Saints win in thriller
ST MARY’S showed plenty of grit in a thrilling come-frombehind win against St Joseph’s that all but guarantees the Saints the double chance.
Down five goals at the final break, acting coach Simone Segrave said the one-goal win was a credit to the girls’ belief in their game plan.
“We were down nearly the entire game. It was a tough hustle the whole time but we knew if we held strong and kept pushing for turnovers the break would come. We got a few defensive intercepts and we capitalised when the game hung in the balance,” Segrave said after the 49-48 win.
Joeys co-coach Emily Post said her team was disappointed that a “game there for the taking” slipped away in the final minutes.
“In a tight game like that, even the tiniest mistakes can be crucial and we let them back in the game,” Post said. “We fell short right at the end, which is really disappointing.”
Saints shooter Hannah Van Gemst stood firm under pressure, netting 41 goals at 94 per cent accuracy.
“Hannah is a star player, she’s hard to stop, but I was really proud of our defenders who gave us every opportunity to stay in the game,” Post said.
The match also provided a glimpse into the future for St Mary’s, with 16-year-old Saints shooter Emma Walters proving she is capable of holding her own against a much older opponent.
“Emma was really beautiful to watch. Her leading and passing in the ring was so strong,” Segrave said.
The Saints sit comfortably in third position on the GFL ladder, two wins clear of nearest ladder rival Leopold, with only two games of the homeand-away season to play.
However, they know they cannot ease up, with a timely hitout against St Albans on the horizon.
“Newtown (& Chilwell) are obviously very strong, but then you look at second to seventh and it could honestly be any team on any given day and that’s why this season has been so exciting,” Segrave said.