Bulldogs claim inaugural Youth Girls 14s crown

Photo: Carlisle Photography

TRIVIA question: Which team won the first Youth Girls 14s premiership?

The answer is the Bellingen Bulldogs who overcame the Coffs Breakers by 23 points in the Grand Final.

The Breakers were first on the board in the opening term with Megan Fuller kicking the first goal of the match. The Bulldogs bounced back almost immediately through Gracie Winfer who not only put her team in front but gave a hint as to what she was going to produce for the rest of the match.

Bellingen opened up a decisive lead in the second quarter with two further goals to Winfer.

The second half was a dour struggle with Bellingen strong in tight which reduced the Coffs team’s ability to get the ball on the outside and run.

The Breakers started the final quarter facing a 20 point deficit and threw everything at their opponents but managed behinds when a goal or two would’ve been handy.

Bellingen coach Marc Bowd said he was particularly pleased for the girls in the team who were new to footy.

“Obviously we have some girls in there that I started training when they went to under-11s so they’ve probably played four seasons and it was pretty easy to pick which ones they were,” Bowd said.

“But we had a lot of first year players who love the game and who came from not being able to mark or kick to being able to do that towards the end of the season and that’s what it’s all about really.”

BELLINGEN 1.2  3.4  3.9  4.9 (33)

COFFS BREAKERS 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.4 (10)

Goals – Bell: Gracie Winfer 4. Break: Megan Fuller.

Best on Ground Medals: Kyralee Blackwell (Bellingen) and Annalise Crawley (Coffs Breakers)

MATCH REPLAY

> > > Click here to see a recording of the Live Stream of the match

SEASON AWARD WINNERS

Best & Fairest: Isabella Parmenter (Bellingen)

Runner-Up Best & Fairest: Zahli Murphy (Northern Beaches)

Rising Star: Tayla Clarke (Sawtell/Toormina)