Honours Even in Christie Park Arm Wrestle as Ravens and Stingrays Battle to Stalemate

It finished all square in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW Match of the Round on Sunday evening, as Gladesville Ravens and Illawarra Stingrays played out a tense, hard-fought stalemate at Christie Park.

The Ravens set the tone early, applying consistent pressure in the opening stages, but were unable to carve out a clear-cut opportunity in the first 15 minutes. Their persistence nearly paid off midway through the half, when Morgan Roberts forced Stingrays goalkeeper Kiara Rochaix into a superb fingertip save from a sharp effort on the right.

Moments later, the hosts surged forward again, with Leena Khamis threading a brilliant through ball to Laura Murtagh, who looked certain to score after beating Rochaix. However, a heroic last-ditch intervention from Anabella Pinkard denied what seemed a certain opener.

The Stingrays showed glimpses of danger on the counter, with Brooklyn Hudson producing their best chance of the first half—driving into the box before seeing her delivery blocked at the last moment. Khamis remained a constant threat for the Ravens, rising well just past the half-hour mark, only to see her header drift narrowly wide.

As the half wore on, the visitors began to grow into the contest, but struggled to truly test Ravens goalkeeper Eliza Coleman. That pattern continued into the second half, with Illawarra delivering dangerous balls into the area without finding the decisive touch.

The game’s defining moment came in the 73rd minute in a passage of play that defied belief. Khamis once again unlocked the defence, slipping Murtagh through on goal, only for Rochaix to produce a crucial save with her feet. The rebound fell kindly to Miku Sunaga, whose goal-bound effort looked destined to roll over the line—until Jasmin Limon produced a dramatic clearance in the dying moment to keep the scores level.

Khamis continued to orchestrate the Ravens’ attack, creating another opportunity late on, but Rochaix stood tall once more to deny the breakthrough.

The Stingrays had one final chance to snatch all three points from a late set piece, but the Ravens defence reacted well under pressure to clear their lines and preserve the deadlock.

In the end, it was a gripping, end-to-end contest defined by fine margins, desperate defending, and standout goalkeeping, with both sides forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

Match Stats

Gladesville Ravens: 0
Illawarra Stingrays: 0

Sunday 29 March
Christie Park

Gladesville Ravens: 1. Coleman, 4. Allen, 6. Pipino, 7. Villa, 11. Roberts, 12. Scamardella, 14. Kilbride, 17. Shannon (8. Halls), 19. Khamis, 36. Murtagh (42. Levy), 39. Sunaga.
Substitutes not used: 18. Kent, 21. Sproule, 25. Lekkas, 29. Smyth, 33. Riley.
Yellow Cards: Allen, Scamardella
Red Cards: Nil

Illawarra Stingrays: 1. Rochaix, 6. Limon, 7. Middleton, 8. Giles, 10. Williams (28. Kelly), 12. Egan Brown, 17. Thompson, 25. Pinkard, 27. Halios-Lewis (20. Elkordi), 30. Baggio, 34. Hudson (26. Cachia).
Substitutes not used: 21. Russell, 22. Masters, 32. Sawkins.
Yellow Cards: Williams, Hudson
Red Cards: Nil

-By Nikola Pozder