Amy Catterall booted seven goals in the VU St Albans Spurs huge win over Berwick on Saturday. 32353_18 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT.
By KATIE LAMBESKI
THE VU St Albans Spurs sealed second spot and a double chance in next week’s finals series with a thumping win over a depleted and tired Berwick outfit, 24.14 (158) to 4.2 (26).
A motivated and hungry St Albans displayed a high intent in the last game of the home and away season, with an 11 goal to zero opening term ensuring the game was in their grasp early.
Throughout the half Berwick had a player spare in St Albans forward line but to no avail.
This left St Albans with a free floating forward, a role played well by Lauren Senserrick.
An even team performance was needed to win by a big margin to secure the double chance, and a 13-goal to four second half ensured it.
The Spurs piled 10 goals in the third quarter and added three more in the last.
Berwick fought bravely to add four goals in the second, but was clearly outmatched.
Led by a running defence, clearance winning midfield and a forward line of dominant talls, including Amy Catterall (seven goals) and Moana Hope (seven goals), the Spurs are coming strong at the most important part of the season.
Aiming for a tune up for the upcoming VWFL Reserves finals campaign after suffering two losses in a row, St Albans made light work of Berwick in a 7.12 (54) to 2.4 (16) win.
Dominant but wasteful for most of the game against a defensive, struggling Berwick side, St Albans moved to the top of the ladder and secured the double chance in the finals.
With a strong wind favouring the Sports Club end of the oval, tough defensive efforts were needed against the breeze, with a big advantage going the other way.
A lone second quarter goal from Spur Katie Lambeski had them up by 24-points at the long break, and also had the ascendancy the Spurs way.
Beating Berwick at the contested ball and maintaining most of possession throughout the first half, there was an evident gap in class between the two.
Berwick rebounded to win the third quarter narrowly, as they scrounged two early goals from turnovers on kick-ins which, coincided with several skill errors and a drop-off in intensity from St Albans.
This proved an aberration for St Albans as they finished off the game as 38-point winners.
Emma Shortis, Emily McIntyre (three goals), Brighde McGrath and Alana Tully were the standouts for the home side.
