Wakehurst stars Abi Fenn (ankle) and Sam Coupland (ACL) are gone for the season while several of their team-mates remain in doubt for this Sunday’s match against Pittwater RSL at Kitchener Park. So physical have been the first two rounds of the MWFA women’s Premier League competition, last weekend’s bye for ANZAC Day could not have been better timed, according to Wakehurst coach Greg Chipman.
“The Anzac Day break was a bit of a godsend for us,” he said. “We’ve had a number of players recovering from bumps and bruises after the first two rounds, which is in part a function of an interrupted pre-season and limited trial games.
“But we’ve done well early and all of the squad has been performing. The back four, in particular, in both grades have been terrific and it feels like we’re starting to build a pretty good platform that will hopefully allow us to express ourselves a bit more with the football.”
Helping will be the return of experienced Sara Page after a break. Chipman said though his team has been challenged with depth and injury issues, a number of talented younger players have stepped up.
“We showed a lot of character in both grades to come back from a goal down against Beacon Hill and we’re continuing to develop what we’re able to do in possession and on transition,” Chipman said.
“The girls are a great bunch of footballers and most importantly people and I think the culture they’re building as a squad is as good as I’ve seen.”
Chipman added that he had great respect for his opponents, Pittwater RSL, whom Wakehurst takes on at Kitchener Park on Sunday.
“They must be a really resilient and talented bunch with a strong mentality to have come back from a first round 10-0 defeat and then beat BTH Raiders in round two! I’m sure there’s a good story there and I suspect we’re going to have to at least match them in most areas to have a chance against them on Sunday,” Chipman said.
In other games, all of which kick-off at 3pm on Sunday May 2:
Brookvale vs Manly Allambie @ Grahams Reserve
Beacon Hill vs Seaforth @ Beacon Hill Oval
Manly Vale vs Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders @ David Thomas Reserve
Pittwater RSL vs Wakehurst @ Kitchener Park
Mosman: BYE
By Matt Cleary
