by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V HOPETOUN
A big day for the Jeparit Rainbow Football Netball Club came unstuck with a resounding 78 point thrashing at the hands of Hopetoun at Rainbow on Saturday. The Lakers had a lot planned this weekend for their life members, sponsors and those coming along for their Goods and Services auction. The Devils had other plans and spoilt the show.
Hopetoun was in control right from the start. Kicking with the breeze in the first quarter, they had Kane Robins a dominant presence at half forward, Quentin Willmott on top in the ruck and the fast running Deek Roberts a welcome return to their side. Roberts ended up with eight goals in a best on ground display and he was one of many Devils that the Lakers just could not contain.
This was another disappointing result for Jeparit Rainbow who are badly missing Luke Werner and Adam Schumann and were forced to field yet another very young team. Ashley Cook has had to step up to the seniors in the last few weeks and played his best game for the club as a small forward and midfielder. In one of few highlights for Jeparit Rainbow, this was a break out game for Cook who has the potential to be a very good senior player.
Tom Clugston is the Lakers’ youngest player and was very good in the second half giving Jeparit Rainbow drive from a wing. This follows on from a solid effort by Tom against the Demons the week before.
Jeparit Rainbow saved their best football for the second half when the game was well and truly over. A heavy shower at three quarter time meant that conditions were slippery in the last quarter when the Lakers had a lot of the play. Best player, once again for Jeparit Rainbow, Ashley Clugston kicked three of his four goals in this quarter. Ashley is having a great year in a season and one that has not offered much for his side.
Ben Marr was another Laker to show out. He was moved onto Robins later in the game and did a great job as he was very much undersized, but managed to limit Robins’ influence on the game.
Hopetoun’s Kane Robins was instrumental in Hopetoun kicking nine goals in the first term. He provided a focal point for the Devils, kicking goals himself and setting up goals for others.
Anthony Baker was solid in midfield showing his strength and winning many centre clearances for the Devils. Down back Simon Cook lead the defence well and was supported by David Baulch and Jake Roberts. Together they repelled many Jeparit Rainbow attacks and were able to set up goals from the half back line with good use of the ball and long kicking to a position.
Quenton Willmott was not only on top in the ruck, he was also valuable when resting in the forward line providing another tall marking option and kicking two goals.
This was a great team performance from the Devils and pretty much consistent for four quarters, a good turnaround from their last game against Ouyen United when they dominated for a half, only to fall away after half time.
BEULAH V OUYEN UNITED
Any pretentions that Ouyen United had of mixing it with the top teams of the MFL in season 2012 were quickly snuffed out at Beulah on Saturday. The Blues took control of this game in the first term and increased their lead at every change finally winning a match that propelled them back into second spot on the ladder by 94 points.
Nothing went right for United. Dean Jardine and Jarred Erlandson were late withdrawals from the side, both John Jackson and Ryan O’Callaghan were sent off during the game and in the most heart breaking of circumstances, talented Mitchell Taylor went off in the first term with a broken leg. If the Demons were flat before the game, they soon went from bad to worse coming away with little or nothing to show for their efforts.
With so many players missing and lacking in depth, the talented Beulah combination were able to make the most of their superior size and strength. Steph Saunders dominated the ruck all day, Kim Hallam was an imposing presence up forward and finished with three goals and David King did well early and then got completely on top later in the day when the match was well and truly won. Add Tyler Lehmann into the mix and the Beulah forward line was always going to dominate an undermanned Ouyen United defence.
For United, Peter Caldow tried hard all day, John Jackson and Glenn Joyce got a lot of the ball, but from then on good players were hard to find. Adam O’Callaghan did well on King early, his brother Ryan never gives up and comes in for a lot of close attention and Thomas Grigg showed promising signs in defence.
The Ouyen United forwards did not see much of the ball all day. Ben Mole has had a good season, but he went missing, Casey Stoezter hardly got a touch after six goals the week before and at one stage in the second half, United were so short in attack, that it looked like they were running three flankers with no true centre half forward. United’s fifth and final goal for the day came at the beginning of the third term putting them four goals down. Beulah kicked the next eleven with little resistance.
In preview of finals action, the Blues take on Hopetoun next week in what should be a close encounter. Meanwhile United take on the might of Walpeup Underbool away from home just when they thought things couldn’t possibly get worse.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Walpeup Underbool proved far too good for the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers with a high class performance and an eight goal win at Sea Lake on Saturday. In a consistent display of high pressure football, the Roos kept the Tigers at bay all day limiting the visitors to two goals each term, while scoring freely themselves, at least in the first half.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers missed last minute withdrawals Luke Martin and Liam Barry who pulled out with soreness. They had good players in Matt Elliott, Zacary Noonan and Stephen Lyons, but were simply no match for the Roos.
David Piasente was a welcome return for Walpeup Underbool. His skill, ability to be in the right position and precise use of the ball make Piasente a dangerous threat running into attack or resting up forward. When he is teamed with Matt Palmer, and Sam McDonald, he becomes a match winner.
In his 150th game, Chris Lynch was great in defence for the Roos. Jarrod Arentz has been in very good form and was a twelve goal star two weeks ago against the Lakers; this week Lynch held him to just one goal.
Both teams started the game well, moving the ball effectively out of the respective backlines with Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers able to goal through some good running off half back from Stephen Lyons. Walpeup Underbool bounced back to run the quarter out well, already Piasente looking dangerous booting three goals for the quarter. Chris Chubb was on top across the Roo half back line.
The Roos kept running hard to kick clear of the Tigers in the second term. Matt Palmer was giving them plenty of opportunity in the centre bounces and Ross Stone was playing well, spoiling and running hard out of the backline. The Roos were linking well, pushing forward and more to the point hurting the Tigers on the scoreboard.
After half time the game changed into a real arm wrestle. Both teams were working hard, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers trying to bridge the gap and the Roos eager not to let them back into the game. The Tigers had tightened up on the Roos playing a man on man style aiming to stop their hard running.
The last term was more of the same as both teams battled the game out well. Walpeup Underbool played half of the last term with 17 players on the ground as injuries began to mount. Harris went off with what looked like a hamstring and Kyle Munro looked to have injured his knee.
The Tigers battled manfully all day but just could not keep up with Walpeup Underbool. James Summerhayes tried hard all day and stalwart Col Durie got a lot of the ball. Nathan Wight was another Tiger to do well and in defence John Guthrie played his usual four quarter game whereby he was tight, ran hard and combined well with others.
Last Modified on 01/07/2012 14:03
