OLYMPIANS claimed their first women’s first grade title in 27 years yesterday while Services Workies upset Tudor Wests in the men’s to make it six in a row and cap a magical day for coach Andrew Farmilo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He also coaches Olympians and was thrilled to see them win their first title since 1987.
Waratahs made them work for it though and, after levelling at 1-all early in the second half, were well in it.
But Olympians hit back immediately and scored a second not long after to push the score out to 3-1.
Waratahs got back to 3-2 with just over 10 to go after a skilful effort from Brittany King but that was negated 30 seconds later, with Dana Constable putting away her second and taking Olympians out to 4-2, which is how it finished up.
“It’s good. It’s probably a good relief for the girls to do it,” Farmilo said.
They’ve carried the favourites tag pretty much since the start of the season.
His Workies side then turned around and toppled minor premiers Tudor Wests 6-2.
It was a result not many saw coming, at least how convincingly Workies did it, after losing almost half of last year’s side, several of whom had been there for the five.
“This was the most challenging year definitely, with who we lost,” Farmilo said.
“But today highlighted how good our individuals are when we can play as a team and give those individuals the ball.”
That was the secret yesterday.
“It was a super team performance,” Farmilo said.
“From Axle (goalkeeper Jason Watt) to the strikers,” he said.
One of the things that has really set them apart in their title run is the speed of their ball movement and ability to switch from defence to attack.
That was on show yesterday, with many of their goals coming from Tudor turnovers.
Before they could recover, Workies were away.
“I think we really showed our class,” Farmilo said.
He got them going, delivering a super ball from deep in their half to find Chris Ninness alone just outside the circle.
Ninness did the rest, turning onto his backstick and unleashing a tomahawk to put Workies up 1-nil after 10 minutes.
They were never headed from there, with Tudors not scoring their first until the second half.
Ninness finished with a double as did Isaac Farmilo.