Old Yarra Cobras strike Caulfield in heart-stopping finish

Round 6 was one of celebration and education in the William Buck Premier Women’s competition, with several teams hosting their annual Pride games, encapsulating the positive effect sport can have on the wider community.

The first match of the round saw St Kevin’s travel to Frearson Oval to take on Monash Blues in their annual pride match, where St Kevin’s brushed off an early scare to beat the home side by 28 points.

Monash got off to a hot start, with the majority of the first quarter of play occurring in their forward half. They got reward for their effort when Ainslee Elliott took a strong mark and converted truly at the 15-minute mark of the term, which allowed the Blues to take a 5-point lead into the first break.

A goal for the Saints in the first minute of the second term helped to halt Monash’s momentum and allow St Kevin’s to regain control of the Sherrin. Despite this, the Saints were wasteful going forward, while Monash used their limited opportunities to add another two majors late in the term to extend their lead to 8 points.

After the main break, St Kevin’s returned to the governing brand of football they are known for, kicking six unanswered goals to quell Monash’s hopes of an upset.

Zara Guss was dominant in the midfield, amassing disposals all day, while Kate Stanton played a significant role in getting the Saints back on track, with three goals to her name in the second half.

Anna Purtill and Sydney Lock were credited as the best players for Monash, along with captain Alicia Myers.

Next up, Coburg hosted Kew at RMIT University Bundoora, where Kew showed that they are still one of the best sides in the competition, defeating Coburg by 42 points.

It was a complete performance from the Bears, who consistently managed to hit the scoreboard, while limiting Coburg to only four scoring shots for the day. Only in the second term was Coburg able to break even, with both sides slotting one goal for the quarter.

Dakota Villiva was back to her best for Kew, finishing with a goal and the best on accolades. For Coburg, Kiana Minchin had an impressive game, kicking two of their three goals to earn the top praise of her coaches.

In the main time slot, Collegians surpassed West Brunswick by 8 points at McAlister Oval. Collegians got the upper hand early, outscoring West Brunswick by 5 points in the first term, however West Brunswick responded in the second term to bring things back to level at the main break.

The third term was an intriguing one, with neither side managing to hit the scoreboard, leaving the four points well and truly up for grabs going into the final term. For the second week in a row, Collegians finished things with gusto, scoring 15 points in the last quarter to obtain their third consecutive win.

Kristy De Pellegrini and Audrey Fithall were crucial in defence for West Brunswick, while Charlotte Carney contributed significantly to their attack with two goals.

For Collegians, Aine Bennett and Tanisha Clark were amongst the best, whilst Georgia Harris (2 goals) was their only multiple goal scorer.

The closest match of the round was between Old Yarra Cobras and Caulfield Grammarians, where Old Yarra edged out Caulfield in the final moments to win by one point.

The first quarter was tightly contested, with each side registering 7 points, however, Caulfield Grammarians were more efficient across the next two quarters, taking an 11-point lead into the final term.

For the first ten minutes of the quarter, the ball yo-yoed between the two forward arcs, until Mia Haas managed to score a goal at the 13-minute mark, bringing Old Yarra within striking range. The Cobras were able to quickly surge the ball forward again, where Alannah Murray delivered the fatal blow, putting Old Yarra in front by a single point.

Old Yarra managed to wind down the clock whilst defending Caulfield from hitting the scoreboard again, successfully snatching victory by the smallest of margins.

Mia Giannopoulos and Ellen Buckley were pivotal for Old Yarra, while Sascha Pribil and Alannah Fyffe can hold their heads high, knowing they laid it all on the line for Caulfield.

Over at Melbourne University Oval, it was a closer contest than expected between MUWFC and Old Scotch, with Old Scotch running out as 21-point winners.

Old Scotch won the first three quarters by respective margins of 12, 8 and 7 points, although Melbourne University managed to get on top in the final term to reduce their deficit by 6 points.

Meg Pritchard had her best game of the year so far in a team-best performance for Melbourne University, while Mia Cowan impressed with three goals for Old Scotch.

Now a third of the way through the season, the Round 7 fixture consists of compelling match ups that offer each side the opportunity to prove themselves to the rest of the competition.

Kew will look to make another statement when they host West Brunswick, who are still searching for their third win of the season.

Meanwhile, Collegians have played themselves into form the last couple of weeks but will face a tougher challenge when they come up against top-placed Old Scotch this week.

Over at Righetti Oval, St Kevin’s will need to improve upon their slow starts if they wish to continue their undefeated streak, as they come up against Old Yarra Cobras, who have proven they have what it takes to compete in this division.

Monash Blues are yet to notch their first win of the season but have shown great signs of improvement and should fancy their chances against a battling Coburg side.

Finally, Melbourne University Women’s and Caulfield Grammarians will meet on Sunday afternoon, with both teams looking to bounce back from losses in Round 6.