THE Bendigo Thunder survived a last quarter-challenge from Melbourne Uni on Sunday to maintain their unblemished record and book a VWFL premier division grand final berth.
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In front of a big QEO crowd that was a strong endorsement of the growing popularity of women’s football, the Thunder were 11-point winners in the second semi-final.
For Melbourne Uni, it was a case of bad kicking is bad football as the visitors were beaten, despite having four more scoring shots than the Thunder, who prevailed 5.4 (34) to 2.11 (23).
A Thunder victory looked a formality at three quarter-time when they led by 27 points and had held Melbourne Uni goalless.
But the big ground of the QEO seemingly took its toll on a weary Thunder in the final term as Melbourne Uni dominated.
But as was the story of Melbourne Uni’s day, they squandered opportunities.
Melbourne Uni kicked 2.4 to no score in the final term in what was a game where both sides went through lean periods on the scoreboard.
The Thunder didn’t score after the 11-minute mark of the third quarter when contested-marking powerhouse Isabella Ayre kicked their fifth goal, while Melbourne Uni didn’t score from 30 seconds into the second quarter until the four-minute mark of the last term when they finally kicked their first goal.
While the Thunder fought off a threatening last-quarter surge from Melbourne Uni, there had also been danger signs early.
Melbourne Uni had the first six scoring shots of the game in the first 11 minutes, but missed them all – including two that hit the post.
Bendigo took until the 15-minute mark of the game to kick its first goal through Erin Ross from what had to that stage been a rare foray forward, and when Ayre kicked her first goal two minutes later, the Thunder hit the front and weren’t headed for the rest of the match.
The best for the Thunder featured consistent onballer Jessica Kennedy, winger Alyx Glanville, Elise Strachan and Leah French.
“It was obviously a fantastic result today and we’re rapt to get through to the grand final, which is very exciting for the club,” Thunder coach Cherie O’Neill said.
“We had some luck in the first quarter when Melbourne Uni missed some chances. Our second and third quarters were really good, but we ran out of some legs in the last.
“But we’ll take the win and look forward to the grand final in three weeks.”
The premier division grand final will be played at Coburg on Sunday, September 18.
The Thunder will play either Melbourne Uni or Deer Park, who clash in the preliminary final in a fortnight.
Match details:
Bendigo Thunder 2.0, 4.3, 5.4, 5.4 (34)
Melbourne Uni 0.6, 0.7, 0.7, 2.11 (23).
Goals – E. Ross, I. Ayre 2, L. French.
Best – J. Kennedy, A. Glanville, E. Strachan, L. French, L. Flanagan, E. Ross.