Moving away from their home ground was no deterrent for the Gunnedah Poochettes last Saturday, as they romped to a landslide victory against the Tamworth Swans in the AFL North West NSW women’s competition.
The Poochettes had planned to host a ladies day at Wolseley Park, before the game was moved to Tamworth No. 1 Oval due to the Gunnedah venue being unfit for play.
The Poochettes still wore their special jersey featuring a pink stripe for ladies day, and also recorded their highest win of the season to date while keeping the Swans scoreless in the first and final quarters.
Although the Poochettes were credited with a 130-0 win against New England on forfeit back on May 17, last Saturday was the first time this season that the Gunnedah women’s team cracked triple figures.
The 16.17.113 to 2.1.13 victory came after Gunnedah had beaten the Tamworth team 14.10.94 to 1.2.8 on May 31, and 8.10.58 to 2.5.17 on July 5.
On a dry surface which was a bit spongy, the Poochettes landed two goals and two behinds in the first quarter before kicking 6.4.40 to 1.0.6 in the second term to set up an eight-goal lead at half-time.
Gunnedah kicked 3.2.20 to the Swans’ 1.1.7 in the third term, before the kicking was wayward in the final quarter as the Poochettes landed five majors and nine behinds.
Laura Ewington bagged five majors, and Audrey Hannaford booted three while Macey Carlyon found the target twice. Six other Poochettes kicked one goal apiece.
Poochettes coach John Woolaston said the conditions were ideal although the field wasn’t conducive for “running and bouncing sort of style of play”.
“It was just about sharing the ball around,” he said.
Having opted to put players into different roles from usual, Woolaston said the Poochettes adapted and gelled very well.
Gunnedah remained second while the Swans remained fourth on the points table, with the Poochettes having a bye this weekend.
