Round 3: Roaring Lions and Resilient Cats

For Gameweek 3 I was off to sunny Dukes Meadows for a five game stint with the West London Wildcats and their various opponents.

The Wildcats, by their own high standards, were off the pace in all competitions last season, except of course for their fabulous all-conquering Women's Premiership side, so it was going to be interesting to see what the off-season did for them.

For the first game of the day the Ealing Emus were looking to build on their Week 2 success when they hosted the Wimbledon Hawks Aubergine Machine.

The Emus were off to a bright start and after a foul on inside the 50 on Nic Burton the set shot was converted and the Emus lead early. The response from the Hawks was immediate and after winning the restart and forcing the ball into the 50, a ball up was one and a hooked effort by Myles Hudson got them on the board. Travis Thornley the found Cameron Abraham who in turn picked out Hamish Shaw who marked and converted for his first of the morning, and gave the Emus a 2.2.14 to 1.0.6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Aubergine Machine started positively in the second quarter but after a spell of pressure without troubling the scoreboard, they slipped further behind when a big mark by Shaw saw him convert for his second of the game. Once again though the response from the Hawks was positive and a ball into the 50 saw a fabulous pick up and weaving run before a left footed from Hudson kept them in the game. The half drew to a close with the Emus 3.6.24 to 2.2.14 ahead.

Early in the third quarter and the Hawks were right back in the contest. Hudson picked out the veteran Richard Beal who struck home from 2-3 feet to narrow the gap - before running around like a teenager for the next few minutes.

Lachlan Bennett responded with a shot from the 50 for the Emus and they stretched their lead when a ball forward wasn't marked and a stunning half volley from Ignacio Ramis gave them some more breathing space. The Hawks still were not done and remarkably Dan Evenhuis, a Hawk life member, playing his first game in 12 years swooped to fire home and make the scoreline at the end of the third quarter 5.8.38 to 4.4.28 in favour of the Emus.

Two quickfire goals in the opening minutes from Jarrod Bunker and Burton took the game away from the Hawks and when Bunker notched from distance, and Ramis fired home through a crowd the game was up. Billy Glasgow struck home from distance for the Hawks, but the siren went with the Emus running out 9.11.65 to 5.6.36 winners and making it two from two for the season.

For the second game of the day, the Women's Conference pre-season favourites the North London Lions were in town, and up against a vastly improved Wildcats team. Last season the Cats were on the end of some big defeats, but so far this season its been a draw and todays more than competitive performance against the Lions.

Despite dominating territorially and with possession the Lions found a resolute Cats side hard to break down, with Millie McIllree firing home the only goal of the opening quarter. Latching onto a ball that had broken free of a melee in the 50, and taking the Lions to a 1.3.9 to 0.1.1 first quarter lead.

Into the second period and the game spent a lot of time in the middle of the park, with neither side really able to create any sustained pressure. As it was though, it was a set shot from close range by Lions Rosie Kahl that stretched the lead into the big break to 2.4.16 to 0.1.1

It was more of the same in the third quarter, but despite the promptings of Sammy Groz and Lucy Banks, and a bucketload of possession just outside the 50, the Lions only had one behind to show for their efforts and went in at the end of the third quarter 2.5.17 to 0.1.1 ahead

The final period saw a set shot from McIllree, her second of the day, seal the win for the Lions, by 3.7.25 to 0.1.1

All in all a good win for the Lions, who justified their favourites tag, whilst for the Cats, plenty of positives to take from a great effort.

Game 3 saw the Shepherds Bush Raiders take on the Hawks in the Men's Conference.

The visitors started brightly but it was the Raiders who struck first. Great work by Bailey Neate forced an error in the Hawks back line and the Raider swooped to convert with a low finish. The Raiders were dominating and it was the Hawks who were forced into some desperate defending to stop them increasing their lead, before an attack and a shot on the turn by Dom Castegastaldello bought them back into it.

The Hawks struck late in the first quarter through Jacob Hart with a close range finish after good work by Oli Hobin to open a seven lead. Going in 2.1.15 to 1.2.8 to the good.

