South Australia too good for NSW/ACT

The Croweaters got on top of the contest with NSW/ACT early with a goal just over a minute in and then continued to dominate to win 11.14 (80) to 0.3 (3). South Australia is now leading the way in Pool B having backed up its big win by 70 points over the Thunder Devils on Monday to open the championships.

NSW/ACT opened their campaign with a 14-point win over the Woomeras also on Day 1, but South Australia proved too good on Tuesday to end up winning by 77 points.

Ashleigh Jade Woodland got South Australia off to the quick start with the opening goal of the match and then shortly before quarter-time, Taylah Eastwood added another for the Croweaters.  South Australia then continued to pepper the goals during the second quarter but managed just the six behinds before eventually Brianna Walling kicked straight to put her team 25 points in front.

NSW/ACT did manage to score a behind shortly before half-time but then South Australia started to find the goals a bit more in the third term with three of them to end up leading by 45 points at three quarter-time.

It was then a dominant performance by South Australia in the final quarter with five more goals to nil to end up recording the 77-point victory.

Woodland kicked three goals for South Australia with Ebony Marinoff and Sarah Allan both kicking two majors apiece. Sarah Allan, Tait Mackrill, Demi Sonneman, Shae Gundlach, Nikki Gore, Ashleigh Woodland and Ebony Marinoff were among the standout performers for South Australia.

NSW/ACT didn’t score a goal but Elisa Pevere, Margot Vella, Jodie Hicks, Kate Reid, Angela Priftis and Pippy Clegg all worked hard to put in strong performances.

Following a rest day now on Wednesday, South Australia will take on the winless Woomeras on Thursday while NSW/ACT takes on the Thunder Devils with both teams having one win and one loss over the opening two days.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA         2.1         3.7         6.10       11.14 (80)
NSW/ACT                         0.0         0.0         0.1         0.3 (3)

GOALS  
South Australia: A Woodland 3, E Marinoff 2, S Allan 2, B Walling, K Howell, N Gore, T Eastwood.

BEST  
South Australia: S Allan, T Mackrill, D Sonneman, S Gundlach, N Gore, A Woodland, E Marinoff.
NSW/ACT: E Pevere, M Vella, J Hicks, K Reid, A Priftis, P Clegg.

Photo: Phil Barnes