the ball to the line where Beth Sigley snapped a goal on the siren to keep us in touch.

3QT: West 2.7 -19 to Sturt 4.2 – 26

Trailing by 7 points, it was a similar story to the previous 2 weeks and the players knew they could overrun the opposition. We managed 9 inside 50’s with Astrid Powell and Tamika May scoring to put us in front 6 minutes into the last, but credit to the young Sturt team that continued to run, open up the play create opportunities and they responded to kick the winning goal with 4 minutes on the clock. Sadly, this week we were not able to snatch the win but a huge learning experience for our players. We also need to be able to take opportunities in front of goal especially early in the game.

Full Time Score: West 4.7 – 31 defeated by Sturt 5.4 – 34

Best players: Spence, May, Griffiths, Dufour, Usher, Lappin, Powell

Goal Kickers: May 2, Powell, Sigley 1