A set shot from Billy O'Loughlin early in the second period stretched the lead, and as the Hawks turned up the gas great work down the touchline by Cade Marshall saw him feed Castegastaldello and his ball into the 50 was marked and converted by O'Loughlin, and when Sam Le Cocq struck shortly after it looked curtains for the Raiders and having kept the Raiders scoreless in the quarter the Hawks took a 5.4.34 to 1.2.8 lead into the big break

The Raiders are made of stern stuff and responded positively. Josh Bolitho launched a ball into the 50, Austin Atkins knocked in down where a Neate finish on the turn (see what I did there) started a bit of a recovery and when Bolitho scored himself the comeback was on.

Calm heads were required for the Hawks and when older statesman of the team Drew Le Roy popped one over from the right of the sticks the fightback dropped away and the Hawks took a 6.6.42 to 3.4.22 lead into the final quarter.

Jeremy Christianopoulos went close early on for the Raiders, but the boost of an early goal to again kickstart a revival never came and after Castegastaldello and O'Loughlin both struck for the Hawks that was effectively that. Zac Connor did respond with a set shot for the Raiders, but it was left too the Hawks to have the final words, with late goals by Castegastaldello and Joe Cramp giving them a 10.9.69 to 4.6.30 win.

After one quarter of the Men's Premiership clash we looked on for a cracker, the game had swung back and forth, with both sides holding the lead at times.

The Lions struck first, through a Rhys Evans set shot from the 50, only for the Wildcats to respond through (unfortunately I was busy reminding Jonno to update the scoreboard so missed this). Great hands from the hugely influential Judah Edmunds saw him release Jake Whatman who finished with no little skill from wide and on the run.

Frazer Gorman struck home the Cats second with a set shot before Ryan Cox restored the Lions lead from the 50. It was the Cats though who had the last laugh in the quarter with a fantastic grab by Gorman seeing him fire into Darcy Judd-Smith who marked and fired the Wildcats into a 3.2.20 to 3.1.19 lead at the interval

That was to prove the high point for the Cats as an onslaught by the Lions blew them away in the second period. Joshua Richmond gathered the loose ball and fired home on the turn to put the Lions ahead, and a neat finish by Connor Jacoby saw them pull clear.

A quickfire double from Lucas Lefebvre, firstly capitalising on a defensive lapse, and then collecting the ball after a flowing move down the left and converting on the run put the Cats firmly on the back foot. Whatman notched his second, and scoring was completed when Daniel Beddison claimed a great mark, found a open Richmond and his set shot saw the Lions open a 37 point lead at the big break. Half time saw the Lions 9.3.57 to 3.3.21 ahead

Gorman struck early in the second period for the Wildcats and after a ball down the right was collected by Lachie Stuckey, who cut inside and scored with his left, and thoughts of a comeback were starting to enter the minds of the Cats fans.

These thoughts were quickly stamped out by the Lions, as Cox notched his second from a set shot, and a high tackle on Nicholas Sardin saw him fire home the Lions second of the quarter, and with a loan behind they had stretched their lead by a point, going into the final period 11.4.70 to 5.3.33

Once again, after a tight quarter, the Cats were blown away in the next. Lefebvre scored on the turn early in the quarter, and things quietened down for a bit, before Jacoby capitalised on a free after a spell of pushing to increase the lead.

Lachie Trevorton saw his shot smothered by the Wildcats, but the ball dropped to Sam Pryor who scored, and then a flowing move down the right ended with Edmunds taking a ridiculous one handed mark and getting his rewards with a 6 pointer.

Good work by Muir gave the Wildcats something to cheer in the quarter as he found Stuckey who notched his second with a great finish, but scoring was completed by the Lions when Pryor soccered home from close range.

The Lions finishing the game as 16.7.103 to 6.4.40 winners and looking strong again this season.

The final game of the day saw the reigning champion of the Womens Premiership take on the Sussex Swans. The Wildcats started brightly and had the Swans on the back foot from the start, and it was the Sarah Vague show in front of goal in the first period. First up a ball into the 50 by Ange Wang was marked by Vague who converted and then great work by Emily Clout saw her find Iona Williams, and as the ball came loose, Vague pounced to score. The Cats went in with a 2.3.15 to 0.0.0 lead at the break.

Early in the second quarter and a strong mark by Cat Moran saw her increase the for Cats and when Ali Sonnefield gathered a loose ball, turned and fire home, it was effectively game up for the Swans. Moran then set up Vague for her third, and the Cats led 5.5.35 to 0.0.0 at the break.

