Bloods end winless run, Friars sizzle

Meg Saultry

Williamstown CYMS have subjected Oakleigh to their fifth straight loss, defeating the visitors by 14 points at Crofts Reserve. In a close affair, CY were able to build a 10-point buffer by half time before Oakleigh worked hard to bring the lead back down to five ahead of the final break. However, Williamstown proved too strong and outscored the Krushers in the last term to win the match. CY’s Hannah Elliott finished with two goals for the day, Peta Glaister was a dominant presence on the field, while Emily Cross played her best game so far. Oakleigh’s Nicole Aldridge booted three goals for her side, Jasmine Ballestrin slotted a goal and finished best afield for the Krushers, while Maggie Minchin was again reliable, having been named in the best in all six of her matches. The win pushes Williamstown CYMS into third place, while Oakleigh sits in seventh, ahead of De La Salle on percentage.

Aquinas were finally able to sing their song for the first time in seven rounds, beating Bulleen Templestowe by 11 points at Aquinas College. Drawing against Williamstown CYMS in Round 4, Aquinas have not won a game since beating Yarra Old Grammarians in Round 2. Aquinas started with a bang, kicking three unanswered goals in the first quarter and while Bulleen got within five points at half time, Aquinas grit their teeth and doubled their score to hold the Bullants off. Stephanie Barnes and Molly Sheehan were instrumental for the Bloods, kicking two goals apiece, while Taylor Leslie played a significant role for the victors. Bulleen’s Allie-Lea Hartman also slotted two goals for her side, with Mel Krienke the Bullants best. Aquinas sits in sixth place with a 2-6-1 record, while Bulleen remain in fifth, but trail the Top 4 by three wins.

After an impressive run of form, Old Ivanhoe fell agonisingly short to the same team that subjected the Hoers to their last loss. Top-of-the-table Whitefriars Football Club continue to be the team to beat, holding off Old Ivanhoe by 7 points at Chelsworth Park. With the two teams last meeting in Round 4, the margin was a close 12-points, showing the fierce competitiveness that inhabits the two teams when they face off. But it was the Friars’ third quarter in the Round 9 clash that separated the teams, as they kicked three unanswered goals. Friars’ Kate Tull was her team’s most damaging player, while Eilish Boyd (three goals) kicked her biggest haul of the season after consistently pulling two a game for the past month. Boyd now tops the competition’s leading goal tally with 14. Jacqueline Mitchelhill scored two of the Hoers three goals while Emma Volpe was lively for the home team. Old Ivanhoe now fall two places down into fourth, but hold a three-game buffer ahead of fifth, as Whitefriars remain a game free of second.

Old Melburnians are back on the winners’ board, comfortably running out with a 36-point victory over De La Salle at Waverley Oval. OMFC suffered their second loss to Old Ivanhoe last round, but looked to be in the past as the visitors went about business by kicking four unanswered goals against the Guns in the first half. De La Salle Sally Fyfield and Natalie Derrick kicked both of the Guns goals in the third quarter to challenge the leaders, but OMFC proved too strong and outscored De La Salle in the final quarter to win the match. OMFC’s Georgia Fink, Emily Clark and Kiara Chapman each finished with two goals while Anna Hawkins was named Best on Ground for a second week in row. The Old Melburnians move up into second place on the ladder, while De La Salle remain in eighth with a 1-8 record.