Railways secure comfortable grand final replay victory over Denmark-Walpole in opening round of GSFLW season

Railways were comfortable winners in the grand final rematch over Denmark-Walpole as the new Great Southern Football League Women’s season kicked off on Friday night. The Tigers were 28-point winners over the Magpies in last year’s grand final and they wasted no time in signalling their intentions for the season ahead, finishing 6.4 (40) to 1.0 (6) winners in their season opener at Retravision Stadium. A four-goal second half was the catalyst for the Tigers as they charged home late to win by 34 points. The Tigers went into quarter time up by seven points and added another major in the second period before a Sophie Coates goal helped the Magpies keep the margin to seven at the main break. However, the Tigers’ class of the Tigers shone through in the second half, booting four unanswered goals to run away with a commanding lead which they never relinquished. Captain Tiarna Delli-Benedetti was instrumental in the victory and she had plenty of support from last year’s grand final best-on-ground Laura Cinanni along with Stefanie Boyle (two goals) and Abby Duncan. Emma Henderson and Megan Ross provided plenty of drive in the loss for the Magpies, while Karis Aplin and Chloe Beechmore also played a significant role. In the second match of the triple-header at Retravision Stadium, the Lions were dominant 58-point winners over Mt Barker. Gracie Gibson and Sophie Loveridge both snagged two goals each in the victory as the Bulls slumped to a heavy 9.10 (64) to 1.0 (6) loss. The Lions were left to rue a wayward opening term, kicking 1.5 to enter the break 11 points up. But a four-goal second quarter all but ended the Bulls’ hopes of mounting a comeback and the Lions added five more in the second half to run away with a commanding first-up victory. Nardia Humphires, Taylah Orzel, Taylah Burt and Rachael Goetze were tremendous in the rout, while Bulls Kaitlin Eades, Joanne Porteous, Sophie Richards and Yasmine Langmead-Simmons toiled hard in a losing affair. In the final game of the round, Albany overcame a five-point half-time deficit against North Albany to emerge with an 18-point win. Sin Lucas, Hayley Williamson, Marlee Ashton and Emma Walker were prolific for the winners, while Stephanie Grant booted two goals in the 5.8 (38) to 3.2 (20) result. Kangas’ Mabel Markey and Nicola Boland showed great determination along with Kirstie Cooper and Kyla King, who never shirked their tasks in the losing affair.