The Alcoa SWFL Women’s team have started the Rio Tinto Women’s Championship with a thrilling six point victory over Kimberley at Lane Group Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The match started brilliantly for the South West with Daisy Rigby kicking truly in the second minute of the match. Katherine Dann replied for the Kimberley moments later to level the scores. When Simone Narkle goaled at the eight minute mark, the Kimberley had taken the lead and the South West were on the back foot.
A great goal to Emma Faulkner put the South West back in front, with Giann Evans kicking a late goal on the run to give the SWFL a seven point lead at half time.
Simone Narkle and Cazarah Augustine caused havoc for the SWFL defence in the second half, both kicking goals, the second to Narkle leveled the scores after Lacey Holdsworth had kicked a good goal for the Sotuh West in the high quality contest.
The Kimberley attacked relentlessly in the second half, with Emma Borinelli surviving a bone crunching tackle which saved a certain goal to the Kimberley side. The South West eventually got the ball forward, with Daisy Rigby tracking the ball deep into the pocket at the Southern end, snapping a great goal which ended up being the winning goal.
The South West will play their second match at 5.00pm
MATCH CENTRE
South West 3.1.19 5.2.32
Kimberley 2.0.12 4.2.26
Goals: South West – Daisy Rigby 2, Giann Evans 1, Lacey Holdsworth 1, Emma Faulkner 1. Kimberley – Simone Narkle 2, Cazarah Augustine 1, Katherine Dann 1.
Best: South West – Trinity Brown, Jessica Verbrugge, Gemma Wharton, Maddy Obal.
Ground: Lane Group Stadium
Crowd: 300 approx

Photos courtesy of Sharyn Newlands and Shane Horner