No singing the Blues at Northern Beaches
Freya Hickey kicks one of her four goals for Northern Beaches in the opening round win over Grafton. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing
CONCERNS that approximately half of last year’s team will be missing for Northern Beaches in 2022 appear to be unfounded.
The Blues started their season in hot fashion with a convincing victory over Grafton.
The Grafton side was light on for players so the Tigers outfit fielded several players from Northern Beaches who helped to ensure the match was played with even numbers.
Last year’s League Best & Fairest winner Gina Cardillo slipped into a yellow and black uniform and provided plenty of drive. Her contest in the midfield with usual teammate Shania King was a highlight.
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“There was a couple of inches of water on the ground and everyone was messaging all morning ‘are we on? Are we on? We’re keen to play’ so we came out here and gave it a go,” Hanson said.
“The girls have been keen for weeks, it’s been a disrupted pre-season but they’re glad to be finally out here and getting into it.”
Freya Hickey and Belinda Schofield both shone in front of goal kicking four goals each for the Blues.
Grafton coach Warren Bagnall wasn’t too disappointed with the result, focusing on what improvement lays ahead in 2022.
“It’s the start of the season. We’ve got a heap of new girls coming through including some who used the match as a Come & Try day so hopefully they enjoyed themselves and come back,” Bagnall said.
“I have to say a big thank you to the Northern Beaches girls for helping us out.”
NORTHERN BEACHES 4.5 5.5 8.6 12.6 (78)
GRAFTON 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 (1)
Goals – N.B: F.Hickey 4, B.Schofield 4, K.Basset 2, S.Kaur, G.Boyle. Graf: Nil.
Hayley Carlisle deftly controls possession for the Coffs Breakers during the opening round match against Sawtell/Toormina. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing
THE Coffs Breakers women’s team picked up on Saturday where it left off at the end of the 2021 season.
After an even start against Sawtell/Toormina where the margin was just one point at quarter time, the Breakers put their foot down either side of half time.
At times the ball handling in the greasy conditions by the Breakers was sensational with the home team kicking six goals to one across the second and third terms.
Cassidy Ronalds was again among the best players winning possessions in the middle and pushing forward to kick four of the Coffs team’s eight goals.
A year ago in the corresponding opening match of the season, Sawtell/Toormina kicked one goal in dry conditions. On Saturday the Saints kicked three in the wet to show how far the team has improved in 12 months.
The gap between the Breakers and Saints is still significant but the Sawty girls have shown the gap is starting to close.
COFFS BREAKERS 1.1 4.2 7.7 8.9 (57)
SAWTELL/TOORMINA 1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 (18)
Goals – Break: C.Ronalds 4, J.Mulgrew, K.Griffith, R.Bradmore, H.Carlisle. Saw: G.O’Keefe, D.O’Dwyer.
