Midway Madness: Round 6 Keeps Everyone Guessing

As we hit the midway stage of the regular season, it is all to play for in our five competitions, but before we take a look at where things stand, what about the Week 6 fixtures.

Proceedings opened on the Thursday night at Chiswick Rugby Club when the West London Wildcats entertained the Wimbledon Hawks in the Women's Premiership.

A low scoring opening quarter saw the sides trade behinds, and it was the Wildcats who had their noses in front at the break, going in 0.4.4 to 0.2.2 ahead. The second quarter saw the Wildcats pull away, with a couple of goals giving them more breathing space, and they took a 2.4.16 to 0.3.3 lead into the big break.

The Hawks mounted a brave recovery in the third quarter with a couple of goals of there own, whilst restricting the Wildcats to the one goal and the it was all to play for going into the final quarter, the Cats holding a 3.5.23 to 2.4.16 lead. That was as good as it got for the Hawks though as the Wildcats stretched away in the final quarter, ending up 6.6.42 to 2.4.16 winners.

On target for the Wildcats were the impressive Emma Ryan with a hat-trick, plus one each for Lorna McCutcheon, Sarah Vague and Emma Davis; replying for the Hawks were Mel Hogg, despite the "you've not got the distance" sledging from the sideline and Sarah Roberts.

Photos courtesy of West London Wildcats

The weekends play saw double headers at both Clapham Common, where the Wandsworth Demons hosted the Sussex Swans (in the Mens Socials and Womens Premierships), and Peckham Rye, with the South East London Giants hosting the North London Lions (Mens Social and Womens Conference). Kingsmeadow also saw action as the Reading Kangaroos took on the London Swans in the Mens Socials.

In the Womens Premiership it was an incredibly tight first quarter, but it was the Demons who edged ahead coming out with a 0.1.1 to 0.0.0 lead. The second quarter saw them increase their lead through a couple of goals, and they went into the big break with a 2.2.14 to 0.0.0 advantage.

Both sides traded behinds in the third quarter as the Swans finally got on the board and we headed into the final period with the Demons 2.3.15 to 0.1.1 to the good. It was a dominant Demons in the final quarter and the doubled their points tally to run out 4.6.30 to 0.1.1 victors, which is somewhat harsh on a battling Sussex Swans.

Goalscorers for the Demons were Lolita Viska with a treble and one for Brigitte Morgan.

Photos courtery of Sussex Swans

The second game at the Common saw an increase in the wind, a bit of home from home for the Sussex Swans, giving how much of a wind-tunnel Waterhall is and served up a thrilling encounter.

The First quarter saw the Swans with the wind behind them and they made full use of it, taking a 2.3.15 to 1.0.6 lead into the break. The Demons narrowed the gap in the second quarter with another goal, whilst limiting the Swans to a solitary behind and the half time break saw the Sussex Swans with a three point lead, 2.4.16 to 2.1.13.

The Swans extended their advantage in third period with two more goals and holding the Demons to one, and as we moved into the final period the Swans were ten points to the good, 4.5.29 to 3.1.19 ahead. And that, somewhat surprisingly was how it ended as defences were on top in the final period and their was no further scoring.

Goalscorers for the Swans were captain Joe Moore with a double and one each for James Sutton and Bradley Ginns; with Kale Hoggins, Danny Radis and Mitch Wilkinson replying for the Demons.

Photos courtesy of Sussex Swans

Moving on to Peckham Rye Common and it was a strong looking North London Lions that took the spoils in the Men's Socials against their Giants counterparts. It was a fairly sedate start to the game, with the Lions going into the first break with a 1.2.8 to 0.0.0 advantage. The Lions then started to pull away in the second quarter with three more goals, although the Giants did get on the board with a couple for themselves and as we went into the big break 4.5.29 to 2.0.12 ahead.

The Lions effectively sealed the game in the third quarter with a four goal blitz and come the end of the quarter they lead 8.8.56 to 3.0.18. They stretched their lead in the final period, with three more goals, and keeping the Giants scoreless to record an 11.9.75 to 3.0.18 win.

On target for the Lions were Daniel Leggett with 4, Joshua Richmond 3 and one each for Larry Cullen, Matthew Quinn, Sam Pryor and Maddi van Sitter (a former rugby player in only his second AFL game); Geoff Mackay (obviously) with two and Joe Arthur responding for the Giants.

The second game saw the title favourites take to the field, but they were stunned by a fantastic Giants performance who handed the Lions their first defeat of the season. A tight first quarter saw the Giants take a 1.1.7 to 0.2.2 lead in to the break. The second quarter was similarly tight, with the sides sharing a goal apiece but an additional behind for the Lions saw them cut the lead to four points, Giants going into the main break 2.1.13 to 1.3.9 ahead.

