SEQ AFL under 17 Div 1 and DIv 2 grand finals
SEQ AFL under 17 Div 1 and Div 2 grand finals - fitting finish to bumper season with wins to Victoria Point and Tweed Coast Northern Rivers Tigers.
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Victoria Point claimed the Div 1 premiership and Tweed Heads Northern Rivers Tigers the Div 2 title after two fabulous grand finals over the weekend in the SEQ AFL under 17 girls competitions.
In a fitting finish to the season, both grand finals lived up to their hype after a terrific competition all season between the sides.
MEGA PIC GALLERY - 120 IMAGES FROM SEQ YOUTH GRAND FINALS
It was a bumper Div 1 decider between winners Victoria Point and a fast finishing Tweed Coolangatta.
While in Div 2, Tweed Coast Northern Rivers Tigers 3.3-21 defeated Morningside Panthers 2.6-18.
Tweed Coolangatta Dave Palmucca said the game was “typical of the competition all year, tight and super competitive’’.
“We played far below our best in the first half, some due to the opposition and some due to our work rate. We just seemed to be missing the spark and flare we usually play with,’’ he reflected.
“We got back to something like us in the third quater, making it a low scoring quarter and going into the last break three goals down.
“Then we hit our best, playing with dare and running in numbers and coming hard at opposition.’’
There were a couple of cracking goals from Aleah Stringer which got Tweed Cooly to within three points and it was a thrilling last five minutes.
“Congratulations to Trevor (Mayhew, Vic Point coach) and his team, it was a great achievement.
“I am super proud of my girls to get that close, with four under 15s in our team, was a great effort, pushing the premiers until the very last second.
“We had a great year that they should all be proud of.
“Well done to all the teams on a magnificent year to showcase female football talent.’’
In Div 2, it was a high pressure, evenly matched grand final.
From the first bounce the intensity was on and did not abate throughout the whole match.
With a two-nil win record over the Morningside Panthers this season, the Tigers were confront by a Panthers side that really bought the heat and turned on a fast and tough short game with great overlap.
The Tigers fast break out, run and carry game was under pressure as the Panther short linkage condensed the play through the centre.
The overhead marking from both teams was exceptional as the girls battled hard for front position at every contest.
Tackling at ground level was intense and effective with both teams not giving an inch. Contested possession count was close to even as was the centre clearance stats..
The Panthers got away to an early lead in the first quarter, then the Tigers pegged them back in a seesawing and exciting contest that ebbed and flowed till the last siren.
The difference in the end really was the three goals that came from from Tweed Coast’s lethal left footer, Jade Rettennaier, at centre half forward. That kept the scoreboard separation in our favour till the end.
“It was atruly outstanding game played in great spirits by two even, tough and proud teams,’’ said Tigers coach Steve Foreman.
“In the end the Tigers prevailed by three points..It was one of the best relentless and gritty Grand Finals anyone could see. The whole crowd were thoroughly engaged. Especially in the final quarter.. It really could have gone either way.’’
Best Players for Tweed Coast Milly Ella, Allannah McNally, Ari Brown, Heidi Grimster, Bonnie Starling, Jade Rettenmaier (3 goals), Ash Rettenmaier, Wren Hynes, Bree Puntigam
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