Wrest Point TSLW Round 5 Wrap
Round five of the Wrest Point Tasmanian State League Women’s season saw Clarence defeat reigning premier Launceston in a nail-biting clash at Oatlands, whilst Burnie were overwhelmingly defeated by Glenorchy, writes TSL W Digital Reporter Olivia Clayton.
Saturday 19th May
Clarence v. Launceston (Oatlands) – 11:00am
Clarence 7.6 (48) defeated reigning premier Launceston 4.5 (29) on neutral turf at Oatlands in round four. Both teams had not met since the first semi-final of the 2017 season which saw Clarence defeated by ten points before the Blues went on to clinch the flag.
The opening term saw lots of scoring opportunities for each side but both only managed to score one goal each. The first goal of the game was kicked by Launceston player Courtney Stanley after receiving a handball from teammate Danika Corcoran just as she was tackled. Nat Pearce kicked Clarence’s first goal of the game but the ‘Roos still ended the quarter three points down.
Clarence dominated the second quarter with seven scoring opportunities to Launceston’s none. Jacinta Limbrick, Tarn Ford and Nicole Bresnehan all kicked one goal each in the second term to put the Roo’s in front by 19-points at the main break.
Launceston’s Dearne Taylor secured a goal less than a minute into the third term, getting her side off to a fast start, exactly as teammate Danika Corcoran had done the week before during the second quarter in Launceston’s match against the Tigers.
Amy Halaby was the only other goal scorer for the Blues in the third quarter after being awarded a 50-metre penalty. Nat Daniels scored Clarence’s only goal in the third term, not long before play was stopped so Clarence player Rachel Long could leave the ground under the blood rule.
Long returned to play the fourth quarter only to be tackled by Courtney Webb around the ten-minute mark of the fourth quarter. This tackle was referred to the Match Review Panel who determined that the dangerous tackle was careless, with medium impact to the head. Webb was offered a base sanction of two matches, reduced to one match with an early guilty plea. Webb has accepted the one-match suspension which means she will not play against Burnie in round five this week.
The fourth quarter also brought about a change in pace as both teams played with a hint of desperation. Launceston’s Danika Corcoran scored the Blues final goal for the match, whilst Clarence nabbed two goals by Nat Daniels and Jessica Minifie, leading the Roo’s to defeat the reigning premiers by 19 points.
The win now sees Clarence move to top spot on the ladder, with Glenorchy and Launceston just behind due to percentage.
Launceston will host Burnie at Windsor Park in round six, whilst Clarence is the first team to have their second bye of the season.
Clarence Football Club 1.1 4.5 5.5 7.6 (48)
Launceston Football Club 1.4 1.4 3.5 4.5 (29)
GOALS
Clarence Football Club: N. Pearce 3, J. Minifie, N. Bresnehan, T. Ford, J. Limbrick
Launceston Football Club: D. Taylor, C. Stanley, A. Halaby, D. Corcoran
BEST
Clarence Football Club: N. Bresnehan, B. Scott, R. Archer, C. Wells, N. Pearce, L. Ochayi
Launceston Football Club: A. Carey, H. Whyte, C. Thuringer, C. Stanley, M. Clark, D. Taylor
Sunday 20th May
Glenorchy v. Burnie (KGV) – 1:00pm
Glenorchy proved too strong for Burnie defeating them 14.12 (96) to 0.0 (0) at KGV.
Glenorchy came out strong in the first quarter kicking three goals with Natalie Daniels, Sarah Skinner and Mackie Sutcliffe the goal scorers. Although Burnie did not score this quarter they kept the Magpies under pressure forcing them to make quick decisions inside 50, resulting in three behinds and one out of bounds on the full.
Glenorchy held a 21-point lead over the Dockers at the start of the second term and continued this momentum into the second, kicking a further two goals and four behinds with most of the quarter being spent in the Magpies’ forward half.
Hannah Smith kicked the opening goal of the term from about 50 metres out, with a low kick that looked as if it was going to be touched by a pack of Burnie and Glenorchy players near the goal line, but miraculously missed them and went through. Glenorchy player Natalie Daniels also kicked her second goal of the game in the second term to put the ‘Pies 37 points up at half time.
Burnie again struggled to get the ball down to their forward half in the third term, with Glenorchy scoring six goals and four behinds.
The first of these six goals came early in the third term when Elise Barwick was awarded a 50-metre penalty. Barwick did not make the distance, but the ball was luckily marked by teammate Mackie Sutcliffe, right near the goal line and put straight through. Barwick redeemed herself a couple of minutes later kicking a goal of her own.
Late into the third quarter, Brieanna Barwick took a shot on goal missing the distance, only to have the ball marked by teammate Nietta Lynch who scored her second goal in the third term after kicking one mid-way in.
Glenorchy players Mackie Sutcliffe and Natalie Daniels both kicked their third goals of the game this quarter with the ‘Pies ending the third term with a commanding 77-point lead over Burnie.
The fourth quarter brought about heavy rain that did not seem to hinder Glenorchy’s efforts, with Hannah Smith, Jade Williams and Katie Stanford kicking goals to help the ‘Pies register a dominant 96-point victory over Burnie who failed to score all match.
Burnie suffered an early hit when Melbourne AFLW player Emma Humphries withdrew from Sunday’s match against Glenorchy after initially being named.
Dockers coach Richard Mulcahy advised that Humphries was taking a cautious approach after some hamstring problems.
“Emma has had hamstring problems but said she would play on Sunday only because we didn’t have enough players.
“On Friday we were lucky to get two more players on permit from the NWFL. Then [we] decided it was probably best if Emma didn’t take the 10 hour bus trip to Hobart and back as she really needed one more week off,” Mulcahy said.
Burnie’s Shaeli Rodman sprained her thumb towards the end of the match, but Mulcahy advised that there was no structural damage and that Rodman will be a 50/50 chance for round six.
The Tigers return from the bye in round five to take on Glenorchy at the Twin Ovals, while Burnie will travel to Windsor Park for a clash with Launceston.
Glenorchy Football Club 3.3 5.7 11.11 14.12 (96)
Burnie Football Club 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (0)
GOALS
Glenorchy Football Club: N. Daniels 3, M. Sutcliffe 3, H. Smith 2, N. Lynch 2, S. Skinner, E. Barwick, K. Stanford, J. Williams
BEST
Glenorchy Football Club: E. Barwick, M. Sutcliffe, S. Davis, G. Terry, N. Daniels, B. Barwick
Burnie Football Club: L. Stevenson, C. Haines, L. Haines, S. Langmaid, C. Chandler, J. Mercer
