Our young stars gave their all and played outstanding games says publicity officer, Richard Wilkes.

It was a great result for the Hunter to make the grand final and a superb defensive effort by Tori Cowburn had her named in the Hunters best six.

Full BDAFL match report:

In the inaugural BDAFL Representative Challenge played at a sun-drenched Ferodale Park in Medowie on Saturday.

Newcastle produced two convincing performances in defeating both Central Coast and Hunter to take out the Representative Challenge Shield for the first time.

Spearheaded by the in-form Tayla Braithwaite, Sarah Halvorsen and co-captain Amy Pittman, Newcastle overcame an early goal from Central Coast to eventually beat the Coasties by 12 points, 3.6.24 to 1.6.12 in Game 1.

In a match featuring great tackling, intense pressure and great defense, Braithwaite (playing a kick behind the ball), centre-half forward Halvorsen and rover Pittman led Newcastle to a solid win. Arizona Cross, French player Lisa Morales and Sam Delaney also shone for Newcastle.

150-game player Emily Bohan was superb at fullback for the Coast, her intercept marking a feature of the game. She was well supported by Ashleigh Page, Jocelyn Kelleher, Tash Gregory and Alexandra Pearce.

COAST v NEWCASTLE @ Ferodale Park

Newcastle Women 1.4, 3.6, (24)

Central Coast Women 1.1, 1.6, (12)

GOALS:

Newcastle Women : Amy Pittman 1, Emma-Jayne Howe 1, Sarah Halvorsen 1

Central Coast Women : Morgan Ross 1

BEST:

Newcastle Women : Tayla Braithwaite , Sarah Halvorsen, Arizona Cross, Amy Pittman, Samantha Delaney , Lisa Morales

Central Coast Women : Emily Bohan, Ashleigh Page, Alexandra Pearce, Jocelyn Kelleher, Natasha Gregory, Maddison Kacarovski.

In Game 2, Hunter kept Central Coast scoreless in the second half to register an exciting four-point victory, 3.5.23 to 3.1.19.

Hunter Skipper Kate Holland was the dominant player on the ground at centre-half back, taking several quality overhead marks. Sarah Burns (2 goals), centre Sophie Balcombe, ruck Annalise Norton and Hannah Centra were amongst Hunter best players.

Ashleigh Page and Jocelyn Kelleher were outstanding for the Central Coast, with Sarah Ball, Rachael Potts and Maddi Kacarovski also producing solid performances.

CENTRAL COAST v HUNTER @ Ferodale Park

Hunter Women 1.1, 3.5 (23)

Central Coast Women 3.1, 3.1 (19)

GOALS:

Hunter Women : Sarah Burns 2, Molly Simpson 1

Central Coast Women : Ashleigh Page 1, Alanna Nicholson 1, Angela Jones 1

BEST:

Hunter Women : Kate Holland, Sarah Burns, Sophie Balcombe, Annalise Norton, Molly Simpson, Hannah CentraCentral Coast Women : Ashleigh Page, Jocelyn Kelleher, Maddison Kacarovski , Kanesha Murray, Sarah Ball, Rachael Potts

In Game 3, Newcastle recovered from an early Hunter goal to kick four goals in an impressive 4.8.32 to 1.2.8 victory, in doing so securing the Challenge Shield as winners of the carnival.

Amy Pittman, Caitlin Holcombe, Sarah Halverson, ruck Di Crep and co-captain Kate Handley (2 goals) all played at a high level for Newcastle, with Tayla Braithwaite, injured in the first half, again producing a polished display in the second half.

Sophie Balcombe, Kate Holland, Tori Cowburn and the Norton sisters, Madeline and Annalise, all shone for Hunter, as did Kaitlyn Douglass before she fell heavily on her shoulder in the second half and was carried off.

HUNTER v NEWCASTLE @ Ferodale Park

Newcastle Women 2.4, 4.8 (32)

Hunter Women 1.1, 1.2 (8)

GOALS:

Newcastle Women : Kate Handley 2, Sarah Halvorsen 1, Amy Pittman 1

Hunter Women : Leawanna O’Donoghue 1

BEST:

Newcastle Women : Amy Pittman, Caitlin Holcombe, Sarah Halvorsen, Kate Handley, Tayla Braithwaite , Dianne Crep

Hunter Women : Sophie Balcombe, Kate Holland, Annalise Norton, Madeline Norton, Tori Cowburn, Kaitlyn Douglass

Many thanks to the Port Stephens Power for hosting the carnival at Ferodale Park.