St Kevins fight off a strong Kew to claim back to back Premiership Wins

Kristin Sims

St Kevins and Kew were the best two teams of the season, so it was fitting they got to face off for the first premiership in three seasons. The game started tight with high pressure from both teams and lots of stoppages. Tackles were the theme early, with both teams not giving the other any room for possession. Eliza Straford tried to lift St Kevins with some run through space, but the forward line was unable to get to the goals.

From here the ball stayed camped in the St Kevins forward half and the Kew defence stayed strong to withstand the constant attacks. Some quick footwork got Kew a break down to their attacking end and a strong run down tackle from Dakota Villiva got the team hyped up. A free kick right in front of goals should have had Kew on the board but a poor kick cost them the start they needed. Dakota Villiva had a run from this point where she was everywhere, doing everything she could to get Kew going. Kews ability to slow the play was working in their favour, keeping the ball in their forward half and holding on to  the momentum. For Kew though the time in attack did not result in any impact on the scoreboard and both teams ended the first quarter on 2 points. 

Kew kicked off the second quarter with a strong clearance from the first bounce, but the possession was quickly taken away by St Kevins who transitioned well into their attack. The game then went back to contests, with Kew giving the St Kevins ball carriers no space and continued to tackle hard. St Kevins changed tactics and were kicking the ball longer, the move paid off and Sarah Cameron was able to use her speed to get a run on and kick the first goal of the game.

From here Kew parked the ball in their attack for the majority of the quarter, this kept the St Kevins defence working hard but to their credit they pressured Kew enough to stop them from hitting any targets and damaging the scoreboard. Another strong fast transition from St Kevins saw them take their turn to hold the ball in attack for a period. Kew continued with their pressure game, forcing mistakes and turnovers but the ball stayed around the middle of the ground for the remainder of the quarter. At the main break the scoreboard still represented how close the game was, but it was St Kevins who would go into half time with a 6 point lead. 

The third quarter started off strong for St Kevins running the ball straight out the center, there was some pressure from Kew that resulted in a free kick in front of goals for St Kevins but accuracy was again an issue. After this Kew got a mini run on and took their chances to find space and get the ball into attack. An unlucky bounce and valiant defence from St Kevins stopped a certain goal for Kew. Kew knew they had a strong opportunity for a goal and stepped up their pressure forcing turnovers that resulted in a kick at goal for Amelia Dawborn, from 40 metres out the ball sailed over the pack in the pocket for Kew’s first of the day.

The celebrations didn’t last for long, as St Kevins won the next clearance and the ball ended in the hands of Tessa Boyd who had an incredible snap to get the lead back. The ball was then shared between the both teams for a period, but a tackle on the Kew goal line resulted in another Kew goal from a tough angle. The game was now a goal shoot out but no team was able to take control of the game and hold momentum. It was an arm wrestle until the siren sounded for the last break, Kew had some last ditch efforts in the final minute but things didn’t go their way and both teams were tied heading into the final term. 

Eliza Straford kicked off the fourth quarter with a huge tackle to get the ball straight into the St Kevins forward line. This was an indication that St Kevins were again ready to step up a notch and take the game on. Kew were fighting hard to get the ball out of their defensive line, but were unable to find targets to clean possession. St Kevins were everywhere early in the quarter, not willing to give Kew an inch and keeping the ball locked in their attacking half. The tackling from Kew did not let up, the players doing all they could to keep St Kevins away from goals and to get momentum swinging their way.

St Kevins continued to push Kew, and Kew were starting to struggle to keep the likes of Sarah Cameron and Tessa Boyd away from the ball with the pair getting more involved as the quarter went on. After close to ten minutes of possession for St Kevins a wayward kick onto their forward line landed in the arms of Sarah Joyce who snapped a quick kick that would go straight through the middle, making the task for Kew difficult. St Kevins upped the pressure from here and made any transition for Kew impossible. The Kew backline were trying desperately to stop goals but as they have done all year St Kevins found a way to snap another goal that would be almost enough to seal victory. With the ball back in the centre it was up to Kew to make a statement and get back on the board themselves.

The next clearance would go the way of St Kevins, this time it was Sarah Cameron who was going for goals and despite her earlier troubles in front of goals she nailed this kick to guarantee the victory for St Kevins. The last center bounce of the game was also won by St Kevins and with just a few seconds to go, there was a free kick that once again saw Sarah Cameron kicking for goal, it was another goal to sweeten the win and see St Kevins come away with a 23 point win to claim back to back premierships.