Round 8: Blowouts, Battles and a Bit of Everything!

Week 8 of the regular season and I packed up the car with numerous seats and bottles of water and made the trip up the A3 to Clapham Common, for a full day of Demons action. Visiting today were the North London Lions for clashes in the Men's Premiership and Women's Conference; whilst the Wimbledon Hawks rocked up for Women's Premiership, Men's Socials and Men's Conference action.

I was hopeful for five tight encounters, and particularly looked forward to the Men's Conference clash as last seasons Preliminary Final was my game of the season. Unfortunately what I got was three massive blow outs and a couple that looked close for a bit and then they weren't. The Demons in four of the contests were just a very impressive bunch, and even the Women's Conference side gave it a real good go, with fabulous ball handling, quick passing movements, and some quality finishing.

The day started early, and unusually, for me, with the Men's Premiership and the Demons against the Lions. The first game of the Prem campaign saw the Lions win by six points in a thriller, and a classic first quarter looked as though we might see that again.

The Demons were out of the blocks quickly, and a goal from Angus Robertson put them ahead early in the contest. But in a highly skilled encounter the Lions were soon level when quick passing between Daniel Beddison and Jake Whatman ended with Whatman converting to level things up.

Zach Rollason won a good ruck for the Demons and found Kyle Cooper who fired into Ben McAuliffe who marked and scored, back again though came the Lions and Cameron Johns found Connor Jacoby who slotted home from distance. The Lions were on the scoresheet again shortly after when Adam Den was marched forward for the simplest of finishes, and when Joe Lowe won the ruck in the Dees 50 a scramble saw the ball drop to Luca Edmonson and the Lions looked to be on their way. A late goal from Mason Ness, after Robertson had intercepted a Lions clearance kept the Demons in the contest and the sides went in with the Lions 4.2.26 to 3.2.20 ahead

The Lions were out of the blocks quickly in the second quarter and after Jacoby intercepted and found Billy Clark who was able to run on and score. Max Worbanoff for the Dees gathered wide and converted from a tight angle, and then had a hand in the next goal with a dart forward and ball into Rollason who scored, and when Ness found Rollason the Dees took the lead.

At this point it was all the Dees as the Lions were pinned back and after a ball was hooked across the face of goal Cian O'Mahoney marked and scored from a tight angle. Joel Comito then marked and was marched forward to score, and when Tobias Lawler found Riley McRae the Dees had blown the game open and had a 9.2.56 to 5.3.33 first half lead.

With a big deficit going into the third quarter, the Lions needed a bright start and after good work by Sean Ruddy, Ben Morris converted to give them some hope, and when a wicked bounce in the Dees 50 saw the ball reach Joe Lowe, the Lions were on the board again and the comeback was on. All hopes though were extinguished midway through the quarter when a poor challenge by Morris led to a red card and the Lions a man down for the remainder of the game.

The Dees took immediate advantage and Luke Hogben found O'Mahoney who marked and scored, and we went into the final quarter with the Dees 10.6.66 to 7.3.45 ahead.

The Dees made the extra man count in the final period, running in another five goals against a tiring Lions, who to their credit managed another couple themselves. Rollason and Ness were the chief architects early on with both setting up goals for the other.

Whatman from close range and Samuel McKenzie with a set shot from distance meant the Lions kept the Dees on their toes, but it was hard going for the visitors and goals from Harry Attiwell, after a great mark, Alex Powys after a delightful ball into the middle by Comito and Rollason, after more good work by Comito saw the Dees home.

The siren went with the Demons 15.8.98 to 9.6.60 winners and top of the ladder.

Game 2 saw the Womens Conference take centre stage and the Lions strengthed their position at the top of the table with a really hard fought victory over their Demon counterparts.

In an arm-wrestle of a first quarter their was very little to seperate the two sides, the Dees striking first with a behind, before the Lions ended the quarter with a couple of their own to go in 0.2.2 to 0.1.1 ahead. 


It was a similar story in the second period with very little in the way of goalmouth action, but the Dees made the breakthrough midway through the quarter thanks to a first ever goal for Demons secretary Mardi Eckert and having kept the usually prolific Lions scoreless, the held a 1.1.7 to 0.2.2 half time advantage.

The Lions came roaring back in the third quarter and took the lead through a Rosie Kahl goal, before a loopy effort from Georgina Oliver gave them the tiniest of breathing spaces, and a 2.6.18 to 1.1.7 lead going into the final quarter.

