Breakers seal top spot, Saints claim upset
Coffs Harbour Breakers have achieved a stunning turn around by sealing the Minor Premiership after having won only once last season.
The Breakers were stretched by Northern Beaches/Grafton in the first half of the match and only held a 13 point lead at the main break. However they flexed their muscles in the premiership quarter, kicking three goals against the Blue Tigers none to set up the win. A further Breakers goal in the last term iced the contest.
Breakers Captain Katika Adams provided her team with its main avenue to goal, kicking three. Bella Crawley, Cass Ronalds, Laura Young, and Kyah Griffith each added one goal to the team tally. Rani Grant was the sole goal kicker for the Blue Tigers.
Coffs Harbour Breakers 7.10 (52) defeated Northern Beaches/Grafton 1.1 (7)
Sawtell Toormina Saints provided the upset of the round when they defeated Port Macquarie Magpies in an absolute nail biter.
At quarter time the Saints led by two, and at half time by one. In the third quarter Sawtell kicked five whilst holding Port scoreless to extend their lead to a match high six points. Port staged a comeback in the final term to record two goals but Sawtell’s one goal, one behind was enough to steal victory by one point.
The winning margin could and should have been bigger, but poor finishing meant that Sawtell only converted 3 of their 15 scoring shots.
Based on this performance the Saints have demonstrated that they can be a force in this year’s Finals Series and mount a strong premiership defence.
Port are far from being in crisis mode but do need to get back to winning ways ahead of the Finals having now recorded consecutive losses.
Sawtell Toormina Saints 3.12 (30) defeated Port Macquarie Magpies 4.5 (29)
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