Bulldogs on the charge as Rams injury woes worsen while Brigades keep Saints scoreless

Towns bounced back from another tight loss last weekend to claim their first win over a top-four side against the beleaguered Rams in the Great Northern Women’s Football League to put themselves back in flag contention.

The Bulldogs have endured a frustrating season struggling to string wins together and have lost four games by 10 points or less including a one-point defeat last time they faced the Rams.

But they got their revenge on Saturday as they overcame an injury-ravaged Rams 2.3(15) to 4.3 (27).

Northampton are already without full-forward Selina Kiddle, who broke two of her fingers and will likely be out for the season which saw Rebecca Wemyss step up at full-forward.

She kept the Rams in it with an early goal but there was a horrific injury to Shannon Smith, who in her 50th game suffered a compound fracture on her hand to leave them a player down.

They were kept to a single behind for the next two quarters but were not out of the match as their defence worked hard to keep the Bulldogs to just one more goal with only one goal in it at three-quarter-time.

The Bulldogs have been in similar positions throughout the season and failed to hold on but here led by Olivia and Charli Bidwell, who both managed a goal, they overwhelmed the Rams.

Wemyss did grab a second goal to keep hopes alive while Mikenna Schultz and Sophie Maines fought hard through the middle and Anna Cox had her best game of the year.

But the Rams missing several key players could not hold on as they now sit three games behind Brigades in first.

Speaking of the Hawks they made it nine straight wins as they held Mullewa scoreless on their home turf 5.10 (40) to 0.0.

Much like their league counterparts the Hawks were dominant all day but struggled with accuracy with just two behinds in the first quarter followed by 2.5 in the second.

The Saints to their credit also defended hard and even kept the ladder leaders scoreless in the final quarter but were never in the contest at the other end as for the second time this year they finished without a point to their name.

At the Recreation Ground Railways recorded their biggest win of the season as vice-captain Jasmine Johansen kicked a bag of five for the first time in her career in the 17.10 (112) to 1.0 (6) victory.

Abby Green scored the Demons’ only goal as the Blues were dominant at home with Fina Dethlefsen kicking four goals, Amy Langman three and Rayanne Ryan two.

It moves the Blues back into the top four at the expense of Chapman Valley, who had a bye with the ladder tightening as eight points separate Northampton in second and the Royals in fifth who also have a game in hand.