Charlton v St Arnaud
Kicking with the aid of a fair breeze St Arnaud got away to a good start with McNamee kicking the first goal of the match, and the Saints were away. Needs, got into the action early and posted the Saints second goal, before the home side responded with two quick goals of their own. The rest of the quarter was reasonably even until close to time when the visitors added another two goals to take a 15-point lead to the first break.
After a shake up by the coach, the Navy Blues responded and started to use the breeze and with five goals for the quarter to the Saints two, the home side was able to turn the tables of the first quarter and go to the long break holding a slender three point lead. McKenzie, C. Thiesz and Wellington were the shining light for the home side to this point. For the visitors it was their coach, James McNamee , Motlop and key forwards Coglan and Needs were the main players for the Saints.
St Arnaud took full use of their opportunities in the premiership quarter and was well on target adding seven goals to the home sides two for the quarter. Coglan, who kicked 7 second half goals and Needs were offering many good targets for their midfielders led by Motlop and Batters. Coglan posted four goals for the term and Needs three to give the Saints fans a glimmer of hope of celebrating their first win in over a season. With a twenty seven point lead and both sides feeling the effect of a torrid contest the Saints went to the final huddle full of confidence.
When the siren sounded to start the final term, St Arnaud took continued with their form from the previous quarter and was quick to post a couple of goals and extend their lead. As the clock ticked down towards full time Charlton added two goals to their total but the visitors swung into party mode and finished the game off with three goals to give them forty nine point victory a much needed confidence lifting win, that will see the club lift themselves up the NCFL Ladder in 2012.
Final Scores
St Arnaud 18-16=124 def Charlton 11-9=75
Best for St Arnaud; J McNamee, L. Stewart, S. Motlop, B. Batters, D. Needs and L Cunningham.
Goals; N. Coglan 7, D.Needs 6, Z. Sullivan, N. Baldwin, J. McNamee, J. Priest and L. Cunningham.
Best for Charlton; A. McKenzie, R. Wellington, C. O’brien, James McGrath, C. Thiesz and K. Sait.
Goals; all 1 goal, Joe McGrath, A. Judd, J. McKee, B. Roberts, M. Winsall, R. Wellington, T. Finlay, C. O’Brien, James McGrath, D. Thiesz and L. Kyrakidiss.
Donald v Wycheproof-Narraport
Donald was keen to eclipse on their win in round one and set the wheels in motion against last year’s runners-up, Wycheproof-Narraport. Early goals to the Royals gave them an eight point lead at quarter time, the Demons who were well off target in the opening term were only let down by their inaccuracy kicking five point from reasonably easy shots.
In the second term Wyche-Narraport went on the attack early with Corey Jones converting on a couple of occasions. Bell, was being very dangerous for the Royals and his good work was rewarded when Givney and Trent Blake added to their goal tally. Martin who was returning to his old club after a fair break brought up both flags after marking strongly. First gamer and NCFL 2011 under 16 Best and Fairest winner Kristian McNicol, was getting plenty of the ball and looks a footballer of the future. When the siren sounded to end the first half’s play Donald still head sway by 9-points.
The third quarter would turn out to be an even quarter for both sides with neither able to break away and take an advantage, but the Demons should have been in front at the last break but once again they kicked inaccurately. With the game tightening up and only 5-points adrift the visitors looked set to pounce when playing time in the third term ran out.
Donald would have been expecting the Demons to put up a strong challenge for the four points in the final term, but they would not have anticipated dominance of their opponent. Wyche-Narraport held the Royal’s to one goal while they went on their merry way and turn a 5-point deficit into a 38 point win and signal to the rest of the North Central clubs, that they would once again be a key player in the competition, with their recruits filling the void left by the departure of some key players.
Scores Wycheproof-Narraport 17-20=122 def Donald 13-6= 84
Best for the Demons; James Coatsworth, Boe Bish, K. McNicol, L. Borthwick, J. White, J Grylls.
