The VU Western Spurs banked their third consecutive win in their Winning Edge Division 1 women’s match with Heidelberg 1, kicking eight goals after quarter time to record a convincing 47 point win at Henry Turner Reserve.
The Tigers held a five-point lead at the end of the first term but failed to kick a score for the remainder of the match as the Spurs dominated around the ball and in their attacking 50 to secure the 10.6 (66) to 3.1 (19) triumph.
Coming off a five goal haul the week prior; Spurs forward Stacey Rigon was again at her best, kicking three goals while Aleisha Casley and Deena Bassett continued their good form, kicking two majors each.
Unlucky not to register a goal was Rita Ceravolo who imposed herself from start to finish, gathering an abundance of the football and being involved in plenty of her side’s forward entries.
Emily De Sando continued her stellar start to the 2022 season, producing another great performance for Heidelberg.
The match began with the ball locked in the Spurs’ forward half for the most part of the term, but they were unable to capitalise on their possessions. The visitors took advantage and kicked the first three goals of the match, two of those coming from Emma Rowe while De Sando also chipped in.
Casley and Bassett then got to work to get the scoreboard ticking for the Spurs, kicking a goal each to only trail by five points at quarter time.
The home side picked up the pace in the second quarter and with the wind in their favour, they quickly added three more goals with Rigon kicking her first, followed by majors from Natalie Pearce and Stephanie O’Hanlon.
The dominance of the Spurs midfield meant the Tigers struggled to get consistent inside entries, with a scoreless term resulting in the visitors trailing by 15 points at the main break.
Casley’s second major was the highlight of the match when the third quarter commenced as she sent the ball towards goal from the tightest of angles before it bounced its way through.
Rigon slotted home her second of the game shortly after, with the strong Spurs defence causing another scoreless quarter for Heidelberg.
But the Tigers didn’t drop their heads, exemplified in final minute of the third term when Casley was all but certain to run into an open goal but was chased down and tackled by Mia Tascone.
Heading into the final term down by 27 points, Tascone’s effort couldn’t drum up an inspired comeback for Heidelberg as the Spurs continued to extend their lead.
Further goals from Pearce, Bassett and Rigon put an exclamation mark to what was a strong 47 point victory for the home side.
The Spurs will aim to keep the winning streak going when they travel to Greensborough War Memorial Park to take on the Borough while the Tigers will be desperate to get off the bottom of the ladder when they host Lower Plenty-Bundoora.
Photo: Damian Visentini
