This year marked the first time women coached senior sides at the Kempsey Saints Football Club and the move has proved to be a tremendous success with Amy O’Brien’s Kempsey Saints Green side securing the minor premiership while Abigael Baker’s White team finished in second place.
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The two coaches accomplished what they joked about at the start of the season.
O’Brien’s Green side secured an undefeated season with a 1-0 win over the Wauchope Waratahs and her team will have the benefit of a bye for the opening week of the finals.
“I am really proud of both teams,” O’Brien said.
“We have both gone above and beyond our expectations from the start of the season.”
O’Brien attributes the success of the two teams to the support the experienced players have provided the newcomers in the side.
Baker’s side finished on equal competition points with the Port United Strikers but her side finished higher with a superior goal difference.
The two sides will do battle on Saturday with the winning side advancing to face the Saints White team in a grand final qualifier the following week.
The losing team will have a second chance, facing the winner of the Camden Haven Redbacks and Wauchope Waratahs elimination final.
Despite being rivals, O’Brien will be cheering on Baker’s team.
“Hopefully Abigael’s team gets the win on Saturday and then we will be guaranteed to have a side in the grand final,” O’Brien said.
Unfortunately, O’Brien will be holidaying at the time of the grand final but she will be available to play in the qualifier.
“Hopefully I can do my part for the team and get them into the grand final before I leave,” she said.
The Kempsey Saints White team suffered a 7-1 loss to the Strikers when they met in round 2 this season but they showed a lot of improvement to turn the tables in their favour 3-2 the next time they met.
Saints White host the Strikers at Eden St Oval on Saturday at 2.25pm.
