Optus WAFLW Round 13 WrapWednesday, August 14, 2019 - 10:37 PM - by Chris Pike

ROUND 13 in the WAFL Women's competition saw victories for Claremont and Swan Districts to mean that there remains just one win separating the top four teams.

With the league-leading Subiaco having the bye in Round 13, East Fremantle had the chance to move into top spot but they couldn’t get past Swan Districts as Swans and Claremont scored wins to tighten up the competition significantly further.

Round 13 got underway at Mandurah's David Grays Arena on Saturday and that saw an improved showing by Peel Thunder but Claremont still prevailed 8.4 (52) to 5.3 (33).

Then on Sunday at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park, Swan Districts defeated East Fremantle 7.2 (44) to 5.8 (38) on the back of kicking five goals to one after half-time.

The results leave Subiaco (7-3) still clear on top of the ladder but now the race is right on behind them with East Fremantle (6-5) second, Swan Districts (6-5) third and Claremont (6-4) fourth with Peel Thunder (1-9) bringing up the rear.

There are just two rounds of the season now remaining and in Round 14, that sees Peel Thunder take on Swan Districts and Subiaco play Claremont.

Then in the final round, Claremont plays East Fremantle and Subiaco takes on Peel Thunder.

ROUND 13 OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON

PEEL THUNDER 5.3 (33) lost to CLAREMONT 8.4 (52)

Claremont couldn’t afford a slip up on Saturday in Mandurah against Peel Thunder and while the Tigers had to fight hard, they came away with a 19-point victory.

Peel had been struggling in recent weeks having kicked just four goals in their past four matches prior to the Round 12 bye while Claremont came into the clash at David Grays Arena having just kicked one goal themselves in a 52-point loss to Swan Districts.

So both teams were looking to put in an improved performance on Saturday and they certainly did that in an entertaining contest.

Peel started strongly too in search of its second win of the 2019 season kicking three goals in the opening quarter to head into the quarter-time break leading by four points.

Peel remained on top by half-time too having kicked the only goal of the second quarter to head into the major break leading by 10 points.

Claremont was always going to respond and they certainly did that in the third quarter kicking four goals to one and that turned that 10-point deficit at half-time into a seven-point advantage by three quarter-time.

The Tigers remained in control in the last quarter with the only two goals and that saw them go on to win the game, 8.4 (52) to 5.3 (33).

Emily Bonser, Sarah Garstone and Sophie McDonald all kicked two goals each for Claremont with Adele Arnup and Krystle Spanos adding one each.

McDonald, Tiahna Scandrett, Amy Smeding, Chloe Colegate and Brooke Whyte were all strong performers for the Tigers.

Bailey Molloy kicked three goals for Peel and Tanisha Anderson one.

Abby Barnden, Sabreena Duffy, Anderson, Emma Innes and Greta McKinley were among the better players for the Thunder.
 

EAST FREMANTLE 5.8 (38) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 7.2 (44)

Sunday's clash between East Fremantle and Swan Districts had significant implications right across the WAFLW competition and in the end it was an impressive win for the black-and-whites.

With Subiaco having the Round 13 bye, East Fremantle had the chance to move to top spot with a victory in Sunday's clash at New Choice Homes Park while Swan Districts had to keep winning too to stay third and remain in the top two hunt.

That set the stage for what should have been a tremendous contest and that's how it panned out on Sunday at Shark Park.

Swan Districts started strongly with two goals to one in the first quarter to lead by those six points at quarter-time.

But the Sharks took control in the second quarter holding Swans to just the one behind and then kicking three goals and four behinds themselves to head into the half-time interval in control with a 15-point advantage.

Swan Districts hit back in the third term holding East Fremantle to just the one behind and kicking two goals to get back to within four points to set the stage for a thrilling finish.

Swans had picked up the momentum and kicked three goals to one in the final quarter to end up beating East Fremantle 7.2 (44) to 5.8 (38).

Kellie Gibson, Mikayla Hyde, Imahra Cameron, Ebony Antonio, Shanae Davison, Bianca Webb and Gemma Houghton all kicked a goal each for Swans.

The best players for Swan Districts were Bianca Webb, Angelique Stannett, Mim Strom, Aimee Ralph and Brianna Hyde.

Chloe Reilly kicked two goals for East Fremantle with one each to Karly Tapner, Evie Gooch and Rachel Ashley.

Sharon Wong, Ashton Hill, Reilly, Gooch, Ashlee Atkins and Cadian Lodge were among the better players for the Sharks.