by Jim Gordon
HOPETOUN V BEULAH
In what was at times a fairly lacklustre affair at Hopetoun, the Beulah Blues proved to be too good for a gallant, but undermanned Hopetoun side. Beulah controlled the match pretty well all day even though Hopetoun were never far away. Beulah’s on ballers are pivotal in setting up play and once again they proved to be the difference between the two sides, especially with Marcus Burdett out for the Devils.
This loss put a dint into the Hopetoun’s finals hopes, but their fate is in their hands as they have enough chances in the next few weeks to get back into the four. A lower percentage than the other two sides fighting for a finals place could be the deciding factor.
The Beulah backline was solid all day bringing high praise from coach Scott Smith. Hopetoun’s Bryce Wellington was held to three goals by Clayton Shannon, and a total of six gaols for the day to the Devils indicates just how tight the Blues hard tackling defenders were. It was therefore no surprise that the sides best were Kim, Tom and Garry Hallam and Timothy Hill.Dale Shannon chipped in for two goals for the Blues and Rory Shannon one to also be amongst their best.
Tom Hallam returned to the field after rolling his ankle and his play had an immediate and positive impact on the team. With several players out after being injured the week before against Ouyen United, replacements Jeremy Moore, Mark Williams and Sam Martin all contributed after being called up from the reserves.
Hopetoun will be disappointed with this loss. They had the chance to cement their place in the four and a poor percentage means that they will have to win three of their next four games to be sure of a finals berth. Scott Heath and Stephen Hallam were good players for the Devils, Liam Price tried hard all day and the reliable Leigh Hutchinson also played well.
OUYEN UNITED V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
Whatever coach Ryan O’Callaghan said to his charges at quarter time, it worked. The Demons were ordinary in the first quarter and the Roos looked like they had come to play, but Ouyen United were a different side after the first break kicking nine goals in the second quarter and at the same time holding the Roos scoreless.
In the first quarter Walpeup Underbool played a very good brand of football. They were first to the ball; they backed each other up and kicked to position. Kane Munro and Tim Vallance were dominating across the centre through a combination of pace, good marking and long kicking into the forward line. Chris Vorwerk kicked a good goal, Chris Lynch was giving the Roos first use of the ball and down back Matthew Palmer was repelling anything the Demons could throw his way.
Ouyen United looked sluggish early, they missed shots on goal and they seemed disinterested. Then came the O’Callaghan quarter time blast and it was as if a different side came out to play. It was all one way traffic in the second quarter, the Demons were clinical, serial chains of handballs through midfield ripping the Roos apart; the final goal of the quarter to United’s Brenton Jardine a classic example.
Adam O’Callaghan completely blanketed Warrick Brady, Rob Miller started taking marks on Matt Palmer and Kieran O’Shannessy was dictating play from half back. On another level, Peter Caldow and Mark Hahnel were just brilliant, running, creating space and kicking to advantage time and time again.
The ageless Wayne Grace was everywhere and these players in particular were always looking to give the ball to their forwards, resulting in goals to Ash Connick and Sonny Lindsay who finished with nine for the day.
As the Demons started to surge, young players such as Ben Mole started to gain in confidence and he was involved in creative play out of the centre. Geoff Crook and Adam Moore stood up in defence and Jason Hahnel did a lot of hard work against a tough opponent in Chris Lynch.
The match was effectively over at half time. The second half saw Ouyen United build on their lead and go on to record a very solid win.
For the Roos, Jim Wakefield was tight on Ash Connick, Callum Winslow did a few creative things across the centre Nathan Jones-Cubillo tried hard all day and Travis Latta was prominent.
SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
The Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers did themselves a huge favour in thumping Woomelang Lascelles by 177 points. They leapfrogged over Hopetoun and Jeparit Rainbow and now sit in third position on the ladder. The match was effectively over in the first quarter when the Tigers slammed on nine goals to the Cats’ three. For the next three quarters they held the Cats to two goals whilst helping themselves to 22.
The Cats were outgunned from the start. They had plenty of contributors, but were comprehensively outclassed by a side that went in harder, was stronger bodied and used the ball with precision. Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers shared the ball around and had seven multiple goal kickers with Ryan Dowdy bagging eight, Nathan Wight, Darcy Ryan and Matt Elliot four each and an outstanding six to Col Durie.
Woomelang Lascelles two goal final quarter indicated that they were still in there trying, but it was a case of far too little far too late. Trent Donan and Clayton Lee were clearly the Cats’ best two players, as they pretty much have been all year; they both tackled well and gained lots of kicks themselves. Joel Donnan had a lot of work to do in defence and halted many attacks, Daniel Quinn whether on the ball or in defence also won many kicks and the pacey and creative Josh Templeton did well on his wing. Jason Smith at centre half forward was another Cat to try hard all day.
Unfortunately for Woomelang Lascelles, they lost another two players to injury, adding to their already long list. Youngster Jackson Rampling has a head injury and Tony Mudge looks like he could be out for a while with an injury to his leg.
Last Modified on 25/07/2010 14:54
