North Albany notch first win, Railways and Royals continue impressive seasons in GSFLW

North Albany registered their first victory of the 2022 Great Southern Football League Women’s competition after a convincing win over Mt Barker on Friday night. The Kangas lost their opening two games but travelled to Sounness Park to notch their maiden victory in round four. Three unanswered goals in the first term had the Kangas 19 points up at the first break before the Bulls booted the only major of the second term to reduce the deficit to 13 by half-time. But again, three majors in the third stanza from the visitors pushed the margin to 31 points heading into the final term. Both sides kicked two goals in a free-flowing final term but the Bulls went down 3.5 (23) to 8.7 (55). Laura Archer and Nicola Boland both booted two goals in the victory while Lily Minter, Brittany Ward and Jodi Ferry were also important in the win. The Bulls were best served by Lu-Wei Spinks, Georgia Kowald, Sophie Richards and Saige Askevold (one goal) but fell to a fourth straight loss. Railways returned to the winners list as they defeated Denmark-Walpole by 14 points at McLean Park. Ella Scamozzi booted two goals in the win and was joined in the best by Tiarna Delli-Benedetti, Mearana Wynne and Abby Duncan. The Tigers booted a goal in the first and third quarters to prevail 2.9 (21) to 1.1 (7). Emma Henderson, Erika Tharratt, Rebecca McDonald and Sophie Coates were among the Magpies best but they suffered their first loss of the season. Four goals from Gracie Gibson helped Royals remain undefeated after an emphatic 63-point win over Albany at Sounness Park. Gibson booted four majors while Hayley Ashboth added two and they were joined in the best by Selma Waldeck, Nardia Humphries and Tahlia McRoberts. The Lions booted five goals in each half as they stretched their 37-point lead at half-time to prevail 10.10 (70) to 1.1 (7). Amalia Bennell booted the Shark’s only goal and was in the best players along with Samantha Waltho, Marlee Ashton and Sian Lucas. Meanwhile, the Magpies and Kangas played a rescheduled game from round three on Tuesday night at Collingwood Park with the visitors prevailing by 16 points. The Magpies led by six points at the first change before adding three unanswered majors in the second term to stretch the lead to 24 points. There was only one major scored in the second half, going the Kangas way in the third stanza, but they went down 2.4 (16) to 5.2 (32). Alyce Burton, Chloe Bleechmore, Coates and Megan Ross were among the Magpies best in their third win of the season. Lilly Briscoe, Kirstie Cooper, Anita Onions and Lily Minter toiled hard for the Kangas.