Photos by Simon Ginns.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
There’s a well-known saying that it is not over until the large lady starts to sing. Sometimes, as the under 17 Felines found out on Sunday, it is not over until the lady walks off the stage and someone checks the scorecard at the exit.
Before we get onto that story, on a drab, overcast day when the skies tried to rain for most of the day but could only produce a constant mist, the Felines hosted the strong Lavington Panthers football teams at Barkly Park.
Under 14s
The under 14 team started off well taking the game up to the Lavington Panthers team.
Unfortunately, once again, the Panthers team had a number of good midfielders who could run and carry the ball which once again put the back line under enormous pressure for the whole match.
For the first half, the back line held up led by Jo Somerville at Full back and Joey Shepherdson on the half back flank. Jo through her run out of the goal square, was able to consistently clear the ball past the 50m line. Georgia Kelly laid some great tackles and continues to improve each game.
In the midfield, the Ashlyn Willet was everywhere, in and out of the packs.
In all the team battled all match and still plays with great enthusiasm and energy. However, in the end, the Panthers team were able to run out easy winners.
Best Players: J. Shepherdson, A. Willett, J. Somerville, L. Barnes, A. Lairson, G. Kelly
Under 17s
This was probably the strongest Felines Under 17 team fielded so far this year as they hosted the undefeated Panthers team.
The start of the match was a real arm wrestle with both teams establishing their credentials without necessarily hitting the scoreboard.
In a low scoring match, it would be easy to say that it was a dour match equalled by the weather. However, it was anything but dour. The contests were exciting as both teams were able to link up and carry the ball from one end to the other.
Lavington scored the first goal. However, in one of the best series of plays for the whole season, the Felines were able to respond quickly with some great ball movement of the half back flank, linking up through the midfield and Lotoya Holdsworth taking a great mark in the goal score, side stepping her opponent and booting a goal.
The Felines were able to move in front in the second quarter with a great running goal to Ali Jackson. From the midway through the second quarter through to the end of the third quarter, the Felines were able to dominate possession and position on the field but struggled to convert their chances.
Unlike the previous two times when these team played each other, the Felines tackled much better and closed down the Panthers running game through some determined running and pressure. The game was set up for a thrilling last quarter.
The crowd got involved in the game as the Panthers team surged repeatedly in the last quarter. With five minutes to go, they drew level on the score board.
The next five minutes was thrilling, with the Felines back line under siege and often having to clear the ball from the goal score. When the siren went, the score board had both teams level on 15 points.
Both teams shook hands and went off to their respective changerooms, with both teams in a mixed state.
However, while the opera lady was taking encores requests, the goal umpires conferred and noticed that there was an anomaly with the scoreboard. It turned out that the scoreboard attendants had missed a point which mean that the Felines won the game by this solitary point.
Best players for the Felines were the old brigade of Mietta Habets, Yasmine Budic and Caitlin Somerville.
Mietta played a great game in the ruck and often came in for some over the top treatment by her opponents. Caitlin Somerville is getting back to her best form after a run of injuries.
Ava Loughnan was electrifying at times and provided plenty of drive through the midfield with Ali Jackson.
Paige Duffy was strong as always running the ball out of the backline and was backed up by Kirra Shepherdson who showed nerves of steel in the concluding minutes of the match.
Many of the Felines unheralded players had their best game and it would be nice to mention the whole team who all played their role. They applied pressure to the Panthers team for the whole game and whenever the Panthers threatened to go off on the gallops, the Felines were able to close their run down and force another contest.
The bad news for the match was Amelia Sissons who rolled over her ankle and had to be taken off the field. We wish her the best in her recovery.
Murray Felines 2.4-16 defeated Lavington panthers 2.3-15
Goal Kickers: A. Jackson, L. Holdsworth
Best Players: M. Habets, A. Loughnan, A. Jackson, P. Duffy, Y. Budic, C. Somerville
Open Womens
It was tough day at the office for the open team against the strong Panthers line up. The team battled strongly all day but were under constant pressure from the running game of the Panthers.
Best players for the Felines were Chloe Robinson and Sophie Nicholson on the full back line. Clare Megarrity showed the younger players how to play the game with her intent on the ball and contest.
Ava Cofield played the game with a smile on her face all day and was able to at numerous occasions to pluck the ball from a ruck contest, blind turn and boot the ball forward.
Emily Keys broke the record for the most number of smoothers made in a match. Jane McInnes and Kaysee Maples played solid games on the half back flank.
In the end, the Panthers were too strong and won convincingly.
Best Players: C. Robinson, K. Shepherdson, S. Nicholson, C. Megarrity, K. Maples, J. McInnes.
The Under 14 girls take on Wodonga next Sunday at Barkly Park while the Under 17 and Open teams have a bye.
Special mention must be made of our Opens team member, Matilda Overend, who has fundraised over $4,000 for MND research. This amount includes around $3,200 from beanies and $800 from a raffle conducted on the day. Well done, Matilda!