WA Over 35's - 2015 Match Reports

WA vs SA - Thursday, September 24, 2015

This was the first match at this level for all except 2 players in the team. 
Having only come together as a group two days prior, the team found it difficult to settle. 

Within the first 10 seconds, Captain Claire Goss suffered shoulder contact to the jaw, resulting in a trip to the hospital with mild concussion. 

With a new team, new players and a new structure, there were moments of good play, including an amazing penalty stroke stick save by Nikki Rollason. 
Sheridan Buswell and Jodi Nield ran hard all game and Leeann Dennis was strong in defence and distributed the ball well. 

With greater communication, understanding of positions and space, trust in teammates and basic skills we will only improve. 

Result: WA 0 - SA 2 

WA vs VIC - Friday, September 25, 2015

The intensity was amazing in the first 5 minutes. Scrapping with the goalie, fighting the VIC's. 

Great movement in the first half, improved control and switching the play in the back line. 

Leanne Love's overhead impressed, Nikki Rollason saved a stroke and we held them out until the last minute. 
Leeann Dennis found her inner strength. 

Score 0-1 half time. 

Second half, the intensity continued, a bit of body contact at the top of the circle, an early goal scored by the VIC's. 

A great pass from Kirsten Barney to Sheridan Buswell sent the crowds with a sigh and our hearts pumping. 

Final score 0-2 Overall 100% improvement. Happy Birthday Emma. 

Result: WA 0 - VIC 2 

WA vs TAS - Monday, September 28, 2015

A warm humid 27 degrees saw WA out to a solid start against Tassie. However it was a tough game and it wasn't long before players started dropping like flies with injuries. The Wazzies had to adjust their strategies and play different positions as players rotated through injury and onfield rest. 

Nikki Rollason led from the back with another stroke saved. 
Leanne Love did an amazing block tackle putting her body on the line that ended with her being assisted from the field. 

The midfield ran out a long warm game and the forwards were so close with several tight saves. 

Tassie scored through 2 strokes that were converted. 

Result: WA 0 - TAS 2

WA vs QLD - Tuesday, September 29, 2015

WA girls had a strong match up against the Queensland girls, going down 4-0, but Queensland certainly had to earn each goal. Nicole Rollason had a strong game in goals and Leanne Love was strong in defense. 
It was a physical game but our girls held strong to the end, managing injuries and heat with some solid teamwork. 

Result: WA 0 - QLD 4

WA vs NSW - Thursday, October 1, 2015

Words of inspiration were delivered by coach Janet Elliot pre-game. She spoke about team and what it means to work together. Janet highlighted the team’s improvement with each successive game during the tournament and the culmination of differing skill and abilities. 

The first half was hard fought with the setting sun in our eyes, with two quick break away goals catching the defenders out of position and a bravely fought short corner, with Lee Love defending on the goal line and the ball trickling over the line to give NSW the 3 nil advantage. 

As the first half drew to a close, a well executed penetration into the attacking D resulted in a short corner. The siren sounded and the whole team pushed up into the attacking 25, inside the dotted line in preparation for the short corner. The injection was delivered by Leisha Tatham and cleanly trapped by Jo Sgro at the top. As planned Jo placed a sharp pass to L1, Jodi Neild who delivered the ball to the right post. A clever reverse stick trap was made by Sheridan Buswell who then put the ball back into play, right in front of the opposition keeper’s pads. In a frantic battle of shots and rebounds, Jodi Neild collected the ball and flicked it past the keeper’s pads to score WA’s first goal of the tournament. The team celebrated into the half time break, with much jubilation, hugs and high fives. The team then quickly rerouted into the change room for more celebration and words of inspiration from the coach, Janet Elliot. 

The team’s strength and determination continued into the second half. No additional goals were scored by either team. Defensive short corners were shut down by first runner Kirsten Barnes, who courageously deflected all straight shots from the top of the D. The team came together to work the ball out of defence with many successful back transfers. Several penetrations into the attacking 25 were well defended by NSW. 

The team celebrated the completion of the match as if it was a victory and it was a true confirmation of coach Janet Elliot’s pre-game talk. Eloquently summarised by the teams’ high goal scorer, Jodi Nield; SKILLS + PASSION = AWESOMENESS 

Result: WA 1 - NSW 3

WA vs ACT - Friday, October 2, 2015

Before the game, coach Janet Elliot talked about the growth of the team throughout the tournament and how impressed she was with the second half of the previous game. She challenged the team to push further, to leave everything on the pitch, as there was only 70 minutes left in the tournament. 

The team went into the game against the second side on the ladder, leg weary and missing crucial midfielder, Sheridan Buswell, due to a quadriceps strain. As the temperature reached 31.8 degrees, the team struggled to release the ball from defence using a four-point outlet and defence was under constant pressure to mark the ACT attackers within the 25. ACT attempted to make several deflections into goals forcing goal keeper Nikki Rollason to make several high saves. Sheryl Miles was also solid in defence, making a stick save on the goal line. A ball went through to an unmarked player who put the first score on the board for ACT. 

At half time, Janet asked the team to communicate more and work harder for each other, lead to players to receive the ball and to be available for each other. 

The work rate lifted in the second half and the team penetrated the attacking 25 several times from the right side of the field. Captain Claire Goss chased a ball to the base line before passing it back into play, where Jodi Nield had a clean strike on goals, only to hit the foot of striker Allison Whitnell in front of the ACT keeper. A three player collision in the second half saw halfbacks Emma Jamieson with a sore shoulder and Natalie Jarlett temporarily off the field, however she returned with confidence later in the match. The defence again held strong with fullback Leanne Love making several solid tackles, however ACT were able to score two further goals to take the game 3-0. 

Result: WA 0 - ACT 3