Women’s Team Goes Agonisingly Close

Another incredible display by the North Coast Women’s team saw them come agonisingly close to claiming a maiden victory in just their second ever match when they were up against the North West Women’s representative team.

The North West region has a four team local competition that started this season, whilst also had three of these teams playing non-competitive matches last season. This means that the North West players have a relative wealth of experience against their North Coast Force counterparts, the vast majority of whom were playing just their first or second match.

Despite this the North Coast Women were in the contest all day. They had the first scoring shot of the match when Naomi Morrison hit the post early in the first quarter and this set the tone for a series of near misses by both teams. Goals were at an absolute premium with the first of the match being kicked by Jess Ronalds to see the North Coast Force holding a slender lead at the main break.

North West kicked the only goal of the third quarter to reclaim the lead and looked as though they may get a roll on but defenders Sara Smith-Lester on debut and Faith Lewis were repelling everything that came their way.

Into the last term and fellow debutant Keely Owen burst out of the middle and drilled a goal with a long bomb to see North Coast holding a slender 3 point lead late in the term. North West had all the territory and possession from that point on and finally managed to kick what would prove to be the goal with a couple of minutes to play. North Coast went close on a couple of occasions and got to within a point but that’s the way it stayed as North West hung on to win the inaugural clash.

Second gamer Lauren French was selected by the Umpires as best on Ground, whilst Cassidy Ronalds received the award from the North West team. Other outstanding performer for North Coast included Captain Alana Hanson who pushed through two injuries, Laura Connell, and Jordie Speechley.

AFL North West 2.6.18 defeated AFL North Coast 2.5.17

There is rapidly growing momentum for Women’s AFL on the North Coast and there are two further Women’s matches scheduled during July. First up is a match on Saturday 15 July against Lismore Swans at Leisure Park, Coffs Harbour from 12:30pm. This will be followed by a match against Tamworth Kangaroos at Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie on Saturday (time t.b.c.).

Both matches are open to any woman who is keen to join in. For further information please contact the Northern NSW office on 6659 6000.