Boort v Wycheproof-Narraport
The Magpies and Demons had a fairly even first quarter with the Demons holding a 6-point lead at the first stop in play. In this term the ball was constantly rebounded from both backlines and scoring opportunities were scarce with Martin, McNicol and Jones taking full advantage of the rare opportunities for the visitors and at the other end it was Easton and Jackson who registered full points for the Magpies.
Term two followed a similar pattern to the first with nether side able to gain any great margin on their opposition. The Demons scoring was a looking similar to previous weeks with the points again starting to outweigh the goals, with 5 of their 7 scoring shots going either side of the big posts? Boort could only manage one goal one point for the quarter and trailed the Demons by 16-points at half time.
Wycheproof-Narraport was hoping to kick away from Boort in this third quarter but Boort’s defence was standing firm. Boort with Baker and Stewart in good form were holding the Magpies together and good support was coming from Lanyon and Garvy-Hawke, but they were still having trouble in the attacking area where they found scoring opportunities pretty rare and could only manage two goals for the term. Wyche-Narraport kicked 3-3 to give them a lead of 25-points with a quarter to go.
Trailing by 25-points at the start of the last quarter Boort’s chances of bridging the gap on the Demons would need a big reversal of form, from the three earlier quarters. With both sides again not able to break any scoring records between them, they would only register two goals for the term, between them, the Demons had the better of the scoring opportunities but once again they were inaccurate and added a further six points to their tally. At full time the visitors had gained the all-important four points by a margin of 30-points and keeps them in touch of that important double chance.
Final scores Wycheproof-Narraport 9-16=70 def Boort 6-4=40
Best for Wycheproof-Narraport: Boe Bish, Trevor Rumbold, Kieran Prestidge, Josh White, Corey Jones, Joel Turner and Ben Brennan.
Goals: Corey Jones 3, Kristian McNicol, Josh Martin 2, Kieran Prestidge and Tom Keane 1 each.
Best for Boort: Declan Stewart, Jack Baker, Jackson Garvy-Hawke, Jonathan Lanyon, Tim Rhook, and Jarrod Fitzpatrick.
Goals: Alistair Jackson 2, Rick Easton, Nathan Gooding, Jack Baker, Cam Hosking 1 each.
Charlton v Donald
The Navy Blues and Royal Blues both signalled their intent in the early part of the first quarter with many keenly contested contests, with players putting their bodies on the line for the cause as they went goal for gaol in a tight struggle. Charlton won the first quarter by 5-points but they were aware that the Royal Blues were not going to let the second placed Charlton get it their own way. Harrison, Funcke and Bell were the shinning lights for Donald and McLean, Laffin and Judd were the main contributors for the Navy Blues.
Charlton were able to sneak away from Donald when they kicked early goals in the quarter and shot out to a 23-point lead by mid-term, Donald answered with goals to Dunstan and Grant and reduced the Navy Blues lead back to 18-points at half way.
Scoring in the third term all most dried up, well, that was for goals kicked, with only two majors being scored, one to each side. Charlton kicked 1-7 and Donald 1-4.
With a lead of 21-points the game was still in the balance but the Royal Blues would need to give a big lift if they were going to cause an upset.
Charlton started the final quarter desperate to collect another four points and hold on to second spot on the ladder, but they were getting no favours from Donald, Ross Funcke and Trevor bell who had been good all day for the Royals kept pushing the ball forward only to see it be rebounded by the Charlton backline . Scoring for either side was not coming freely and as the clock counted down nether side had made any headway and when the final bell sounded the three quarter time margin that Charlton held would turn out to be their winning margin of 21-points.
Final Scores: Charlton 11-13=79 def Donald 8-10=58
Best for Charlton; J. McLean, D. Thiesz, M. Laffin, K. Sait, A. Judd and Angus McKenzie.
Goals C. Thiesz, Joe McGrath, R. Wellington 2, James McGrath, J. McLean, K.Clifford, M. Laffin and J. White 1 each.
Best for Donald; D. Harrison, H. Maatman, R. Funcke, T. Bell, D. Cameron, W. McAllister.
Goals; D. Harrison, N. Dunstan, B. Grant 2, J. Hogan and J. Burke 1 each.
St Arnaud v Birchip-Watchem
With a lot riding on this game for both sides, that have in recent weeks been trading places in fourth and fifth position on the NCFL ladder a win was a must. For the Bulls a win would mean an eight point lead over the Saints and a strong possibility of September action and for the Saints a win would promote them back into the four at the expense of the Bulls. The first quarter showed the determination of both side’s, who had both gone into the contest at near full strength, and all involved were aware of the importance of a win to their respective clubs and their finals chances. There was no easy kicks out in the middle as both sides were giving their all for the jumper and it was quite apparent at this early stage that there would be some pretty sore bodies at the end of the game. Both sides were able to kick three goals in the opening term with Birchip-Watchem having the upper-hand up until about half way through the quarter. St Arnaud kicking with the aid of a slight breeze kicked back late in the term and at siren time to end the first quarter the Saints would hold a 4-point lead.
The home side done most of the attacking in the second quarter and at the other end their backline was turning away any forward moves made by their opposition.
St Arnaud kicked 3-5 for the quarter and outscored the Bulls who could only bring up minor scores totalling 7 points, and at the main break the home side had extended their lead to 20-points.
Birchip-Watchem returned with a positive outlook in the third quarter and with goals to Foott and Messer the Bulls reduced the lead of the Saints back to eight points and that was where the scoring remained until just prior to siren time when Motlop kicked the Saints only goal for the quarter and at the last break held a 2-goal lead.
The Saints opened the scoring from the bounce when a long kick from the middle landed with Goghlan and he was able to convert to give the home side some breathing space. Foott goaled for the Bulls to reduce the lead of the Saints again, but this was quickly answered by the Saints forwards in Aaron Motlop and Jarrod James and the lead moved a bit too far out for the Bulls to pull it back as time was running out. Late goals to both sides just prior to the end of play didn’t alter the winning margin of the Saints which would be 21-points and with this win they would return to the top four of the North Central Football League. One of these two sides will make the final four but looking ahead the draw for both sides is not easy and they will meet side above them on the ladder in coming weeks, the Bulls chances made harder as they have two byes with seven rounds to go.
Final Scores St Arnaud 10-18=78 def Birchip-Watchem 7-15=57
Best for St Arnaud; N. Baldwin, S. Miles, Z. Sullivan, J. McNamee, L. Cunningham and L. Stewart.
Goals; N. Coghlan 3, S. Motlop2, J. Miles, J. McNamee, J. James, R. Wild, A. Motlop 1 each.
Best for the Bulls: Z. Holmes, C. Hallam, B. Hall, T. Carland, J. Noonan, A. Hutchins.
Goals: L. Foott 3, P. Messer 2, J. Tyler & T. Walder 1 each.
Next Week
Wycheproof-Narraport v St Arnaud (3 v 4)
Donald v Boort (6 v 7)
Wedderburn v Charlton (1 v 2)
Bye Birchip-Watchem
Last Modified on 08/07/2012 17:44