Welcome to Round 3 of the 2023 Premier League! Kyoto Kruisers @FreoDockers (3rd) vs Lima Llamas @hoschke118 (1st) The two highest scoring teams of the season so far face off in round 3, with the Llamas fresh off a mammoth 1,032. With both teams featuring powerhouse midfields, this game will be closely tracked over the weekend to come. Vancouver Vultures @Athos123 (8th) vs Darmstadt Dynamos @WillH_VI (4th) The Vultures rebounded from a slow start to the season with a strong performance in round 2, buoyed by impressive games from Kate Hore and Hayley Miller. Another big effort will be required to deliver the first win of the season over the Dynamos, who’s midfield and forward line have been humming so far. Korean Kickers @Chloe (7th) vs Majorca Islanders @TheTassieHawk (2nd) The Islanders premiership defence is off to a solid with 2 wins from 2 games. However, an away game in Seoul could prove a challenge. With Kiara Bowers facing the Hawks this week (who she scored an infamous 184 against in Season 2022B) and the likely return of Paxy Paxman, the Kickers are more than up for the fight. Stuttgart Storm @Jono Steven (5th) vs Lagos Royals @Peter W (6th) With both teams starting the season 1-1, a win here is crucial for both teams to help both teams in their efforts to improve from last season’s missed finals. The form of Charlie Rowbottom, Ebony Marinoff and rising star Matilda Scholz will have the Royals feeling positive, but anything could happen in this close clash. --- last time these teams met was Round 2 of the 2022B season – http://tooserious.net/forum/threads/2022b-premier-league-rd2.91274/ Given the 5pm starting time of Friday's game, a partial lockout applies on Friday only. Full lockout is the first game on Saturday. and your opponents team and all 4 matchups can be seen here – http://tooserious.net/forum/tsLeagueMatchday.php?leagueId=22&round=3
Sadly Kalinda Howarth has left the Lima Llamas to recover from her ACL injury. The Llamas have picked up a replacement in Ange Stannett in time for her 50th game this week. Out: Kalinda Howarth In: Ange Stannett
The lineup for the Kruisers game against the Llamas has been finalised: Def: Madi Scanlon, Charlie Thomas, Hannah Priest (Janelle Cuthbertson) Ruck: Alice Edmonds (Lauren Wakfer) Mids: Maddy Prespakis, Amy McDonald, Mimi Hill, Bri Davey (Sofia Hurley) Fwd: Ebony Antonio, Dana East, Daria Bannister (Issy Huntington) I/C: Claudia Whitfort, Alison Drennan (Jess Fitzgerald) In: Drennan Out: Fleming
The Islanders selection committee have named their Round 3 side for our clash with the Kickers @Chloe The Islanders are unchanged as we hit the road for the first time this season. Please note that this team is subject to change. Def = D'Arcy, Gay, Emonson (Jakobsson) Mid = Blackburn, Hatchard, Anderson, Pritchard (J Vogt) Fwd = Garnett, Harris, N Morrison (Hooker) Ruck = Rennie (Good) IC = Lewis, Vesely (Stanton) 2nds - Ahrens, Dallaway, Baskaran, Newton and S Wales Injured/suspended - nil
The Kickers have selected their best for the weekend: DEF: Belinda Smith, Gab Pound, Sarah Lampard (Megahn McDonald) MID: Kiara Bowers, Catherine Svarc, Mia King, Kaitlyn Ashmore (Airlie Runnalls) FWD: Paxy Paxman, Megan Kauffman, Katie Brennan (Georgia Gee) RUCK: Breann Moody INT: Maria Maloney, Ella Roberts (Mikayla Bowen)
Def: Ange Foley, Ange Stannett, Emma O'Driscoll (Molly Eastman) Mid: Jasmine Garner, Emma Swanson, Emily Bates, Liv Purcell (Eliza McNamara) Ruc: Mim Strom (Lucy Wales) For: Gemma Houghton, Sophie Conway, Keeley Skepper (Cynthia Hamilton) Int: Tahlia Hickie, Alicia Eva (Tarni White) Out: Sarah Goodwin In: Ange Stannett
The Islanders 9/650 are leading the Kickers 7/558 @Chloe. The home side will have 5 players to 3 in the first 3 Sunday games before C Svarc (Korea) and Ally Anderson (Majorca) take the field for the final match of the round and seek to secure the 4 points for their respective teams.
A dreadful first half from the Kruisers sees them miles behind the Llamad 523 to 348 with both teams having 7 players already hitting the field. A masterclass from Jasmine Garner (154) means the Kruisers will need some huge scores from their remaining players to even get close!
Final unofficial scores Korea 1004 @Chloe defeated Majorca 974 The return match is set for Round 8 and the Islanders will be keen to turn the tables next time we meet.
Unofficial scores have Lima defeating Kyoto 985 to 745, and Darmstadt defeating Vancouver 1057 to 913.
Round 3 winners in the 2023 Premier League were Korea by 30, Stuttgart by 31, Darmstadt by144 and Lima by 205 - with Darmstadt high scoring with a mammoth 1057 and Kyoto (again) low scoring with 781. Lima is the only undefeated team thus far, while Vancouver is the only team yet to open their account.