Round 10: Stars, Stripes & Sudden Finals Hype

Ah the 4th of July, American Independence Day, but more importantly the penultimate regular season round of this years AFL London season. Whilst for some the action was taking place in the North, representing England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Croatia and others in the Euro Cup, for others it was a chance to seal finals places, or set themselves up for a big last week, and for others it was a chance to represent their club in The Pride Parade.

The round actually got underway on Thursday with two games, on the Commons of Peckham Rye and Clapham - both in the Women's Conference whilst Saturday saw four fixtures at Motspur Park.

Over in Clapham it was the Wandsworth Demons and the West London Wildcats in Conference action and the Demons jumped out to a 2.1.13 to 0.0.0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and stretched that to 21 points at the big break going in 3.3.21 to 0.0.0 to the good.

The Cats made a good fist of things in the third quarter, and an Alex Sonnefeld goal gave them some hope and they went in trailing by 12 going into the final period. The Dees added another goal in the fourth quarter to end up winning 4.3.27 to 1.4.10

On target for the Demons were Jayden Cooney, Mardi Eckert, Annie Genest and Aimee Hacquoil.

For two quarters at Peckham Rye it was a close run thing. The South East London Giants took a 1.2.8 to 0.3.3 lead into the first quarter break, but the London Swans fought back in the second period and we went in level at half time 1.3.9 to 1.3.9.

The deciding period came in the third quarter, when two more goals from the Giants saw them stretch away to a 3.3.21 to 1.4.10 lead, and with only behinds troubling the scorers in the final period, it ended up with the Giants 3.5.23 to 1.5.11 winners.

On target for the Giants were Abby D’Cruz, Georgie Alvarez and Dayna Richman; whilst for the Swans, well you know how birds flock together and make it hard to distinguish one from another - this was the case here, as Tiahn Ollerenshaw and two other "flockettes" notched for the Swans.

Onto Saturday and there were big games both Premiership competitions, as well as a game in the Men's Conference and Men's Social divisions.

In the Women's Premiership it was the Wimbledon Hawks in action against the West London Wildcats, with the Hawks looking for a win to give them a huge chance of making the finals this season. The game was tight for the first half, with both defences on top, and come the end of the first quarter it was 0.5.5 to 0.1.1 in favour of the Wildcats. Both sides found the goal in the second period, but again defences were on top, and the Wildcats took a one point lead into the big break, 1.5.11 to 1.4.10

The Cats effectively took the game away from the Hawks in the third quarter, and three goals whilst keeping the Hawks off the scoreboard saw them take a massive 20 point lead into the final period, leading 4.6.30 to 1.4.10. The Hawks gave it a real go in the final period, and managed to cut the deficit to seven points come the final siren, but it was the Cats who took the spoils, winning 4.8.32 to 3.7.25

On target for the Wildcats were Kelsey Lomas, Alex Sonnefeld, Isabella Tuttle and Jenna McCormick; whilst replying for the Hawks were Mel Hogg with a couple and Beth Rees.

Next up was the Men's Socials, and the Hawks hosting the Reading Kangaroos, with both sides looking to avoid the wooden spoon. It was yet another Round 10 game that was tight at the interval but saw one side run away with things in the third quarter and give themselves a bit of "wiggle" room in the final period.

The Roos, as seems to be their way, were out of the blocks quickly, and had established a 1.6.12 to 0.0.0 lead come the first quarter siren. The Hawks struck back, hunting in packs as Hawks do, in the second quarter, and come the half time siren they had reduced the Roos advantage to just three points, with the visitors holding a 2.6.18 to 2.3.15 lead.

Four unanswered goals in the third quarter so the Roos blow the Hawks away, and they took a huge 6.8.44 to 2.4.16 lead into the final period, and although the Hawks rallied the Roos still finished the game strong, and picked up a second win of the season, 8.8.56 to 3.8.26

On target for the Roos were Jason Bethune with four and has proved something of an inspirational signing, Andy Whiteaker with two and one each for Joe Trundle and Gavin Wright; with Eion McGrath with a double, and Rich Beal, shock, responding for the Hawks.

The penultimate game of the day saw the Hawks run over the Shepherds Bush Raiders, with a blistering first quarter display taking them out to a 4.6.30 to 0.1.1 lead. The Raiders were better in a close second quarter, which the Hawks just edged by one point, and at the big break the Hawks led 6.8.44 to 2.2.14.

That was as good as it got for the Raiders as a solid Hawks defence shut them out for the rest of the contest, whilst adding points to their tally in the third and fourth quarters to run out 9.16.70 to 2.2.14 winners.

On the scoresheet for the Hawks were Mitch Bloomfield and Billy Glasgow with two each, plus one each for Ayden Dignan, Billy O'Loughlin, Mitch Wilks, Ben Xirakis and Eoghan Curain; replying for the Raiders were Dan Bloch and Lachie Sutton.

Finally it was the Men's Premiership clash between the Wandsworth Demons and the West London Wildcats, and the minor Premiers were on top throughout the game. A decent start saw them go into the first quarter break with a 1.6.12 to 0.2.2 lead, and they pulled away in the second quarter outscoring the Wildcats by three goals to two to lead 4.8.32 to 2.3.15 at the half time siren.

Two more goals in quarter three, whilst restricting the Wildcats to one, saw the Demons go into the final period 6.13.49 to 3.4.22 and with both sides notching three goals in the final period, the Dees ran out 9.14.68 to 6.5.41 winners.

On target for the Dees were Blake Grewar with three, Joel Comito, Jordan Hayter, Brayden Irving, Jack Leslie, Zachary Rollason and Sam Jensen with one each; whilst for the Cats it was doubles for Sam McInerney and Isaac Kenna, and one each for Noah Crosling and Ealing Emus leading light Jesse Rosomacki.

THE FINAL RUN IN

As we head into the final week of the regular season there is still lots to be decided, although none of it in the Men's Premiership or Conference divisions.

The Wandsworth Demons are already through to the Grand Final, and now have a few weeks off, the Lions and Wildcats meet this weekend, and will play again in the Preliminary Final at the end of the month.

Last game of the regular season in the Men's Conference sees the ladder winners the London Swans take on the Shepherds Bush Raiders - with nothing on the game. Finals are all sorted already and there isn't any result on Saturday that would change that.

In the Men's Socials the big game sees the Sussex Swans take on the Aubergine Machine, knowing anything other than a defeat will guarantee them a finals place, but a big win could see them earn a place in the Qualifying Final, any win gives them a place in the Elimination Final - but potentially four sides in the finals will finish on 20 points

The Swans know that anything other than a huge defeat at the hands of the Wildcats will see them crowned minor premiers in the Women's Premiership, but the real action will be on Peckham Rye Common, where the Wimbledon Hawks and Sussex Swans face off in a winner takes all match. For the victors, an Elimination Final next weekend, against the West London Wildcats, for the losers it's season over.

When the two sides met back in Round 4 the Swans looked in control at the half time break, but the Hawks came roaring back conceding just two second half points as they won by five points.

Finally there are a couple of big games in the Women's Conference. The winners of the South East London Giants and Wandsworth Demons will head off to a Qualifying Final clash with the North London Lions, with the losers heading off to an Elimination Final against the winners of the West London Wildcats and London Swans.

Back in Round 4 the Giants hammered the Demons by 50 points, so will need to be wary of complacency, whilst the Swans snuck passed the Wildcats by two points back in Round 5