Despite the best efforts of the Demons, the Lions pulled away in the final quarter, great work by Sammy Grozotis saw the ball launched forward, and the ever alert Lucy Banks swooped in to gather and convert. The icing on the cake saw a remarkable over the shoulder mark by Stephanie Dawes, and a goal on the limp - I think my body would now take about 3 weeks to recover - sealed an excellent win.

Credit to the Demons who fought all the way to the end, but the Lions now sit ten points clear at the top, albeit from two games more than anybody else.

And so it was onto Game 3 and the Women's Premiership clash, between the high-flying Demons and the Wimbledon Hawks. The Dees are locked in a two way battle with the London Swans for the minor premiership, whilst the Hawks have had a tough season, and it wasn't to get any easier today.

The Dees made a dominant start to the game with Saffy Lewis-Collymore seemingly having a Sheerin magnet on her as the young Brit (Best & Fairest winner in last seasons Grand Final) tormented the Hawks on the right flank. The Dees opened the scoring with Adele Arnup forcing a turnover and Lol Viska swooped to score. The Dees were dominating and behinds were racking up and they notched their second goal, good running and a ball into the 50 by Emma Rota was collected by the impressive Arnup who scored, and we went into the first quarter break with the Dees 2.7.19 to 0.1.1 ahead.

It was very much one way traffic, despite the valiant efforts of the Hawks, and the Dees were at it again early in the second quarter. A set shot from Brigitte Morgan dropped short but was marked and converted by Natalie Meehan, and minutes later Grace Willis fired home from a tight angle.

Arnup notched her second with a pick up to the right of goal and conversion on the run, and goal-scoring for the half was completed when a Lewis-Collymore ball into the 50 was marked by Arnup and fired home. The Dees took a commanding 6.9.45 to 0.1.1 lead into the big break

For the Hawks, Beth Rees, now known as (well to your intrepid reporter anyway) as Captain Beth Rees, scourge of the seven seas, unlocked her inner pirate but was unable to make the Demons walk the plank, and the hosts continued to rack up the points. Rota opened the scoring for the quarter with a great pick up and finish just inside the upright, and after tremendous work by Lewis-Collymore the ball was quickly transferred to Rota who in turn found Viska who scored. There was some a mini-break for the Hawks on the stroke of three-quarter time, as Arnup raced clear, swung back the leg, only to hear the siren sound just before impact. The Dees though went in 8.10.58 to 0.1.1 up

The Hawks were working overtime defensively but the Demons were in no mood to let up. Viska failed to take a mark in the Hawks 50 but Molly Goldacre swooped to score the next Demons goal, and after some fearsome defensive efforts from Mel Hogg, Beth Rees et al, the ball dropped to Jenna Hawker who scored.

The penultimate goal was the goal of the game, probably of the day, and I daresay the best I have seen this season. Picking up the ball on the halfway line, Arnup handpassed to herself over a defender, spun out of a potential tackle and fired home from 40 yards, despite Viska standing open about five yards from goal. Fittingly it was Arnup from wide right with the last goal of the game as the Dees won 12.11.83 to 0.1.1

The Dees celebrated the win, the Hawks were still in buoyant mood post game, and epitomised why this league is so great. It's all about the camaraderie, win or loss, you still have fun.

In Game 4, the Demons took a huge step towards securing a place in the Men's Socials play-offs with a comprehensive victory in their penultimate regular season game, against the Aubergine Machine from the Wimbledon Hawks.

With their visitors still looking for their first win of the season the Demons went at them from the off, and a high ball into the 50 by Steve Lydell was marked by Pat Hurley and converted just inside the upright to get them up and running. Cody Garment soon found Liam Dove who marked and converted for their second, and a solid first quarter was completed when Mitch Wilkinson marked, and was then marched forward 50 for a simple finish, and the Dees led 3.4.22 to 0.1.1

It was a bright start to the second quarter for the Demons and a couple of early goals, from Ryan Green and Mike Jones set them on their way. The Demons continued to dominate, and were denied a third goal of the quarter, when a fantastic last ditch tackle by Sean Pennefeather stopped a certain goal for Chris Papapetrou, but it was a short-lived plus for the Hawks and a ball hooked in by Lydell found Hurley and he stretched the lead to 6.8.44 to 0.1.1

After the big break there was a brief fightback by the Hawks, Dan Evenhuis fizzed the ball across the face of goal, and Drew Le Roy hooked an effort home to get the Hawks on the board. Shortly after the Demons left Richard Beal unmarked, and the veteran did what he does to make it a quickfire double for the Hawks and game back on.

