Morton takes Kingscliff to final

Battle: Kingscliff’s Cath Conelan (right) comes from behind to surprise the Casuarina defence yesterday afternoon.

Blainey Woodham

KINGSCLIFF put in a huge defensive effort to hold out Casuarina for a 1-0 victory yesterday to book a place in the Tweed Border League hockey grand final.

The division 1 women’s final between the second and third-placed sides was a star-studded encounter that went right down to the wire.

Kingscliff started well, with two short corners and one shot at goal, but they couldn’t find the net. The Casuarina defence, featuring Debbie Dollan, was strong.

Both teams settled into their game but went to the break locked at nil-all.

The deadlock was broken by midfielder Sam Morton as the ball came back to her when she was waiting on top of the circle. Morton cleverly chipped the ball into the corner to have Kingscliff up 1-0 after six minutes in the second half.

Savana Fitzpatrick, of Casuarina, and Kingscliff’s Gabbie Nance provided one of the match-ups of the day as Casuarina did everything in its power to level the scores. Hanna Raftery, at right inside, started to create holes in the Kingscliff defence. But Kingscliff goal- keeper Jenna Jordan was too good.

With 10 minutes remaining, Casuarina threw everything it had at Kingscliff but Prue Baxter, Nichole Clarke and Jenna Jordan did not let the Casuarina forwards have any clean shots on goal. The sensational defensive effort lasted until the full-time siren.

Kingscliff will now play Waratah Falcons on Saturday in the grand final.