There wouldn’t be many sweeter debut victories in sport – Terrigal Avoca claimed their first win in the Women’s competition with a 18.16.124 to 1.0.6 thumping against local rivals The Entrance Bateau Bay.
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The Women Panthers were helped on by a seven-goal heaping from Morgan Ross, and three from Kirsite Hutton, but co-coach Jackson Farquhar believes it was club culture that got them over the line.
“Every event, every training session, team dinners that we turn up to we’re always having fun and enjoying each others company,” the women’s Panthers coach said.
“We’re out there to have fun, and if we’re having fun the wins will come. It’s more important to have a culture of friends than to just win games, so to get both is great.”
The win may have seen 18 goals and 16 behinds scored for the victorious team, but Farquhar pointed out the “outstanding defence” that earned the points.
“They took to their game so well, and really our defenders were the stand-outs for the game,” he said.
Although the women’s squad walked away with their derby victory in the second round of the year, Farquhar revealed the club’s eyes were “fixed on the future”.
“We know we may not win week to week, but we know the culture we’re building will put us up there with your Nelsons Bays and your Newcastles,” the club’s co-coach said.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Newcastle City Stars overcame a determined Lake Macquarie Dockers outfit at Tulkaba Park, running out 10.14.74 to 1.4.10 victors.
Four players managed two goals for the club as they streaked out to 10 in the final result, including Kirsty Ferguson, Paige Mathewson, Kristel Gavenlock and Sarah Halvorsen.
The Stars’ head coach Shaun O’Leary pointed at new player Amy Morschel as a promising sign for the Black Diamond Women’s development plans.
“[Morschel’s] brand new to footy and she played her first game last weekend,” O’Leary said. “She’s going to be an absolute star.”
“I’ve just come out of four years coaching women’s footy in Darwin and I saw it up there too – I can see all this talent ready to get drafted in the near future.”
At Adcock Park, Gosford sent Cardiff packing with an 81-point victory to score their first win of the season.
The 13.14.92 to 1.5.11 scoreline came off the back of the Tigers’ Angela Jones, as she dominated with seven goals. Jade Burkinshaw, a young recruit for the side, also bagged a hat-trick in the landslide win.
Nikki Standen kicked Cardiff’s only goal, a consolation prize for the travelling squad.
Nelson Bay shone in a 33-point win at Adelaide St Oval, with a three goals to nil second quarter providing the building blocks to sucess.
The Marlins walked away with a 7.7.49 to 2.4.16 win over Killarney Vale, with Jesse Jakubowski, Eliza Smyth and Kaitlyn Douglass all kicking doubles for the victors.
Killarney Vale opened the scoring through Caitlin Sims, and Megan Jenkins added a goal in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough for the Bombers in the end.
It was also a single-quarter performance that put the Newcastle City Novas over the top against Wyong Lakes, as two goals for Handley and five total in the last quarter blew the result out to 8.10.58 to 3.4.22.
Maitland ran out 14.14.98 to 0.2.2 winners over Muswellbrook, while Singleton and Warners Bay played out a tight 4.4.28 to 3.6.24 battle, with the Roosterettes claiming the spoils despite remaining scoreless in the final quarter.
Singleton’s Emily Mitchell was the only multi-goal scorer of the match, kicking a double at Rose Point Park.
Port Stephens were awarded four points after Wallsend-West Newcastle forfeited due to player numbers.
Competition Table: Maitland (8), Newcastle City Stars (8), Nelson Bay (8), Singleton (8), Newcastle City Novas (8), Gosford (4), Wyong Lakes (4), Terrigal Avoca (4), Muswellbrook (4), Killarney Vale (4), Port Stephens (4), Warners Bay (0), Lake Macquarie (0), Cardiff (0), The Entrance Bateau Bay (0), Wallsend-West Newcastle (0).