WITH the unbeaten competition leaders having the bye, the UWA City Beach Bears and North Coast Phoenix recorded Round 11 wins in the Women’s Premier League on Saturday.

The first game of Round 11 of the 2016-17 Women’s Premier League took place on Saturday at Claremont Pool with the UWA City Beach Bears beating Lawley’s Bakery Dolphins 14-11.

It was then on to Beatty Park for the second contest of the round with Phil Johnson Plumbing & Gas North Coast Phoenix beating Triton 17-8.

With the Melville Marlins having the bye and currently sitting atop the standings with a perfect 8-0 record, the UWA City Beach Bears improved to 7-2 on the season with their win on Saturday.

The win for the Phil Johnson Plumbing & Gas North Coast Phoenix improved them to a 4-5 record to sit ahead of Triton (3-6) and Lawley’s Bakery Dolphins (0-9).

Following 11 rounds, Zoe Arancini of the Melville Marlins remains the leading scorer in the Women’s Premier League having hit 25 goals.

Jess Reynolds of the North Coast Phoenix is just behind having scored 24 goals on the season while Dayna O’Leary has hit 19 for the UWA City Beach Bears. Lauren Martin of Melville also has 19 goals.

Madeleine Quinn (Marlins) also has scored 17 goals, Glencora McGhie (Marlins) 14, Zoe Stenhouse (Phoenix) 14, Erin Redbond (Marlins) 13, Taylor Christie (Dolphins) 12 and Sharan Wheelock (Dolphins) 12.

Saturday’s action in Round 11 of the Women’s Premier League began at Claremont Pool with Dolphins taking on UWA City Beach, and it was Dolphins who scored first after less than two minutes thanks to Ciara Flynn.

The Bears responded through Riley Davidson before Dolphins regained a 2-1 lead for quarter-time with a goal to Alyssa Woodward.

Two more goals to open the second term for Dolphins from Sharan Wheelock and Woodward saw their lead grow to 4-1 before UWA City Beach responded with the next four goals to Sam Shead, Georgia Storey, Shead again and Morgan once more.

That saw the Bears open up a 5-4 lead and that was still 6-5 by half-time.

Dolphins drew level to start the second half with a goal to Woodward but by three quarter-time the Bears still managed to hold a slender 9-8 advantage.

Three quick goals in the opening two minutes of the fourth term with two from Ella Fracaro and another to Storey saw the Bears take the control with a 12-8 lead, before going on to win 14-11.

Fracaro, Storey and Shead all scored three goals each for UWA City Beach while Amy Wylde added two as did Morgan. Woodward scored three times for Dolphins and Wheelock three.

It was then on to Beatty Park for the clash between Triton and Phoenix, and it was all tied up until 54 seconds left in the first quarter before North Coast claimed the 3-2 lead with a goal to Claire Rechichi.

Triton levelled scores again to start the second period with a score to Heather Laird. Things were still tied until shortly before half-time the Phoenix again edged in front when Jess Reynolds found the inside of the goal.

Four goals to start the second half saw North Coast take control and lead 10-5 before another five goals to two in the fourth quarter set up the eventual 17-8 victory for the Phoenix over Triton.

Reynolds and Casey Rushforth both scored five goals each for the Phoenix with Rechichi adding three and Zoe Rowcroft two. Laird, Millie Martino and Victorian all scored two goals apiece for Triton.

Rushforth was awarded the three votes after the game, Brown the two and Gemma Hadley one.

Round 12 of the Women’s Premier League takes place this Saturday with a double-header at Bicton Pool with the Melville Marlins taking on the North Coast Phoenix at 1.30pm, and then Dolphins facing Triton at 3pm.

ROUND 11 WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Lawley’s Bakery Dolphins 11 lost to UWA City Beach Bears 14 at Claremont Pool
Triton 8 lost to Phil Johnson Plumbing & Gas North Coast Phoenix 17 at Beatty Park