OHA will bounce back, says coach

OHA led the women’s Premier League by two games at the halfway mark. But fastforward seven weeks and it is stinging from a 6-0 thumping from North-West Graduates.

Graduates were brutal in their first-class demolition job, registering 19 goal shots to OHA’s two and earning 30 additional circle entries.

But OHA coach Sam McCambridge is not reaching for the panic button, pointing out his side was without half a dozen regulars for the mismatched clash.

“As a team we are looking to bounce back from last week’s game,” McCambridge said.

“We had six starting players out last week, but we still had a side that could challenge, and we just didn’t bring our A game.”

“We are bolstered by the return of Sarah McCambridge and Jean Flanagan this week, which are big ins for us as we look towards September.”

Key for the Ships will be the form of Julia Gunn and Sofie McLeod who have contributed 16 goals between them this season but have both gone goalless in recent weeks.

McLeod has scored in the Ships’ last two recent victories against DiamondBacks, their opponents at 3pm.

The Maroons were looming as a premiership smoky after 1-0 losses to leading pair OHA and North-West Graduates, but will need to improve their output from last week’s 2-2 draw with University.

Graduates will open Round 18 against Canterbury at 1.30pm, with forward-cummidfielder Ash Arthur aiming to seal her third leading goal scorer trophy.

Arthur’s move into central midfield several weeks ago is proving a masterstroke and after a hat-trick against the Ships, she is now four goals clear of her nearest rival.

Derwent complete the round against the Students at 4.30pm with defender Jess Tremayne looming as a key player after her best-afield award last week.