Well no, Pennefeather conceded a free from which Conor Greene converted from wide left and Greene was at it again, marking a ball across the face of goal by Jack Downer and scoring. Scoring for the quarter was completed when Jones didn't mark, but a kind bounce allowed him to fizz the ball into Brandon Harris, who scored and the Demons took a 9.11.65 to 2.1.13 lead into the final quarter.

The play off places are tight, and it could all come down to percentage and the Demons did their cause no harm at all with a six goal blitz in the final quarter against a tiring Hawks. Jones fired goalwards and a wicked bounce took out the Hawks backline and Greene volleyed home Messi-esque to get the quarter going. Jones was more and more instrumental and a neat handpass one-two with Dove allowed Jones to convert.

Forbes got in on the act with a booming goal from the right, and Dove did well on the left to set up Harris for a hooked effort. The Hawks scored another consolation goal, when a big tackle in the middle of the park dislodged the ball and a thumping clearance into Luke Jackson saw him mark and score.

But it was the Dees who ended the game as they had started, pinning the Hawks back. Forbes intercepted a Hawks clearance to score, and the goals were completed when Downer fired across the face of goal and Jones marked and scored.

Full time siren came with the Dees 15.14.104 to 3.1.19 victors.

Last up was the one I had been waiting for a repeat of the Conference Preliminary final, and for one quarter it shaped up to be a classic. Mitch Bloomfield, sporting a fearsome new hairstyle put in a great tackle in the Demons 50 to force a set shot, and, despite some pigeon steps converted with a well struck effort to put the Hawks ahead. The Hawks then increased their lead when Billy O'Loughlin launched one into the 50, and Bloomfield, despite being a David amongst many Goliaths, took a spectacular mark falling backwards to claim to ball, and converted to set the Hawks two goals to the good.

James Connelly converted a set shot for Dees after gathering a mishit Michael O'Malley clearance after initial good defence by the Hawk and we went in to the break with the Hawks 2.1.13 to 1.2.8 ahead, and a close match on the cards.

What we got in the second quarter was an outstanding performance by the Demons who blew an admittedly tiring Hawks (three or more players doubling up with the Socials game) away with quick hand passes and accurate kicking.

Early on Nick Mayne failed to take a mark in the Hawks 50 but Hugh Nakamura fended off a tackle and fired the Demons ahead and it was a lead they were never to relinquish. Mayne did well to gather a low ball into the 50 and converted just inside the right upright, and when a launched ball forward by Ricky Luvara was gathered on the run and fired home by Monte White the Demons were well on their way.

Lewis Radford found Mayne and his low ball into the 50 was picked up off his toes and scored by Trent Dutton and a set shot by Mayne just inside the 50 increased the lead. The Dees finished the scoring with a lightning break following a rare Hawk attack. Luvara finding Fiachra Griffin who struck home with his left foot. We went into the big break with the Dees 7.3.45 to 2.1.13 ahead.

If the Hawks were to stand any chance of getting back into the game they needed a bright start to the third quarter, but straight off the bounce Connelly collected the ball, swerved passed a couple of tackles and thumped a right-footer between the uprights, and it was to set the tone for the quarter.

Dutton struck home a set shot, Luvara linked up with White and his ball was marked and scored by Mayne, and the Demons had three inside the opening five minutes.

The Hawks to their credit never threw in the towel and forced a spell of pressure themselves, pinning the Demons back, but only had a couple of behinds to show for their efforts, and the Dees struck again through Radford. The final goal of the quarter saw some tough Hawks defending, but after a scramble Mayne picked up to score, leaving us with a 12.3.75 to 2.3.15 scoreline.

Into the fourth quarter and some spectacularly accurate kicking was to further stretch the Demons lead - we actually saw nine goals in the final period and zero behinds, so testimony to both sides accuracy - for the Dees, the second half saw 12 goals and no behinds, which is a remarkable effort.

The Hawks started the quarter on the attack but a turnover of possession saw the ball into the 50 and Dutton scored wide left, and shortly after it was Sam Jensen from wide right.

Dutton linked up with Robert Walker and set up Connelly for the next one and a launched ball from Nick Barker to Dutton saw a close in conversion, quickly followed by another Jensen strike this time from distance and it was sixteen unanswered goals since quarter time for the Demons.

