The Oxford girls kicked off the season with strong numbers, despite several injuries (including a broken rib!) and one of the most bitter, cold days of the Oxford autumn so far.
The Demons started out strong, scoring a number of goals in the first quarter to take a big early lead. Strong in defence throughout, Ellie Bath managed an impressive smother early on, revealing talent that had gone untapped in her previous career playing hockey. Genevieve Martin kept talk up in the ruck, as usual. Smuggling the ball out of a number of scrums was the agile Emma Lawrance, with several quick passes out to Mandy Rojek who booted the ball down the length of the field. The Demons put on a formidable defensive side and the Oxford women were unable to convert any of these breaks to score.
Audibly thrilled at taking a mark out of the wing, Torgie Cox assumed she was safe from being tackled, but the celebration was premature as she was rapidly taken out by a speedy Demon. Alexis ‘the tackler’ Brown was out in full force, pinning players arms before they knew she was close. Moizza Sarwar revealed a dogged intensity for her opponent, boding for excellent things to come in her footy career. Fiona McLoughlin and Emma Coulson, true to form, shook off one Demon after another, putting their experience to good use. Additional defensive pressure in the later parts of the game couldn’t, however, stop the Demons from powering ahead for a clear win.
A huge congratulations to the number of girls for whom this was a debut: Mandy Rojek, Brianna Doherty, Emilie McDonnell, Ellie Bath, Freya Shearer, Helen Ryan, Kim Webb, Moizza Sawar, Tasha Jacobs and Torgie Cox.
Final scores:
Oxford 0/0/0
Wandsworth Demons 13/15/93
Special commendations to team members who despite being unable to play, lent their skills to other aspects of the game: Jess (goal umpire) and Katie Stone (managing the bench / photographer).
The Demons started out strong, scoring a number of goals in the first quarter to take a big early lead. Strong in defence throughout, Ellie Bath managed an impressive smother early on, revealing talent that had gone untapped in her previous career playing hockey. Genevieve Martin kept talk up in the ruck, as usual. Smuggling the ball out of a number of scrums was the agile Emma Lawrance, with several quick passes out to Mandy Rojek who booted the ball down the length of the field. The Demons put on a formidable defensive side and the Oxford women were unable to convert any of these breaks to score.
Audibly thrilled at taking a mark out of the wing, Torgie Cox assumed she was safe from being tackled, but the celebration was premature as she was rapidly taken out by a speedy Demon. Alexis ‘the tackler’ Brown was out in full force, pinning players arms before they knew she was close. Moizza Sarwar revealed a dogged intensity for her opponent, boding for excellent things to come in her footy career. Fiona McLoughlin and Emma Coulson, true to form, shook off one Demon after another, putting their experience to good use. Additional defensive pressure in the later parts of the game couldn’t, however, stop the Demons from powering ahead for a clear win.
A huge congratulations to the number of girls for whom this was a debut: Mandy Rojek, Brianna Doherty, Emilie McDonnell, Ellie Bath, Freya Shearer, Helen Ryan, Kim Webb, Moizza Sawar, Tasha Jacobs and Torgie Cox.
Final scores:
Oxford 0/0/0
Wandsworth Demons 13/15/93
Special commendations to team members who despite being unable to play, lent their skills to other aspects of the game: Jess (goal umpire) and Katie Stone (managing the bench / photographer).