Royals, Denmark-Walpole and Railways all undefeated to start Great Southern Football League Women’s season

Royals continued their strong start to the Great Southern Football League Women’s season, finishing 24-point winners in the second round on Friday night. The Lions were challenged by North Albany in a spirited opening term at Tigerland but took control after the first break to register their second straight victory. It took until the final minute of the first quarter for a score to be registered but the Lions started to take control of the game from then on as they booted one goal in the second term from Hayley Ashboth to lead by eight points at half-time. Gracie Gibson kicked a superb goal from the boundary in the third stanza for the Lions and Stephanie Francis also slotted a major to push their advantage to 22 points. The Lions prevailed 3.6 (24) against a Kangas side who showed positive signs despite not scoring at all. Imogen Sivwright was impressive in defence and Taylah Orzel was instrumental in the middle for the Lions and were well supported by Rachael Goetze and Leah Field. Louise Quartermaine was dominant across half-back for the Kangas while Alicia Van Schayk, Lily Minter and Brittany Ward also battled hard. In other round two fixtures, Railways made it back-to-back wins with a 53-point thumping of Albany on their home deck. Kanisha Bennell and Lily Wilsher-Saa booted two goals each in the 8.12 (60) to 1.1 (7) win. The Sharks held a four-point lead at the first change but were held scoreless from then on. The Tigers held a two-goal lead at the main break and extended that to 29 points going into the final quarter. The home side kicked six goals after half time, four of those coming in the final term. Evie Brenton-Reed impressed across several roles in the win, Tiarna Delli-Benedetti starred across half-forward and Wilsher-Saa and Laura Cinanni stood out. Amy Walker was among the Sharks’ best along with Kriccia Woods, Abbigail-Louise Ballard and Kellie Bond. Denmark-Walpole made it two wins on the trot after proving too strong for Mt Barker at McLean Park. The Magpies booted two goals in the first and second quarter respectively to lead by 26 points at half-time before adding two more majors in the third stanza to extend their lead to 39 points. The Bulls were scoreless going into the final term and the Magpies booted the only goal of the fourth to run out comfortable 7.4 (46) to nil victors. Ebony Thompson booted two goals in the win. Emma Henderson, Jayde McHenry and Sophie Coates were vital in helping the Magpies stay undefeated. Sophie Richards was a solid contributor for the Bulls along with Ivy Parsons, while Mikayla Balloch and Kaitlin Eades battled hard.