After the weekends game, the end of the second round, we see a log jam in the middle of the ladder with 3rd placed Latrobe 16 points, West Devonport 16 and City Marians on 15, Devonport Blue now shares the lead with Orange.
Devonport Blue dominated from the start in their game against Burnie Baptist, they moved quickly into attack, and had their passing game going well, with 4 goals on the board before half time. Baptist, had only 10 players due to the number of under- age state players unavailable, but Blue could not use this to their advantage in the second half, and failed to add to their half time score.
The West Devonport, South Burnie encounter was a hard fought game, with West having the greater number of chances in the first half but could only convert this to a 1 goal lead at half time. South were stronger in the second half and their persistence in possessing the ball rewarded them with a goal late in the half to square the match . . . Final Result 1 – 1.
City Marians and Latrobe game started off evenly, with City pressing hard as Latrobe became familiar with the turf. Both sides had opportunities to score, but solid defences at both ends saw a scoreless first half. City pressed hard in the second half, but met strong resistance from Fullback’s Jodie Donald and Jodie Cowan, with Ali Stephenson making some timely saves. Kylie Freeman and City’s Caroline Sole were have a good tussle through the centre , with Sole breaking through with a good ball across the circle, which Tracy Saward steered into the goals. Latrobe fought back hard, camping in their RHS attacking area in the last 10 minutes of the game, but City held them out, moving up the ladder with a 1 nil win.
Burnie Baptist and City Marians played their catch up game on Wednesday, and City increased their finals chances with a 2 – 1 win. The game flowed between ends with both forward lines having some nice runs into attack. City’s short passes were working well, and after some good team work , Lauren Bonney was able to accurately pass cross circle on 2 occasions, to the waiting Lisa Richardson who put City two up at half time. Baptist fought back hard in the second and with Alyssa Marmion working hard through the middle and Maddie Murphy and Sammy Phillips combining well in attack, were rewarded late in the half with a well worked goal.