Match Preview
On Sunday, the girls head to Taren Point to take on Southern Power in the midday clash. The teams have met just once. Back in March, the Ramettes played their first ever game in a trial against the Power at Greygums. With little or no experience of the game, it was the visitors that prevailed in a 70 point win. The Ramettes have formed a very close bond since that day and are showing improvement in leaps and bounds every week despite being unable to belt out their song to date. Last week they showed guts and courage against a star-studded Newtown outfit and are looking forward to this clash. Last week Southern Power suffered a shock 5 goal defeat at Gwawley Park against the much improved Mac Uni Warriors but have good wins against Auburn and UTS on their resume. They go into the game as the favoured side but can expect no peace from the western wonder gals.
Penrith Ramettes V Souhern Power Sunday May 27 - Gwawley Park, Taren Point
Haley Short |
Vanessa Geisler (vc) |
Jenny Brown (vc) |
Kirstie Burcher (c) |
Nat Camilleri (vc) |
Rebecca Coleman |
Steph Kostic |
Raelene Mathews |
Fran Fitting |
Melissa Howard |
Rachael Eldridge |
Monique Green |
Ashley Grosas |
Sharon Braddish |
April Green |
Claire Manuel |
Zeaona McDonagh |
Kate Easthope |
Renae Vance |
Jasmine Milojevic |
Jess Noble |
Ashlea Rodman |
Sarah Rowley |
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|
It was the Ramettes to play the lone Sunday game as they travelled to Gwawley Oval at Taren Point to take on Southern Power, the team they played in their first ever trial back in March. The enthusiasm remains high, despite the team yet to open their account, with 24 players willing to make the trek.
On a beautiful day for football, Penrith came out running and dominated the opening five minutes. Nat Camilleri had a chance from 30 metres out which just sailed wide for the opening point of the match. It was a good opening term for the Ramettes, but the experience of Power started to show as forward movement s resulted in better finishes for the home side as they were able to post two majors, going to the first break with a 12 point lead.
With the breeze picking up in the second quarter favouring the Power, The Ramettes fell into the trap of watching the player and not the ball in a few contests and started to pay the price. It was a better term from the opposition as they posted another four unanswered goals. Mel Howard’s day was to come to an end with a knee injury, Rachael Eldridge suffered a heavy head knock that saw her unable to continue and the heat was taking a toll as the team tried to lift.
Again In the third quarter, Southern Power showed their class with quick ball movement and a great run of calls from the adjudicators, deflating the spirit of the team as they ran in five goals. Raelene Matthews went into a fierce contest with Power’s biggest player and the collision left both players sprawled on the turf, with Raelene coming out second best and spending the rest of the game accompanied by an ice pack. Two other injuries saw the side reduced to one left on the bench. The final term saw the team keep fighting to the end despite still at the receiving end of the whistleblowers. Claire Manuel was to see treble after an unrewarded “head over the ball” clash, leaving the bench bare as Southern Power added a final four goals to finish the game as worthy winners, but certainly not to the extent as suggested on the scoreboard.
Again, Penrith were valiant in defeat in a tough and physical encounter. Led by “Kaptain Kaos” Kirstie Burcher, the girls put in a committed performance again. “Kaos’s dad, Wayne, recently returned from 8 weeks in the USA, commented on how far the team has come since he last saw them trial in March.
The Ramettes were well served by the entire team on the day. The ageless Zeaona McDonagh was inspirational for the full game with great resolve in contesting the ball and solid clearances. Nat “Sticks” Camilleri again controlled the midfield despite the fact that Power had done their homework and targeted the diminutive midfielder. Jen “Big Bird” Brown again took to the air in her defensive role and was kept busy all day. Claire “Casper” Manuel looked white as a sheet after being knocked senseless late in the game, thwarted many raid by the Power and restricted the scoring. Birthday girl, Ashley “Smiling Assassin” Grosas, put in a top performance in front of her family on the sidelines whilst Haley Short caused many headaches for her opposing number.
Franzisca Fitting keeps showing her fitness and skills in the ruck and piles pressure on opponents, the “Green Machines”, April and Monique are both tough customers, Kate Easthope continues to defy injury and put in another solid effort as did the enforcer, Steph “Mirrors” Kostic and Jasmine Milojevic. In fact all the team put their hands up on the day.
Next Saturday the team returns to the “Graveyard” that is Greygums Oval with the much anticipated clash with UTS Shamrocks. Both are looking forward to the game which sees both teams fighting for their first win. The Shamrocks have had a tougher draw than the Ramettes, being pitted against last year’s Grand Finalists’ Balmain and Sydney Uni, both being beaten soundly but like Penrith, keep on keeping on the entire match. A great contest is anticipated and the Ramettes will be eagerly anticipating to debut the club song on Saturday in the 10:00 AM fixture.
| 1QG | 1QB | Q1PTS | 2QG | 2QB | Q2PTS | 3QG | 3QB | Q3PTS | 4QG | 4QB | PTS |
Southern Power |
2 |
1 |
13 |
6 |
3 |
39 |
11 |
7 |
73 |
15 |
9 |
99 |
Penrith Ramettes |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Penrith Ramettes
Best Players: Z. McDonagh, J. Brown, N. Camilleri, C. Manuel, H. Short, A. Grosas
Last Modified on 22/04/2013 20:31