by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V HOPETOUN
A lot was expected in this rematch of last year’s first semi finalists. It was a chance to see if Jeparit Rainbow had improved or whether Hopetoun’s much anticipated recruiting coup would reap the benefits of a win. This time the Devils came out on top, but a fighting last quarter by the Lakers left the fans with the anticipation of more close contests this season.
A win over the Lakers away from home is a great start to the season for the Devils. Hopetoun was all over Jeparit Rainbow when they kicked with the wind in the first quarter. Their bigger and more mature bodies were proving too much for the Lakers who, once they did settle down, were forced to play catch up football for the rest of the game.
Kane Robbins was a key target across the Hopetoun half forward line in the first half while Bryce Wellington took plenty of marks. Leigh Hutchinson was the General in the Devil’s defence. He worked hard and teamed well with others in defence to repel many Laker attacks as they fought desperately to get back into the game.
Devils Luke Milroy and Tom Pridgeon won plenty of possessions in the middle and they were helped out by ruckman Dan Young who gave Hopetoun first option, winning plenty of tap outs. This was a good effort by Young against the powerful and inform Justin Chilver.
Once again Scot and Chris Heath gave the Devils an injection of pace along the wings opening up play and feeding the ball forward. Zac Robbins and Ben Reid showed plenty of maturity, they made good position, used the ball to effect and were well rewarded for their endeavours.
Steady rain in second half seemed to bring the two sides together. Jeparit Rainbow were playing better and the slippery conditions suited players such as the Clugston brothers who played more up forward in the second half.
The last quarter was great football played in tough conditions. Neither team scored for over ten minutes. When Jeparit Rainbow scored three goals in a row to get the margin back to two goals, they had a chance, but a late Hopetoun goal was enough to seal their win. The Devils were able to hold them off a Laker side that had left their run too late.
A lack of key forwards hurt Jeparit Rainbow once again. Jackson’s pace and skill gave them plenty of drive around the ground, Waldron was great in and under the packs all day and McAllister played his best game yet. The Lakers look like they need the bye and the Easter break to regroup. They can look forward to future improvement from their young team.
BEULAH V OUYEN UNITED
Beulah at home celebrated the unfurling of their 2010 Premiership flag with yet another win against Ouyen United. In a high standard game that got very physical at times, the bigger bodied Blues were too strong and too experienced for the younger Demons.
Ouyen more than matched it with the Blues at various stages and looked like they could even pinch the points only three goals down at three quarter time. However, once the rain came, the task was just too much and they ultimately fell away to the better side. Poor decision making early in the game and loose checking across the centre in the second term cost them dearly.
The Blues effectively broke the game open in the second quarter when kicking into a breeze that had admittedly eased somewhat, they kicked five unanswered goals after the Demons had scored the first two of the term to draw within three points.
This fifteen minute burst of power play occurred because Beulah were prepared to run the ball at all costs, create a lose man across the centre and finish off their hard work with accurate kicking and strong marking. During this period United on the other hand, looked slow, they stood flat footed, they let Beulah players run free and could barely get their hands on the ball.
It all started in the centre where big man Stephen Saunders gave his running midfielders first use of the ball. Dale Shannon was the destroyer, proving to be difficult to tag and Beulah had many options up forward.
David King was one target and Peter Lehmann marked well across half forward. His grab and long goal from outside the 50m in the first quarter was a telling sign that Peter Lehmann is once again a force to be reckoned with; the ball sailed through goal post high. Beulah kicked a lot of behinds, but they also kicked many towering goals from a long way out.
To their credit, Ouyen United did get back in the game towards the end of the second quarter. Brenton Jardine into the ruck was a telling move. With the Blues 34 points ahead, the Demons finally managed to force the ball forward for Brett Knowles to mark and goal from 50m. Marc Hahnel gathered a lose ball to run in and goal, Jardine kicked truly and when Todd Barker teamed with Knowles to get the ball to Ryan O’Callaghan, the difference was back to a manageable 10 points at the main break.
In the third term Beulah wasted opportunities up forward and with United scoring two themselves, we were in for an interesting final term. During this quarter Ryan O’Callaghan went off after a knock to the head and did not return for the rest of the game.
Although they tried valiantly in the final term, the Demons were not able to nail a couple of crucial shots at goal. United had several young players in the side this week, they will be hoping that these youngsters are able to quickly learn from their experience against Beulah.
The Blues were deserving winners and have been able to put last week’s rare loss to the Tigers at Sea Lake behind them. With the class of David King, Peter Lehman, Kim Hallam and Gareth Hose, they are back on track and look raring to have a go at back to back flags.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
This game started at a frantic pace with both teams eager to get off to a good start. In his opening game for his new club, former Demon Jay Gniel marked strongly and goaled for the Roos and when Wade Champion followed with another the Roos were away.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers were struggling to get the ball past their half forward line and the rest of the first quarter was a battle of the backlines.
The second quarter continued with Walpeup Underbool very much dictating terms. They seemed much more switched on this week; Jeremy Rowe, Tim Vallance and coach Kane Munro were all running strongly through the lines and they were tackling ferociously.
When the Roos goaled from a free kick at the beginning of the second quarter, it was their second for that quarter and a six goal lead. Walpeup Underbool were working hard as a unit and it was paying off on the scoreboard.
The Tigers first goal didn’t come until half way through the second quarter when the hard running Col Durie scored the first of four goals in three minutes for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers. It was game on.
The Roos need a good start to the third term to gain back the momentum. It was goal for goal early, but when Matt Brown in rapid fire succession kicked two after some hard work by Luke Nathan, it gave the Roos back the ascendency and a handy five goal break going into the final term.
Young Dallas Willsmore scored a goal early in the last quarter and when the rain set it, it was going to make it hard for the Tigers to come back from here. Wade Champion was dominating in the ruck, Kane Munro was putting his body on the line and Travis Latta was getting a lot of the ball.
Sea Lake Nandaly coach Col Durie never gave up all day. He ran and ran, gained any number of possessions and used to ball to good effect.
A great team effort by the Roos after a first round loss.
Last Modified on 10/04/2011 17:44
