RD6 '19 Demons v Lions (Women's Premiership)

Ed Hooper | 04.07.19

Wandsworth Demons 4.7.31 def. North London Lions 3.1.19

WEATHERMAN WRONG AGAIN! In a spectacular showing of consistency, both the Premiership Women and the weatherman have stuck to their guns and continued their recent form. We came away with the win, and the weatherman completely stuffed over our expectations of a warm arvo game of footy.

I'm not one to check the weather forecast, for this exact reason, but the rumour mill had been strong over the previous week that Wednesday was going to be a heater of a day, even by Australian standards, with a balmy 34° predicted. In truth, it started at a windy 20 and sunk all the way to 16, and that's where we leave it.

Back to the footy, we were up against arguably our strongest opponents in the North London Cubs, fellow grand finalists last year, and only team to topple us that season too. They were a little tight for people on Saturday, and offered a Wednesday fixture to avoid the forfeit. Despite having a few key players unavailable, we accepted the game.

It was a tough game, by no means a walk over like our last few. The scoring end of Bounds Green was actually the hill that day, as the wind overcame the incline. Kicking to that end, we got in 2 goals the first quarter, and thought ourselves ready to run downhill and get a few more. But come the 2nd quarter, the wind assisted the Cubs, and they got in 2 to our 1, from some great running football and goals from their #3.

We ran out eventual winners though!, 4.7.31 to their 3.1.19. Overall our depth was better than their few stars, and we worked together with good movement and talk to mitigate their tackling pressure.

A big part of our game was Emily Kelly, back in the midfield and relishing the chance, lacking tackles left, right and bloody centre, whilst running through the Cubs for barnstorming clearances. A sling tackle that wasnt called left her injured and out of the 2nd half, but still left an imprint on the match.

FROM OUTTA NOWHERE, Amy Long stepped up in the forward to be our leading goal kicker for the day with 2, but also took on some rucks taps and worked it perfectly being undersized in that contest. Worked very hard all day, making forward 50 tackles, a stat loved by coaches, and taking forward 50 marks.

Normally I mention the honourables here, but Kristen Johns was a stiff 3rd best, thrown in the midfield to replace the injured Kelly, and did a great job of it. For a newbie learning the game, she's come a long way having started the season in conference.

Others worthy of a mention were Bonnie 'Buckets' Johnson, claiming a goal and a few Mark's in F50, as well as our ruck Jordy 'Claret' Barrett, always in the conversation, this week making her physical presence known with a few vengeance tackles on the Cubs.

10 days between games until we face the Normal sized humans again, for Pride Round on the Common!

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