Bingera on the ropes

BINGERA'S long-time dominance of the Bundaberg women's football premiership could end tonight at Martens Oval.

The defiant side still holds on to hope of defending their title, but it would be against all odds after a dramatically different season.

Bingera has won the last 10 women's titles, but this year have been totally dominated by red-hot newcomers Moore Park and a rejuvenated Brothers Aston Villa.

Tonight they find themselves in unfamiliar territory — an elimination semi-final against Across The Waves and just one loss away from missing the grand final.

Bingera president and player Debbie Caldwell acknowledged it had been a tough season for her champion squad, but was not writing off their title defence just yet.

“Moore Park is definitely the team to beat,” she said.

“But we have the experience of playing lots of finals football before – and with Sally Thurston in goals we'll be hard to get past.”

Their record against Waves has been good this season, despite the player stocks slowly dropping at the club throughout the season.

“A few of the girls have had to leave town for different reasons and it's been hard to get full teams some weeks,” Caldwell said.

Moore Park will start favourites against Brothers Aston Villa, but will need to silence Villa's big name players, who possess the skills to cause a massive boilover in the qualifying final.

Villa has beaten Moore Park this year and the Moore Park team, boasting a host of teenage stars, will need to show the maturity and poise necessary in finals football.