THE Whittlesea region’s women’s team did not have success on Sunday afternoon, returning three losses from three games.
South Morang has secured a finals berth, but its confidence took a hit after losing by 51 points to Kilmore at JJ Clancy Reserve.
The Lions were unable to stop Kilmore’s running game in the opening term, conceding three goals to trail 20-0 at the first change.
Kilmore dominated the bulk of the second term, but the Lions did a good job of controlling the damage, restricting the Blues to one goal from seven scoring shots. However, South Morang was unable to get any score on the board and trailed 32-0 at the main break.
South Morang continued to struggle in the third term, conceding another three goals, but was able to get on the scoreboard through Ruby Failla for the Lions’ first goal of the afternoon, trailing 51-7 at the final change.
Both teams saw out the final term, with just one goal added to the Blues, as South Morang went down 1.2 (8) to 8.11 (59).
Jessica Hyde fought hard, as did Devony Hoare against the tide, while Failla, Stefania Pauga, Ella Pinney and Mikayla Bennett were also named in the best for the Lions, who face an early preview of an elimination final clash with Darebin 1 next week.
Whittlesea’s hopes of securing the double chance took a significant blow and now need to win its final game of the season against Epping to do so after losing to Thomastown by five points at Main Street Reserve.
The Eagles got off to a good start, kicking the opening goal of the day to lead by nine points at quarter time, 9-0.
However, the Bears hit back in the second quarter, kicking two goals, while rendering the Eagles scoreless, to flip the game on its head at the main break, leading 15-9.
Whittlesea was able to settle back into a rhythm in the third quarter, and again kicked the only goal of the term, pinching a three-point lead going into the final change, 18-15.
The Eagles did everything they could to hold on to the win but were undone by a last-gasp Shelby Nanscawen goal to fall 2.6 (18) to 3.5 (23).
Ashley Fitzpatrick, Leah O’Dell, Harper McPherson-Goulding, Jasmyn Lang, Olivia Thomson and Stevie Hare were all named in the best for Whittlesea.
Laurimar had a difficult afternoon against a high-flying Macleod, which dominated at De Winton Reserve to win by 91 points.
The Kangaroos had a strong start in the opening term in kicking five goals to nil and continued on their merry way to kick seven goals in the remaining three quarters, albeit while being a touch inaccurate, to win 12.19 (91) to 0.0 (0).
Stephanie Crook, Keira Widgery, Emma Taylor, Amanda Neary, Leah Bickerton and Gemma Fisher were all named in the best for the Power, who wrap up their season next week with a trip to Crispe Park.
