Despite an emphatic second quarter effort, Greater Western Victoria Rebels could not do enough to pinch victory over the undefeated Northern Knights in TAC Cup Girls competition.
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The Knights, which had been sitting on top of the ladder, kept the Rebels scoreless in the first quarter of the round four match at Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve on Tuesday, getting out to a 17-point lead.
The second quarter seemed as though it would follow in similar fashion until Chloe Leonard kicked the Rebels’ first at the six-minute mark, quelling momentum.
Shortly after, Sophie Molan closed the gap with two goals in quick succession, while Tara Jasper’s goal before the half-time siren gave the Rebels a five-point lead.
But momentum swung again in the third term, resulting in a second goal to Bannan, while Nell Morris-Dalton and Jessica Fitzgerald both hit the scoreboard with a major each to give the Knights a handy 14-point lead at the final break.
It was an arm-wrestle in the fourth quarter with neither team able to kick a goal until the 14-minute mark.
While Nyakoat Dojiok narrowed the margin back down to 10 points to keep the game in reach for the Rebels, a goal less than a minute later to the Knights sealed the win.
But Rebels coach Rhys Cahir praised the effort of his players, who he said “really dominated” after the first term, especially with a strong attacking effort in the second quarter to clinch the lead.
He said while it was clear both teams had their best quarters when kicking with the breeze, the wind had not been a major factor in the result.
“After quarter time we were probably the better side, we were just unlucky not to pinch it,” Cahir said.
“Our intensity and effort just picked up in the second quarter and we started playing better footy because of it, then they were second to the footy instead of us.
“Just those little things got us back into the game and it was pretty even after that, they kicked a goal late in the last quarter because we were pressing so hard.”
Cahir said if the players could produce a four-quarter effort, they could match it with the top sides.
“The way we responded after that first quarter, our effort was fantastic,” he said.
“It’s just being in the moment from the first bounce instead of reacting to what the opposition do.”
Among the Rebels’ best players were Georgia Clarke across half back, Tara Jasper, leaders Lauren Butler and Sophie Molan, Denver Henson in the middle and Lauren Sykes in the backline.
Final score: Northern Knights 7.11 (53) defeated Greater Western Victoria Rebels 6.1 (37).