by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
In an absorbing game of football at Rainbow on Saturday, Walpeup Underbool did just enough to keep a determined Jeparit Rainbow at bay and record a 12 point victory. Despite 16 goals being kicked at the northern or Hospital end of the ground in the second half, the wind was really only a two goal advantage at the most.
Jeparit Rainbow did well to take the game right up to Walpeup Underbool. In fact it was a great effort by a very young team. Players and supporters would have been disappointed to lose, but the team was gallant in the last quarter and this performance gives the club something to build on in future weeks.
Laker coach Luke Werner asked for a big effort from his side at three quarter time and they responded by coming out and kicking six goals in the first twenty minutes to get within two goals of the Roos. Suddenly they were in with a chance to win.
The Roos had started the last quarter with two quick goals to stretch their already sizable lead and it looked as if they would coast to the final siren. However, Jeparit Rainbow had other ideas and in front of a noisy local crowd began to get on top. Werner himself led the last quarter charge, moving to the forward line and kicking three of his four goals this quarter, two were terrific shots from deep in the pocket.
Just when things were starting to look interesting, Walpeup Underbool's experienced players steadied, they dug deep and when Josh Charles marked strongly and goaled, the Roos were able to steady and keep out the Lakers to end an exciting last quarter. That two goal gap was as close as the Lakers got.
The first half of this game was a tough, dour contest with only 12 points separating the two sides at half time. Jeparit Rainbow began the game with a good opening term and looked to be on top early. Walpeup Underbool were able to work their way back into the contest late in the first quarter through Kane Munro who was looking dangerous up forward.
In the second term Jeparit Rainbow seemed more desperate for the ball as Walpeup Underbool seemed to be a little flat with skill errors and missed opportunities in front of goal adding up for the Roos.
Justin Chilver continued his very good inter league form in the ruck and he had a great duel with Justin Charles. With Chilver just ahead in this area, Jeparit Rainbow won the centre clearances and the contested ball where Heath Clugston and Aaron Beer were great in the contests.
The Roo on ballers lifted their game after half time and they started to dominate around the packs getting more midfield clearances with Josh Charles and Matt Palmer starting to give their rovers first use of the ball. The run from their backs and midfield that Walpeup Underbool rely on was helping move the ball quickly to the forwards and providing an eight goal to one third quarter to break the game open.
There is no doubt that Jeparit Rainbow dropped their intensity in the third term and Walpeup Underbool took advantage to take complete control of the game. Their run and use of handball was precise and accurate and the Lakes just could not keep up.
The Jeparit Rainbow defence was under constant pressure with the Roos kicking eight goals to one in the match winning third quarter. The Lakers lost James Phillip to an ankle injury in this quarter which left them a player down in the last quarter.
Andrew Watson played at centre half back and was the Lakers’ best player for the second game in a row. Heath Clugston made a very good return to the team, he was great in the contests where his experience showed out. Ash Clugston marked well and ran hard all day. Young Jake Parry was dangerous in the forward line and did a good job opposed to Jeremy Rowe kicking three goals. The youngest Laker Nathan Cocks stood out for the third game in a row.
The Roos would be happy with the four points, although it looks like they have some work to do to improve on this performance. The week off didn’t do them any favours.
On the other hand Jeparit Rainbow should be proud of their efforts and have shown that they are a tough side to beat at home.
HOPETOUN V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
Woomelang Lascelles came close to causing one of the biggest upsets of the season so far in sharing the points at Hopetoun on Saturday. The Cats were unlucky in the end not to get the four points in what was their best performance of their season. Either that or the Devils were lucky to get two points!
Woomelang Lascelles kept up a relentless pressure on the opposition and this intensity managed to make the more highly fancied Devils look second rate at times. The many turnovers that resulted from mistakes made under pressure meant that at no stage were the Devils able to get their running game going. It must have been frustrating for the Devils’ supporters as their players continued to miss targets with their inaccurate disposal.
