A strong 3rd quarter showing was not enough to stop the Animals Women going down to rivals Parkside by 40 points in what was a tighter clash than what the scoreboard showed
A breezy Saturday morning meant the road end was the action end, which made the Parkside start a crucial battle won early, despite one of the goals of the season by rookie Bridget Crowe.
Crowe’s now iconic laconic playing style saw her ghost past her direct opponent and kick a floating snap around the corner from the dead pocket, watching it defy all logic and sail through to give the Animals the lead midway through the first.
That would be the last time the Animals held the ascendency on the scoreboard, as Parkside would kick 8 of the next 9 goals in the match.
That would be despite the efforts of the Animals midfield featuring Crowe, the recently returned Rhi Stute, and another first year Animal in Aisha Fairweather who would kick her first of the year after some fantastic contested work.
Fairweather’s snap from a pack around 35m from goal would bounce kindly, one of the rare times this season for the females in blue, and roll home much to the excitement of her teammates.
The third quarter goal was the least of what was deserved as repeated inside 50’s were repelled by Parkside, as they held on to turn for home in the wind.
The Animals would defend stoutly in the last, with Vic Holt attempting to take several marks of the year even with her injured finger, but they would eventually fall to the Red Devils 9.8.62 to 3.4.22