THERE’S two ways they can look at it.
Members of the Southwest Fuel side can give themselves a pat on the back after confirmation they will be competing with the big guns in the elite A grade division of this year’s women’s touch football competition.
Alternatively, they could be left ruing what could have been if they had finished just one place lower on the ladder and subsequently qualified for the A reserve grade pool.
The eight teams were divided into two following last week’s round of matches, with the Southwest side sneaking into the top four on 18 points, just one more than Central Tumble On who, at the start of the season, would have been favoured to make the cut.
As expected Pacific National Steam Trains head the premiership betting after going undefeated in their nine games to date, with Central Rockets finishing just one point behind on 26, with their only blemish a draw against Tumble On in round three.
Regular A graders Thompson’s Olympians have qualified for the top tier yet again and, on their day, are more than capable of competing against the two more fancied sides.
Tumble On will go into the A reserve division as favourites to replicate their deeds from last season, their rivals being the unpredictable Central Kitchens, Ex-Services Striking Hot and the Coota Hotel.
The pick of last week’s games came on ground two when Thompson’s proved too strong for Striking Hot 5-1.
Jenny Hogan was the first to beat the defence with a typically determined effort and she was quickly joined on the scoresheet by Emily Thompson and Annie Alexander, the latter of who bagged a double.
Unfortunately for the Olympians they may lose Alexander and Thompson in coming weeks once school goes back.
Another of their younger brigade in Mikayla Large added the final try for the night after Jayde Boxsell used her speed to cross for Striking Hot.
Giving Boxsell plenty of support were Lucy McGlynn, Bianca Berkrey and Kristen Leak.
Claire Berkrey made a rare
appearance for Central Rockets and quickly proved how vital she will be come semi final time if she can juggle her work commitments, her hat trick a key indicator in Rockets 5-1 win over Southwest Fuel.
Proving they can match it, at least for periods of the game, Southwest
levelled at one-all through Karen Meale who was making her return from injury.
Ashley Dobson capitalised on Berkrey’s earlier try before Judy Boyd gave Rockets a two-point buffer and Berkrey signed off on a best-on-ground effort with a late double.
Others to impress were Narelle Piffero and Amanda Ingham for Rockets and Liz Lyne, Annie Tozer and Chris Lott for Southwest.
Central Tumble On also crossed five times but went one better than their afore mentioned rivals by keeping Coota Hotel scoreless.
Emily Harris had the honour of being the only dual scorer for the
winners, her two added to by singles from Shona Lawson, Janice Dunk and Jackie Lienesch.
Although they couldn’t cross, the Coota Hotel girls continued to attack all night with Sarah Douglas, Heather Gammon and Courtney Storrier
refusing to give up.
Competition front runners Pacific National were faced by a depleted Central Kitchens and subsequently lent them a player or two on their way to a 10-2 result.
Teams in both grades will play each other once prior to the commencement of the semi finals.
Draw for Wednesday
A Grade
6pm Gr 2 Pacific National Steam Trains v Central Rockets (Thompson’s), 6.30pm Gr 2 Thompson’s Olympians v Southwest Fuel (Trains)
A Reserve
6pm Gr 1 Central Tumble On v Central Kitchens (Striking Hot), 6.30pm Gr 1 Ex-Services Striking Hot v Coota Hotel (Tumble On)
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