The Giants took a firm grasp on proceedings in the third quarter, three unanswered goals saw them rack up 20 points, and having kept the Lions scoreless they went into the final period 5.3.33 to 1.3.9 up. Even the Lions goalscoring prowess could not drag them back into the game and a solid performance by the Giants restricted them to just on behind and the Giants ran out 5.3.33 to 1.4.10 victors.

On target for the Giants were Alex Stephens with two, and one each for Ellie Hyner, Karli Smith and Suzi Taylor; with Sam Cawley for the Lions.

Finally and it was back down to earth with a bang for the Reading Kangaroos as they couldn't build on last weeks success, crashing to defeat against the London Swans in the Mens Socials.

A blistering start to the game saw the Swans put on a four goal salvo in the opening quarter and it was a lead they were never close to relinquishing. The Swans headed into the break 4.0.24 to 0.3.3 to the good. They took their foot off the gas a bit in the second period but still stretched their lead, from 21 to 23 points leading 5.2.32 to 1.3.9 at the interval.

Another four goal salvo in the third quarter took the game away from the Roos, opening up a 42 point advantage and a 9.4.58 to 2.4.16 third quarter lead. They backed that up in the final period with three more goals, which ended an excellent trip out for the Swans and they racked up a 12.5.77 to 2.6.18 win.

On target for the Swans were Darcy Johnston with four, Tyson Wyett with three, Nic Dazeley with two, whilst there was one each for Callum Jepp, Jake Peachey and Samuel van der Kley with Daniel Brick and Alex Toogood finding the target for the Roos.

MID-SEASON ROUND UP

So, where are we at in the ladder at the midway stage of the season.

Leading the way in the Men's Premiership are the North London Lions with two wins from three games, and ahead of the Wandsworth Demons and West London Wildcats both sides having four points, and the Demons being second in the table on percentage.

Two Wildcats in Sam McInerney with seven and Isaac Kenna with five lead the way in the goalscoring charts, although Blake Grewar with four from one game will no doubt be putting

pressure on them.

In the Men's Conference, reigning champions the London Swans are looking well placed for a repeat as they sit top of the pile at the midway point of the season with 12 points from their three games played and an impressive percentage of 378.82, they lead the Wandsworth Demons who have eight points, and the Wimbledon Hawks and West London Wildcats (Shepherds Bush Raiders) who have four points.

The Swans and Hawks have both played three games with the Demons and Wildcats having played four.

Unsurprisingly the Swans dominate the goalscoring charts, with three of the top four being Swans. Reed Jepson has an impressive sixteen goals, but then there is a drop to Fergus Lappin in second spot on six goals, Michael Batten on five goals, alongside the only non-Swan, but still a bird, Billy O'Loughlin of the Wimbledon Hawks also with five.

The Ealing Emus lead the way in the Mens Socials with four wins from four games and look on course to erase the disappointment of last season and get in to the play offs. Hot on their heels are a pair of Swans, with London and Sussex having 12 points, although for London it is from five games, and Sussex just the three (and they like the Emus are unbeaten).

Those three seem on course for the play offs with any of the chasing pack fancying their chances. The Lions and Demons have eight points, with the Roos and Giants on four points each. The Hawks are bottom and still searching for the first win.

Hamish Shaw of the Emus leads the way in the goalscoring charts with eight, Darcy Johnston of the London Swans is a goal back, with Nic Dazeley also of the London Swans on five goals. There is then a clutch of players on four goals.

There is a three way battle for the minor premiership at the top of the Women's Premiership competition. Currently leading the way with 16 points from five games are the Wandsworth Demons (their one defeat being against the Wildcats); the Swans and Wildcats are second and third with 12 points from four games (their defeats being against Demons and Swans respectively), so there is clearly very little to chose between the three sides.

The Hawks are fourth courtesy of a win over the Sussex Swans, who are still looking for their first win of the season.

As with the Men's Conference, it is the London Swans dominating the goalscoring charts, with Alexis Smith on 12 leading the way; Jaimee Wittervan (another Swan) has seven, as does Sarah Vague from the Wildcats. Lol Viska is coming into form for the Demons with five, level with another London Swan in Tara Barrett.

The Lions lead the way in the Women's Conference with 16 points from five games, but the defeat against the Giants has seen the lead cut to two points, with the Giants on 14 points and remaining unbeaten this season. Those two are well clear a the top of the table.

The Demons have four points, as do the London Swans, with the Wildcats on two points at the bottom of the pile.

The top of the goalscoring charts are dominated by Lions and Giants, with Meg Cauduro top of the pile for the Lions with nine goals, Elly Hyner from the Giants has five, Amy Pattison of the Lions has four, with both Kerryn Musson (Lions) and Abby DCruz (Giants) on three each.