THE Claremont Piranhas Women’s Football Club continued their unbeaten season last weekend by winning the Dhara Kerr Memorial Cup against Swan Districts.
The cup is contested by the two teams during their first clash of the season and honours Dhara Kerr who died about 17 years ago.
Claremont hosted the Coastal Titans, which are second on the ladder behind the Piranhas, the week before winning 5.7 (37) to the Titans 4.2 (26).
Coach Mick Rogers said most of the first quarter was a rough torrid affair, with both teams contesting a hot footy.
Rogers said the second quarter was an arm wrestle with both back lines on top and the ball rebounded between both half-back lines.
“Mel Thomas and Belinda Smith rose to the occasion repelling many forward thrusts from the Titans,” he said.
“The Piranhas had several inside 50s through the hard running efforts of Hailey Merrick and Amanda Robertson but were able to convert only once.”
The Titans attempted a comeback in the third quarter with unanswered goals to take a 10-point lead into the final break.
Rogers said the Claremont coaches asked for one last effort in the final 20 minutes of the game and the players responded to the challenge.
“The Piranhas midfield, led by captain Rachel Paterson, Thomas and Mich Brown, created many inside 50 entries and the back line held firm – thanks to the efforts of El Grinceri and Mich Gardner – slowly turning the momentum back into Claremont's favour,” he said.
“The bruising encounter lifted to another level with great skills shown by both sides but it was the poise of Chloe Colgate under pressure, with two goals on the run, and a snap from Steph Yanev that was enough to get the Piranhas over the line while keeping the Titans scoreless for the quarter.”
Best players for Claremont were Belinda Smith, Thomas, Hailey Merrick, Robertson, Rachel Paterson and Colgate.