Sydney University v Pennant Hills Demons

In Round 7 the Students hosted the Pennant Hills Demons at Oval 1, and with wet weather on the way it was sure to be a battle of composure between the two sides. After a Smoking Ceremony, the teams met in the middle to begin their game for the Indigenous Round. 

The first quarter was nothing short of a dominant display for the Students. With Cameron (20) in the ruck, the home side were guaranteed the hit out, and with the experience of Farrugia (6) and captain Harley (15), the Demons mid field had their work cut out for them. A fast handball out of stoppage saw the ball land in Walsh’s (16) hands, whose penetrating kick landed for Gilfedder (7) to crumb and score. The Student's forwards were skilled, with a staggering 91% inside 50 efficiency, it was not long before Gibbs (26) and Smith (9) made their mark on the scoreboard with two a piece. The Demons had tackling pressure in Gurney (2) and Winn (15), who each performed excellently to slow the onslaught of Sydney Uni’s midfield. With one last test of the Student’s composure, Delacour-Batch (24) gave the home side another goal after the siren to put them in the lead 6.4.40 - 0. 

Ryleigh Delacour-Batch (#24)

The Students began their second quarter much like the first, as Johnson (4) delivered a well-weighted punt to Walsh, who once again delivered the ball to Gilfedder for the first goal of the term. Sydney Uni understood their home ground, owning the territory and presenting first to 66% of ground balls in this quarter. Desperate defensive efforts from Demons captain Bennett (12) cleared the football out of Uni’s forward 50, but a passage of clean handballs carried the ball from Andreacchio (3), to Walsh, and finally to Bowie (1) who steadied her stride to kick another for the Students. Bowie continued to impact in this quarter, racking up 3 more score involvements with Robertson (19), Gilfedder and McMahon (13) and getting a behind of her own. The Demons defence was caught out of position, and with a lapse in focus, a suspected behind from Gilfedder stayed in play. Andreacchio and McMahon were hot on the ball, securing the goal before their opposition had noticed the umpires call. A textbook set shot from Gibbs was the final goal of the quarter for the Students, before the ball spilled into the Demons forward 50 for the first scoring opportunity the away team had conjured. Desperate to impact the scoreboard, Faehrmann (19) snatched the ball at stoppage, but with a miscalculated kick, she was only awarded the point for her team. The quarter was over with Sydney Uni in a landslide lead 13.7.85 - 0.1.1. 

Frances Walsh (#16)

In the 3rd quarter, the Demons addressed their numbers around the ball, and began competing in the aerial contest to spoil the Students forward entry efforts. The Students adjusted, following the ball to ground, and Delacour-Batch was able to crumb a missed marking opportunity to secure the first goal of the quarter, and her second of the game. The rain fell hard and with the Demons presenting more to contest, the Students elevated, using quick hands inside 50 to find space, allowing McCarthy (10) only enough time to turn before she slotted another through for her team. If pressure was the Demons solution, then pace was Sydney’s, catching their opposition ball watching with a free kick advantage, a later a kick off of one step from Gibbs to add 2 more goals to their tally. Not before long, a new game was afoot, and the Students were bursting out of stoppages and contests to score twice before the 3rd term was over. Sydney Uni left the quarter in the lead 19.11.125-0.1.1. 

Evie Bowie (#1)

The final quarter began with another goal square opportunity for Gilfedder, but without the purchase, only a point was awarded. She wouldn’t have to wait long, as soon after Harley would intercept the kick out and find Gilfedder’s lead, for a more certain set shot to bring her to 4 goals. The Demon’s Bennett stood up in the midfield, continuing her tackling pressure and awarding her team a rare scoring opportunity. With 4 students hot on her tail, Alloggia (25) stabbed at the rolling ball, missing the goals by centimetres to give her team another behind. The ball bounced between 50’s, but the Students were dynamic, using the width of the ground to navigate the ball downfield to the forward pocket, where Walsh received the hands from Gilfedder to add her name to the list of goal kickers. She soon would kick another with the selfless handpass from Davies (5), mounting the lead on the defeated Demons side. The footy grew waterlogged, slow and heavy, floundering the Students efforts at kicking the ball further than the necessary 15 metres. Luckily, Gibbs placed herself metres out from goal, waiting for the opportunity to arise when she could soccer it in, bringing her goal count to an astounding 6.

The Students moved defender Dribbus (11) into the forward line, where she made an impact in and around the contest, including a quick snap to give herself only her second goal for the season. In a last-ditch effort to prevent further goal scoring, the Demons flooded their backline, shutting down every opportunity and using the rain to their advantage. The stoppage was only metres out from goal when the siren sounded, ending the game with Sydney Uni in the lead 24.16.160 - 0.2.2. 

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