Sport
15 August, 2026
Last round win need to lock in finals spot
THE INGLEWOOD versus Newbridge A Grade clash was a classic game of momentum changes, with the Blues’ four-goal loss preventing them from sealing a finals spot with one round left to play.
THE INGLEWOOD versus Newbridge A Grade clash was a classic game of momentum changes, with the Blues’ four-goal loss preventing them from sealing a finals spot with one round left to play.
Inglewood began well, with defenders Casey Zass and Georgi Short on top of their opponents and shooter Aleisha Shay using her height to advantage.
The Woodies led by five goals at the first change, but the second-placed Maroons turned it around in the second quarter and held a narrow advantage at the half.
Shay’s shooting became a little jittery and Newbridge centre Maddy Keighran was using her agility in a titanic battle with Inglewood coach Dani O’Toole.
Maroons’ goal attack Abbi Wells came into her own in the second quarter after a quiet start, and with Woodies’ star goal attack Teresa Fitzpatrick not playing, the balance of the game shifted noticeably.
But the third quarter saw yet another change, and Inglewood led by three goals at three-quarter time.
Victory would have assured the Blues a finals’ berth, but Newbridge proved too strong in the last quarter, scoring 16 goals to nine for a four-goal win.
Usual goal keeper Jasmine Daly was shifted to wing defence in the final term, with Newbridge opting for a taller opponent for Shay, which proved to be a successful move.
Inglewood now must beat Bears Lagoon Serpentine (eighth) in the last round to ensure a top five finish.
Newbridge is set to play Bridgewater in the qualifying final after a round 18 meeting with Pyr-amid Hill, with the Bulldogs needing a win to have any chance of sneaking into the finals.
Maroons coach Hayley Martiniello said her players wanted to get revenge for a loss to Pyramid in round nine.
“We’ve got a big desire to win because they beat us last time – we want to get that win back.”
Players would be rested with a view to the coming finals campaign only if the game margin was comfortable, Martiniello said.
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