by Jim Gordon
The large crowd at Underbool was treated to an enthralling Preliminary Final in which Ouyen United came out on top by 31 points over a gallant Jeparit Rainbow. The wild and wet weather was always going to be a factor in a match between two sides that rely on high marking, attacking handball and precision kicking. The Underbool ground came up well considering the amount of rain that had fallen the night before.
The conditions made it hard for players to judge the flight of the ball, to use the ball effectively or to score goals. Shots from both sides either missed the goals completely or pulled up short due to the strong north-westerly. Both teams tried to defend to the scoreboard wing and attack around the pavilion side, in this respect, Ouyen United came out on top and were able to bottle up the Lakers for long periods of time on the dead flank.
Kicking with a 3-4 goal blustery wind, Jeparit Rainbow did not make the most of their opportunities in the first quarter. Three quick goals to the Demons at the end of the quarter turned out to be telling as Ouyen United went in to the first break with the lead, even if it was only three points.
The first major of the game had gone to Ouyen United’s Sonny Lindsay. He kicked only one more for the day on a formidable opponent in Dean Schumann. Giving away both a weight and height advantage, Schumann spoilt Lindsey repeatedly and then was able to run the ball out of defence. Jayden Werner and Mick Eckermann also defended strongly for the Lakers.
When Peter Weir marked and goaled, and then Ashley Clugston goaled after an Ouyen United fumble in the goal square, you sensed that this game would be no pushover for either side.
Adam Roll was another doing well for Jeparit Rainbow, but his two behinds, including a poster, were poor reward for a period of Laker domination. They were made to pay towards the end of this quarter when Brenton Jardine broke away for two beautiful goals into the wind.
With Ash Connick well held by Jayden Werner it soon became apparent that the Ouyen United forward line was going to have to rely on its smaller crumbing players to kick goals.
Justin Chilver gave a lot to the Lakers all day and when he kicked a good goal from 50m, the Lakers were looking to have settled and were playing a much better brand of football, often using Corey Waldron as a link player.
Chilver had a great battle with Jason Hahnel. Hanel was on top early, then Chilver became a force and was one of main reasons for the Laker fight back. He was strong around the ground, and his speed and agility for a big man meant that he was able to get to the contest.
Marc Hahnel for Ouyen United was already proving a headache for the Lakers and Ben Gregg did a lot of running to position and often provided a target for the Demons when they ran out of defence. Through both the Greggs, Peter Caldow, Ryan O’Callaghan and Marc Hahnel, Ouyen won most of centre clearances putting pressure on the Jeparit Rainbow backline.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Adam O’Callaghan following Peter Weir forward goaled from a free and when Robbie Miller and Sonny Lindsay added a goal each, Ouyen United looked like they were getting on top. Then the Demons seemed to ease up a little with the result that the Lakers got back into the game through their run from the packs when Justin Chilver was able to bring the Jeparit Rainbow smaller players into the game.
Up forward Adam Roll was marking well and Ben Harrison was able to goal after a free kick. Yet the Jeparit Rainbow delivery to Roll, Weir and Harrison was not great and those three in particular had to battle for their goals. Ouyen United’s Adam Moore played a great game at full back. Any poor delivery by the Lakers was often mopped up by him and he was particularly effective in finding a team mate further down the ground.
The 15 point half time lead to Ouyen United should have been greater. Sonny Lindsay had hit the post, Corey Gregg missed a gettable shot, Ryan O’Callaghan missed and Glenn Joyce scored a behind just before the half time siren.
At the beginning of the third quarter it was Jeparit Rainbow’s turn to waste chances. Behinds that could so easily have been goals to Ben Harrison and Adam Roll were met by a good running goal by Peter Caldow having just returned from a 15 minute spell on the side lines after a send off for a reckless tackle at the end of the second quarter.
Just when you thought Ouyen United were on top, Peter Weir bobbed up with a gaol from a beautiful long kick and then Adam Roll made the most of a poor kick out after a behind with a goal. When this time Peter Weir just missed, the Lakers once again were left to rue missed chances and they were now facing a daunting task as they went to the three quarter time break ten points down with United coming home with the wind. Yet there was to be another twist to this enthralling encounter.
Ouyen United needed to have their smaller forwards kicking goals as Sonny Lindsay was being held, Ash Connick seemed out of sorts and there was no-one else looking capable of taking control of the game. An Adam Roll goal was followed by two behinds from a long way out by Robbie Miller before Ashley Clugston goaled to bring the Lakers within one point of the Demons.
A brilliant move or just plain bad luck for the Lakers caused the game to swing back in favour of Ouyen United. In an effort to quell the forward power of Jeparit Rainbow, the Demons moved Robbie Miller onto Weir leaving Adam O’Callaghan lose and running forward. His mark across the centre and follow up goal from a lose ball across half forward seemed to break the Lakers’ spirit. Ouyen United were hitting their targets better around the ground.
Another goal from a dominant Marc Hahnel and suddenly Ouyen United were on top and they went on to kick six goals to one in last 15 minutes of the game.
Jeparit Rainbow put up a huge effort and were brave in defeat. The game was a lot closer than final scores suggest and it has turned out to be very good year for the Jeparit Rainbow Club. They have proved that if they can retain most of their players they will once again be a force in the Mallee League.
For Ouyen United the reward for a great win is another chance to try and defeat the might of the Beulah Blues in the Grand Final at Sea Lake on Saturday.
Last Modified on 05/09/2010 12:37