Goals; C. Jones 5, J. Martin 4, L Borthwick, Joey Coatsworth 2, J. Coatsworth, J. Grylls, K. McNicol, G. Turner.
Best for Donald; T. Bell, D Harrison, N. Dunstan, Jackson Hogan, J. Burke, T. Grant.
Goals; N. Dunstan 4, R. Givney , T. Grant, Darcy Harrison 2, B. Grant, B. Jennings and J. Newell.
Wedderburn v Birchip-Watchem
Wedderburn unfurled their 2011 Premiership flag prior to their match against a very keen Bulls outfit. The visitors certainly come to play and stunned the reigning premiers in the opening quarter. Their fierce attack on the ball was a fair indication of the keenness to topple the more fancied Redbacks. Foott brought up the first major score for the Bulls, who looked to have turned around, their poor showing in the opening round. Barnes replied for the home side, but scoring was becoming a hard task, as both defences were working overtime. As if gaining any advantage wasn’t hard enough to achieve, the Redbacks were handed a solid blow when an indiscretion saw them reduced back to 17-players and some further undisciplined acts seen the opposition handed an easy goal, the result of three 50-metre penalties, and for coach Daniel Gash who was sitting out the contest due to injury, the quarter time break couldn’t come quick enough. At quarter time the Bulls held a seven point lead, but this didn’t compliment their overall play, which will see many opposition sides on the receiving end in coming weeks.
After copping a fair spray from the coach the Redbacks set their sights on stamping their authority on the game, but the Bulls would have no part of it as they went on the attack with goals to Phelan, Hogan and Tyler. Wedderburn looked to be settling down and with some nice work reduced the overall lead of Birchip-Watchem back to 8-points by the long break, with goals coming from Perry, Barnes and McHugh. Best players to half time for the Bulls, Holmes, who was having a great contest with Strange, B. Hall and Liam O’Donnell. For the Redbacks, J. DeAraugo was clearly their best with Terhell, Rose and Herdman turning in good performances to this point.
The home side came out after the long interval and were quick to get on the board through Cam Taylor who gained many possessions and finished with three goals for the quarter. Rose and Barnes were also in the thick of things for the Redbacks and suddenly the wheel started to turn, as they clearly outplayed the Bulls, who at times looked as if they may be a spent force and were restricted to just the one goal for the quarter. Wedderburn held a 22-point lead at the final change and looked like they might run away with a good win.
Wedderburn opened proceedings in the final term with goals to Taylor, Rose and Strange before the Bulls hit back with goals to Foott and Koops to put themselves back within touch of the Redbacks, but when Last and Hayes responded for the home side, time and a yellow card late in the quarter would become the enemy of the Bulls. Wedderburn took out the game by 25-points but all due credit must go to the Birchip-Watchem combination, as they took the game right up to the home side. Perhaps the Bulls were a little unlucky not to grab the points, but their third quarter fade would prove costly, to the Redbacks credit, once they got back on track they showed that they are a very capable side and will be one of the teams, opposition clubs will need to watch in the coming weeks.
Scores Wedderburn 16.17=113 def Birchip-Watchem 13-10=88
Best Wedderburn J. DeAraugo, R. McHugh, C. Taylor, B. Rose, S. Terhell and B. Herdman.
Goals; C. Taylor 4, S. Barnes 3, B. Strange, B. Rose 2, B. Herdman, C. Perry. R. McHugh, L. Last, J. Hayes.
Best Birchip-Watchem; L. O’Donnell, B. Hall, J. Noonan, Z. Holmes, A. Hutchins, C Postlewaite.
Goals; J. Tyler 3, L. Foott, R. Koops 2, I Livock, J. Phelan and S. Fiora 1 each.
Next Week
Wycheproof-Narraport v Wedderburn
Birchip-Watchem v Charlton
St Arnaud v Boort
Donald Bye
Last Modified on 24/04/2012 10:57