The first half of the third quarter saw little to trouble the scoreboard, before Steph Cowdray converted from out wide for the Wildcats, with both Isabella Tuttle with a great finish and Wang adding further goals.

It would have been easy to throw in the towel, but massive credit to the Swans who never threw in the towel and led by the craft of Elizabeth Thoms and Andjelika Opacak they continued to battle, and were rewarded when a flowing move down the right saw the ball beat the WIldcats defence and Elaine Macary swooped in to get the Swans on the board with a neat finish. The sides went in at the end of the third quarter with the Wildcats holding an 8.7.55 to 1.0.6 lead.

Elizabeth Thoms fired home from distance early in the final quarter, but it was the Wildcats who finished on top, and a great pick up and finish by Iona Williams ended the scoring. The siren went with the Cats easing to a 9.11.65 to 
2.1.13 win.

So what did we learn about the Cats, they look far more competitive than last season, and should push for Grand Final spots in several competitions.

ROUND THE GROUNDS ROUND UP

Elsewhere on Saturday there were three games at Clapham Common as the Wandsworth Demons hosted the London Swans

In the Men's Socials the Demons got off to a flying start and come the end of the first quarter had established a 16 point lead and it was a lead they were never to relinquish, as they went in 3.0.18 to 0.2.2 ahead.

The Swans responded with a goal of their own in the second period but the Dees still lead 3.4.22 to 1.2.8. When the Swans shut out the Dees in the third period and only trailed by seven points going into the last, 3.4.22 to 2.3.15 it looked as though the comeback was on.

The Dees were strong in the final period though and further goals saw then pick up a hard fought 5.7.37 to 3.3.21 win.

On target for the Dees were Liam Dove with three, Pat Hurley and James Noske, whilst replying for the Swans were Callum Jepp with two and Pat Martin.

In the Men's Conference the reigning champions were looking to make it two wins from two this season, and having demolished the Hawks last time out, they were back at it against the Demons.

The game was close for two quarters, with the Swans holding a narrow 2.2.14 to 2.1.13 advantage at the end of the first quarter, and stretching it to 5.3.33 to 3.1.19 come the big break.

Quarter 3 though blew the game away, with the Swans hitting seven unanswered goals as they kept the Demons scoreless and took a huge 12.4.76 to 3.1.19 advantage into the final quarter. A goal apiece followed, but it was "cue on the rack" time for the Swans and they eased to a 13.6.84 to 4.1.25 win.

On target for the Swans were Reed Jepsen and Fergus Lappin 3 each; Jesse Dench with two, and one each for Fabe Barrett, Thomas Buffin, Blake Goodwin, Riley Hunt and Angus Parnell; with Zach Rollason 2, Max Warbanoff and Jordan Hayter.

It was a clash of two unbeaten sides in the Women's Premiership, with the Demons looking to end the bright start the Swans had had to the campaign, and end it they did, in a tough gritty battle with defence firmly on top.

Over the four quarters only two goals were scored, both by the Dees and from the boots of Molly Goldacre and Nina Kendall and the Dees ran out 2.7.19 to 0.3.3 winners.

The Women's Premiership this season is looking incredibly tough to call, the Wildcats looked good against the Sussex Swans and the Dees and London Swans are always tough competitors. The Sussex Swans showed glimpses of top quality play against the Cats, whilst the Hawks - when they get into the swing of the intensity in the Premiership will worry a few teams.

Unfortunately the Swans had to forfeit the Women's Conference fixture.

Finally it was over to Peckham Rye and a thrilling City v Sea Community Cup clash between the South East London Giants and the Sussex Swans, which saw a tight encounter narrowly go the way of the visiting Sussex Swans, despite a barnstorming last quarter by the Giants.

On target for the hosts were the ever reliable Geoff McKay with three, plus one each from Sam Schauble and Christian Passalacqua, whilst for the Swans it was double for captain Joe Moore and one each for Timothy Jeffrey, James Sutton, Steven Welton and Patrick Wilson.

Next stop for me, the North London Lions this weekend where the league will also be holding an Auskick Session so if you have young ones wanting to play this great game bring them along.