Wedderburn v St Arnaud
Score Wedderburn 22-11=143 def St Arnaud 15-14 =104
Wedderburn opened their account 20 seconds into the first quarter when Luke Last snapped up a loose ball to bring up the first score of the game. Ben Rose added another and the Redbacks were away in full flight, Barnes and Nathan Holt added to the Redbacks total and when Herdman kicked truly the Redbacks were looking to run up a big total which had all transpired in just 12-minutes of football. St Arnaud through a good passage of play from the centre bounce registered their first goal courtesy of full forward, Nick Coglan. As both sides defended strongly any further scoring was hard to come by until the 25 minute mark when Coglan again brought up both flags. Wedderburn replied when Nathan Holt kicked his second goal. Nearing the end of an entertaining first quarter, St Arnaud banged on two goals with the first being a pearler from Shannon Motlop, followed by a goal to Cunningham who capitalised on a Wedderburn mistake. Wedderburn held an 11-point lead at the first break
Wedderburn’s strength shone out in the second term as they went on the rampage, kicking 10 goals for the quarter, while restricting the Saints to just three goals and by the main break in play, the home side held a comfortable lead of 54-points.
In the Premiership quarter it was all St Arnaud, the Saints reduced the half time lead of the Redbacks to 32-points, and only poor kicking let them down, otherwise they could have been in front of the ladder leaders come the final change but it was not to be. The Three quarter sounded with the home side holding onto a commanding lead.
In the final term Wedderburn were under a fair bit of pressure from the Saints early, which was being generated by Motlop who was gaining many valuable possessions which were being converted further up the ground. To Wedderburn’s credit they struck back with goals to Nathan Holt, Barnes (2) and Rose to outscore the Saints and were declared the winners by 39-points when the game was officially called off due to the serious injury to the St Arnaud player.
Scores Wedderburn 22-11= 143 def St Arnaud 15-14=104
Best for Wedderburn: Sam Barnes, Robbie Tonkin, Brett Strange, Cam Taylor, Cam Perry and Adam Postle.
Goals Barnes 8, Rose 4, N. Holt, B. Herdman 3, L. Last, J. McKay, C. Perry and B. Strange 1 each.
Best for St Arnaud: Daniel James, Lee Stewart, James McNamee, Bradley Fitton, Shannon Motlop and Lachlan Cunningham.
Goals: Coglan, Motlop, Needs 3, Cunningham, Batters, McIntyre, Patching, Baldwin and McNamee 1 each.
Charlton v Boort
In an even first term the Navy Blues and Magpies were locked into an arm wrestle which seen the visitors clam a 5-point lead at the first change. Stewart was prominent in the opening quarter for the Magpies and was gaining good support from Lanyon and Garvey Hawke. The Navy Blues were getting plenty of drive from Daniel Thiesz and Tom Finlay but were being let down up forward.
The second quarter seen Boort extend their lead again, through the good play of Stewart, Johnston and Keeble. Charlton found it hard to build on their first quarter total, when the solid backline of Boort rebounded the majority of their forward moves. Stewart (2) and Sipthorp kicked Boort’s goals and they took a seventeen point lead to the main change.
In what would turn out to be a scrappy third quarter, where only one goal was scored and that going to Boort, both sides missed easy shots and between them kicked a total of eleven points in great conditions for football. Both coaches would not have been happy at the three quarter time break where Boort’s lead was 34-points.
Poor kicking was again the order of the day in the last term, Boort was able to finally get it together and convert some good passages of play into major scores and by the end of play had gained the four points in a very ordinary match, with both sides having to go back and review the days play, in a match that would not give any solid form indications for future weeks. Boort would be happy to have come away with the points, which now puts them in touch with the top four but they will have to claim a good scalp in the next couple of weeks to keep them in the mix for September action.
Final scores Boort 11-17=83 def Charlton 6-14= 50
Best for Boort: J. Garvy-Hawke, J. Lanyon, D. Stewart, D. Johnston, J. Keeble and Jack Smith.
Goals: D. Stewart 4, Newell 2, Sipthorp, Keeble, Jackson, Smith and Garvy-Hawke 1 each.
Best for Charlton: D. Thiesz, T. Finlay, A. Bence, M. Winsall, J. McLean and A. McGurk.
Goals T. Finlay, D. Thiesz 2, L. Kyrakidies and C. Thiesz 1 each
Donald v Birchip Watchem
Birchip-Watchem were out to spoil the Royal Blues premiership reunion celebrations when they posted six first quarter goals and allowed the home side just one for the term.
Things didn’t improve for Donald in the second quarter with visitors again outscoring them and at half time they trailed the Bulls by 34-points.
With a few positional changes and a few choice words appeared to have a positive effect as they came out a different side after the long break. The speed and team work of the Royal Blues stunned the Bulls and the home side slammed on goals from all parts of the forward line. Brody Haddow was instrumental in their first goal and this was followed by a further six goals and the home-sides backline was solid allowing the Bulls only one goal for the term and at the final change Donald had secured the lead by 1-point, a big form reversal from the first half.
With scores all but tied up commencing the final term Donald drew first blood when Jennings kicked truly. The games lead changed many times in the final quarter and the large crowd was witnessing a close contest. As the clock ticked down to full time the Bulls raised one last effort which was rewarded with a goal and give them a seven point lead, which Donald was unable to pull back and when the siren sounded, while they home side was gallant in defeat a more committed effort in the opening two quarters may have seen the reunion visitors having a little bit more to celebrate, but it just wasn’t the Royal Blues day. The Bulls with their win have drawn equal on points with the Demons and will now look to next week’s game against the Redbacks in the Jetport Security Parking Challenge match.
Final scores Birchip-Watchem 15-8=98 def Donald 14-7=91
Best for the Bulls: R. Koops, Z. Holmes, T. Walder, B. Hall, Cam Hall and Mark Rees.
Goals L. Foott 4, P. Messer, M. Smith 3, t. Walder 2, T. Carland, R. Koops and J. Tyler 1 each.
Best for Donald: Jackson Hogan, T. Bell, R. Harberger, D. Harrison, W. McAllister and Ross Funcke.
Goals: B. Haddow, B. Jennings 3, N. Dunstan, B. Grant, D. Harrison 2, J. Burke and K. Harberger 1 each.
Next Week
Wycheproof-Narraport v Donald
Birchip-Watchem v Wedderburn (Jetport Security Parking Challenge game)
St Arnaud v Charlton
Boort Bye
Last Modified on 10/06/2012 20:49