Three-way tussle in the Seniors at Gaelic Games

Gaelic Games - Perth 2006 - Day Three Review

Seniors: Qld vs Victoria

It was all about the points in the opening game for day three, as Victoria handed Queensland a sound beating to get ahead on the seniors’ ladder.

With the seniors’ championship currently a three-way tussle between the Victorians, title-holders New South Wales and home side Western Australia, Victoria’s 8-17 (41) to 0-5 (5) win against the Queenslanders provided a boost for the southerners’ for-and-against tally to position them well for the finals.

However, the Victorians got away to a slow start as the Queensland side began strongly, with little scoring from either side in the early stages of the game.

Victoria posted a solid 2-7 (13) to 0-3 (3) lead at the half-time break but did most of its scoring in the second half, putting the Queensland defence under intense pressure as it struggled to get the ball out from the back line.

Every mistake hurt for the fatiguing Queensland team, with the Victorians seizing the majority of loose balls and turning them into points.

Prolific scorers for Victoria were Eion Quinn with three goals and four overs and Ciaran Rabbit and Darren Bourne who both scored two goals and three overs.

Scoring the precious few points for Queensland were Cameron Carney with three overs and Andrew Peers with two.

Minors: WA Gold vs Qld

The extreme closeness of the minors’ competition was demonstrated again in the match between Western Australia Gold and Queensland, with the Queensland side scraping through with a 1-12 (15) to 2-8 (14) win.

There was much action in the middle with few points scored in the early stages of the game, before a number of goals came in quick succession.

WA was the first to net a three-pointer courtesy of Daniel Donnelly, while Queensland soon followed suit with Troy Randall doing the honours.

Mark Kelly then followed up with WA’s second goal of the day to give the home side a 2-4 (10) to 1-5 (8) lead by halftime.

However Queensland went on the attack early in the second half, bringing the scores even and then edging ahead.

Half-forward Nick Black played a key role for Queensland, kicking five overs, with Matthew Saunders also helping out with three overs of his own. Kieran Hodge kept WA up with the visitors with three overs.

However the Western Australian defence couldn’t stop Black and Saunders from breaking through the centre and consistently following through with points as the Queenslanders held on for the one-point win.

Women: WA Black Swans vs Victoria

If the Victorian women were expecting an easy game against the WA Black Swans, it wasn’t to be, as the home side put up a good fight to come within four points of a win against the more experienced side.

Victoria did however appear to be the dominant team in the opening half, with the ball staying mostly in Victorian territory.

After posting a 0-8 (8) to 0-3 (3) lead at half time, the Victorians continued strongly into the second half with Julia Boyle scoring a goal in the opening minutes.

The Black Swans however soon hit back and a goal and over from Aislinn Burke kept the visiting side from getting too comfortable.

But the Victorians stayed strong and made the most of any WA mistakes as the home side tired.

Victorian forwards Michelle Collier and Kirsten Burke were effective in attack, while the Black Swans’ Louise Knitter also impressed.

However the WA backs and goalie Emma Duffield kept the pressure up on the Victorian attack, not letting much through before Victoria held on for the 1-10 (13) to 1-7 (10) win.

Seniors: NSW vs WA

The second seniors match of the day saw the home side continue its winning streak, taking the prized scalp of three-time champion New South Wales, 1-10 (13) to 1-6 (9).

The Western Australians began well, with Paul Kilbane effective in the midfield to help his side open the scoring and take a lead into halftime 0-6 (6) to 0-2 (2).

The second half saw New South Wales claim back some territory as the visitors went on the attack, with Niall Cunningham and Barry Devine contributing valuable points, while a Tom Burne goal closed his side’s scoreline deficit to just one point.

The two sides then fought for the lead after a New South Wales over brought the scores level.

A Colm McHugh goal for Western Australia gave the host side some breathing space, but New South Wales continued to pressure the WA defence, which held up well with Ryan Daly playing a key role.

The win for WA has put the home side in a strong position in first place on the seniors’ points table, while New South Wales faces a tough road to the finals after placing third.

Minors: WA Gold vs WA Black Swans

In their second match-up for the week, the WA Black Swans turned the tables on WA Gold in taking a close 0-12 (12) to 1-7 (10) win to atone for their earlier loss in the minors’ competition.

The first half saw few points scored in an even contest before Kieran Hodge netted a goal shortly before half time to give the Gold team a 1-4 (7) to 0-5 (5) lead.

However, the Black Swans came out firing in the second half, kicking several overs and pressuring the Gold goal to eventually get in front.

Black Swans Darren Cunningham and Colin McNabb were strong in the midfield, as was Tim Dutt, with all scoring points during the game, while Luke Paterson had an outstanding game for WA Gold, with Daniel Padua also playing well in defence.

In an even final quarter, WA Gold began to fight back and the points came in equal shares, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Black Swans who held on for victory.

Women: WA vs Qld

The Western Australian women blew everyone away with an unexpectedly easy win over rivals Queensland, romping home with a scoreline of 6-8 (26) 1-6 (9) in a rematch of the 2005 grand final.

While the game began fairly evenly in terms of matchplay, it was WA who was more successful in its attempts at points, showing more accuracy throughout the game as the Queensland side struggled to find the posts.

However it was WA’s ability to find the net that hurt the Queenslanders, putting the home side well ahead with numerous three-pointers.

WA’s Renae Campbell played a dominant game at centre half-forward, scoring one goal and four overs in the process, while Lydia Padgett also played well in attack.

Kelsey Jones contributed an early goal for the Western Australians, while Emma Pender and Kelly Tyrrell both scored two goals each in the second half.

Mel Cowie found the net for Queensland in a penalty kick in the latter stages of the match, while Trish Brown kept up her skilful work in the midfield, contributing two overs for the game, as did Natalie Hughes.

While Queensland came out with some occasional passages of brilliance, it was WA who held the upper hand for the majority of the match, and will be looking to take that advantage to the grand final on Sunday.

Queensland will play Victoria in the semi-final to determine who will get to challenge the home side for the 2006 championship in the final.

Related Article:

WA Gold topple experienced Black Swans (Wed Oct 4)