The Hawks got on the board in the quarter when Abel Matthews fired a ball forward, Billy Glasgow took a good mark and scored the Hawks first goal since the opening period. Mackenzie Ryan quickly responded with a weaving run and goal for the Demons.

The Hawks were at least continuing to battle away, despite being overrun and a good run by Ross Murphy saw him find Billy O'Loughlin who fired home on the run. Fittingly though after such a performance, the last word went to the Dees and Mayne who notched their final goal. The siren went with the Dees 19.3.117 to 4.2.26 winners.

Elsewhere there was a bit of Swan on Swan action and some Wildcats and Giants battles

The London Swans retained the Sam Dixon Cup, with a couple of victories over the counterparts from the south coast. Having for the first time this season in the Mens Socials last week Sussex would have been keen to bounce back and maintain their play off push, but the London version was in no mood to slip up and moved top of the table with their win.

Two goals per quarter for the first three quarters, whilst keeping Sussex without a goal did the damage, as the London boys lead 2.0.12 to 0.1.1 at quarter time; 4.1.25 to 0.2.2 at half time, and 6.5.41 to 0.4.4 at three quarter time.

There was just one goal in the final quarter and the London Swans recorded a 7.7.49 to 0.5.5 victory, thanks to goals from Darcy Johnston 2, Callum Jepp, Isaac Farrell, Richard Doyle and Ian Ash all with one.

In the Women's Premiership the London Swans started brightly and had established a 2.3.15 to 0.0.0 lead going into the break. Sussex are a resolute side though and gave it a good go in the second quarter, restricting London to one goal, whilst getting off the mark themselves, and at the big break it was 3.4.22 to 1.0.6 to London.

London took the game away from Sussex in the third quarter, with three unanswered goals and a 6.7.43 to 1.0.6 lead at three quarter time. Sussex never gave in though and two unanswered goals saw them win the final quarter, and give us a full time score of 6.7.43 to 3.0.18 in favour of London.

Goals for London came from Tara Barrett with a double, and one each for Charlotte Brook, Laurene Colin, Tori Long and Jaimee Wittervan; replying for Sussex were Katie O'Dea with a couple and Andjelika Opacek.

The Sam Dixon Cup therefore remains in London after a 13.14.92 to 3.5.23 aggregate win.

Finally, and we head off to Chiswick for two games between the West London Wildcats and the South East London Giants.

First up it was the unbeaten Giants women in the Women's Conference against the winless Wildcats (although the opening game of the season between the two side had ended in a draw), and the form book was ripped up and thrown in the bin as the Cats produced a come from behind victory to get off the mark this season.

A tight first quarter saw the Giants head into the break 2.0.12 to 1.2.8 ahead. The second quarter saw the Cats roar (or more accurately given its a wildcat and they cannot roar) purr through the gears and three goals saw them take a 4.3.27 to 3.0.18 lead into the big break.

The sides shared a behind apiece in the third quarter, leaving it all to play for in the final period. Both sides scored two goals, but the advantage the Cats had purred to in the second quarter was enough to take them to victory, winning 6.5.41 to 5.1.31

Goalscorers were Brie Thomas with 3, Ali Sonnefeld with 2 and Maddie Inskipp for the Cats ,with a Ruby Leonard triple, and one each for Bella Clark and Georgie Alvarez for the Giants.

Last, but by no means least, the Ealing Emus put the disappointment of a first defeat of the season behind them to move second in the ladder, behind the London Swans but with a game in hand.

It was a tight encounter for two quarters, with the Emus leading 2.3.15 to 1.0.6 at quarter time and 3.6.24 to 2.1.13 at the big break. However, the Emus put 20 points on the Giants in the third quarter whilst only conceding three, to take a commanding 6.8.44 to 2.4.16 lead into the final period. Both sides scored twice, but it was the Emus with the win, 8.11.59 to 4.4.28.

On target for the Cats were Jesse Rosomacki with 2, plus one each for Samuel Fung, Jeremy Costa, Daniel Bloch, Ignacio Ramis, Angus Quinn, and the main man Jonno Carter ; Chris Leopardi, Guy McGrath, Sam Schauble and Mark Tuazon with responding for the Giants

That's it from me, next week join me by the seaside, as I head off down the M23 to Waterhall Playing Fields and a Swans / Wildcats double.