By JARROD POTTER
AS IF ordained by the laws of nature, Team Fire melted Team Ice 28-20 in a nail-biting finish to the Gridiron Victoria Women’s All Star Game.
Putting on a winter spectacle, well removed from the women’s gridiron season, the best of the best from around the state donned the new jerseys and represented Fire or Ice in last Friday’s clash.
Players from the Endeavour Hills-based Berwick Diamonds lined up on both sides to showcase the best and brightest in Victoria’s gridiron community.
The State Netball and Hockey Centre was ground zero for a hard-fought but good-natured pro-bowl as the sides traded touchdowns in a high-scoring contest.
A low-scoring first half – resulting in an 8-8 scoreline – opened up after the main break as both sides went long.
Former Berwick Diamonds’ coach Jamie Stafford kept the game alive, getting his Ice quarterback Madeline Kop to sneak through the Fire lines to tie the scores with less than five minutes on the clock.
It led to a fairly frenetic last few minutes, but in the end Fire ignited the end zone… through its defence.
Foxes’ line-backer Stina Johannsen intercepted and ran it all the way back for the pick 6 and clinched the winning touchdown for the Fire to take the 28-20 triumph.
Diamonds’ co-captains Cat Bouwhuis and Bliss Love were part of the winning side along with Jenn Ramasima, Joanna Rashleigh, Vanessa Brown and Loretta Williams.
“To be standing alongside Victoria’s best, on the biggest stage women’s full kit gridiron players can achieve in this state was truly a thrill,” Bouwhuis said.
“The skill and dedication of my team-mates was inspiring, and this was an experience I will never forget.
“Winning the trophy was a highlight of course, but I don’t feel like anyone actually lost on Friday night.
“Even the team Ice players held their heads high and carried an air of satisfaction having only fallen by one score in the end and the contest was so close and everyone should be considered winners.”
For more information on joining the south-east area’s only women’s gridiron team, contact the club at info@berwickminers.com.