Credit must go to a Woomelang Lascelles side that played four good quarters of team oriented football. Joel Donnan had an excellent game on the dangerous Kain Robins, likewise Brodie Adcock was brilliant down back and Anthony Foott played a very good game up forward. Kane Bannam being played on the wing and running forward is starting to pay dividends as he finished with four goals.
Liam Price and Ben Reid battled hard in the backline all game for Hopetoun. In fact all the backline did a great job for the home side as the Cats were making many forward entries late in the game.
Luke Carr continued with his medal winning VCFL form and he was consistent all game whether it was on the ball or up forward.
The Devils will need to regroup quickly as they have a big couple of weeks coming up starting with a hard game on the road against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers next week. Wins are going to be essential to stay in the finals race, especially if you are eying off a top two finish.
The Cats have set themselves a standard now and they need to keep it up to get a win on the board in the not too distant future. Against Hopetoun they had the three quarter time lead and probably should have won the game. Nevertheless, it was still a great team performance and the Cats will approach a home game next week against the Lakers with some confidence.
OUYEN UNITED V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers had a good win at Blackburn Park against a persistent, but ultimately undermanned Ouyen United. Whilst never really looking like they had control of the game, at various stages the Demons did look like they could conjure up a win.
In the end, the Tigers had the more potent forward line with Jarrod Arentz ending up with nine goals and dominant running players in Darcy Ryan, Liam Barry on a wing and Scott Alderton. Daniel McEwan rucked well and was a presence around the ground often finding himself alone and unattended providing a link for the Tigers out of defence.
Kicking with the breeze, the Demons had a good first term with four goals to one and in the final term they even got to within two goals of the Tigers.
Peter Caldow was best for United on the day. This follows on from his very good form two weeks ago against the Cats and if he had goaled from a set shot in the final term, Ouyen United would have been only a gaol down and looking like they could have been working towards an unlikely victory.
As it was, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers steadied, grabbed a gaol back and after that brief Ouyen United resurgence that included a nice opening goal from Kale Barker, were able to get right on top of the Demons and run away with the game.
Good work was at times undone by the Demons who played from behind in the forward line, missed marks and twice turned their back on play only to have a good handball from a team mate hit the body of a player who seemed to be lacking vision.
Ouyen United played well in the first term. They had Alex Erlandson doing well in the ruck, giving them first use of the ball, Kale Barker was on top on one wing and Glenn Joyce was giving the Demons plenty of drive out of the centre.
The Demons first goal came from a free to Ben Mole after a throw in infringement, Peter Caldow was dangerous and when Casey Stoeszer goal with a clever banana kick from the forward pocket, the Demons looked to be in control of proceedings.
Liam Barry was keeping the Tigers in the game from his wing, but when Ben Mole marked a Jarred Erlandson kick, United held a 19 point quarter time lead.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s Darcy Ryan had a big impact on the game. His ability to go in hard, head over the ball and with his clean disposal skills meant that every time he got the ball, the Tigers were able to get themselves into an attacking position. Ryan kicked three goals himself and passed off to team mates on several occasions. Ryan goaled twice in the third term, his first running in after two minutes and the second a few minutes later put the Tigers five goals up and looking to have the game won.
To their credit, Ouyen United never really gave up. That second goal for the term by Ryan was followed by three Demon goals. The first, a goal to Caldow came after good play by Barker, this was followed by a Ben Mole goal from a free kick and when Casey Stoeszer snapped truly, the Dees were back in town.
Cool heads prevailed for the Tigers with the experienced Col Durie passing off to Arentz who calmly restored Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers buffer. Yet Ouyen United came again to goal through Glenn Joyce and a snap from the goal square by Cameron Roberts.
The best team on the day won. Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers were too skilled and too experienced for an Ouyen United side that did not give up all day, but did not have the all over the ground ability to keep up with the Tigers.
Last Modified on 03/06/2012 13:30
