Donald v Boort
The battle of the bottom teams turned out to be a very close contest all day with the lead changing regularly. Donald looked to settle into the game better than the Magpies and was getting plenty of drive through Tom Bell and Blake Grant, with their good work being rewarded on the score board. Boort got their game together nearing the end of the first quarter and brought the lead of Donald back to 7-points at the first change.
Boort’s form continued on from where they finished the first quarter and they were able to take some advantage of the breeze. In this term they were able to kick three goals and restrict the home side to just the one goal. Matt Rice was giving Boort a focal point at full forward and he was combining well with Jarrod Fitzpatrick with their good work rewarded the Magpies with a nine point lead at the half way mark. Maatman and Jennings were among the best for the Royals, Maatman was dominating the ruck contests and Jennings and Bell were taking advantage of his work but the home side could not break through the solid defence of the Magpies.
After the break it was Boort who were first into attack with Tim Rhook bringing up the first goal for the Magpies, Jacob Fitzpatrick followed suit with another before Dunstan was able to reply for Donald. Both sides continued to send the ball deep into their attacking zones and at the three quarter time break it could have all been locked up, but Donald’s inaccurate kicking letting them down, presenting the Magpies with an 11-point lead with one term to go.
Both sides believing that they could get a rare win, both sides coaches calling on all players to give everything in the last quarter. Donald’s Kalon Green reduce the Magpies lead to under a goal, then Guthrie put the home side in front for the first time since quarter time. With time running out for both sides Boort raised one last charge and were rewarded when Rice kicked his third goal and the magpies were five points up. The Royal Blues were not going to let this game slip and a couple of gettable shots went astray, from the kick out Grant roved the pack and slotted through what would turn out to be a match winning goal and at full time Donald had scrapped in by three points.
Scores Donald 10.8=68 def Boort 10.5=65
Donald best players, T. Bell, W. McAllister, B. Grant, B. Jennings, Rik Maatman, Brody Haddow.
Goals: B. Grant 4, N. Dunstan 2, R. Funcke, K. Green, E. Guthrie, B. Jennings.
Boort’s Best; J. Baker, J. Garvy Hawke, R. Easton, C. Hosking, K. Wilson, Jarrod Fitzpatrick.
Goals: M. Rice 3, Jarrod Fitzpatrick 2, J. Cooper, Jacob Fitzpatrick, J. Hodoras, L. Newell, T. Rhook.
Wycheproof-Narrapport v St Arnaud
The Demons went into this game with a couple of important inclusions, those being Coach James Coatsworth and Matt Dillon. With their line-up looking much better than in the past few weeks the Demons signalled their intentions to the Saints very early in the opening term where they were able to kick 6 first quarter goals and take a 12-point lead to the first change.
Scoring in the second quarter for both sides was hard to come by as the game got fairly scrappy and was not being helped by a swirling wind. Both sides were off target when the scoring opportunities come, Wyche-Narraport were the better of the two sides and were lucky enough to slot through 2-4 for the term and hold the Saints to just 5-points and take a 23 point lead to the main break.
In the third term the Demons were about getting a winning break over the Saints and they were able to again outscore the visitors when they added 4-3 to the saints 3-4, both having the same amount of scoring shots in the quarter. Wycheproof-Narraport seemed to have the measure of the Saints and looked the better side, Boe Bish was the Demons best and he was receiving good support from James Coatsworth and Kieran Prestidge, while in front of goals George Turner was capping off their good work. Torin Petrie who is having a good season again was holding the Saints backline together was the saints best to this point, but his effort was not enough to reduce the Demons lead at the last break in play, the Demons lead being 28-points with a quarter to go.
It took three quarters for the Saints to get their game together as they set about reducing the Demons hold on the game. Early goals lifted the improving Saints and appeared to stun the Demons who could not hold the Saints who had certainly gone up a gear. Miles and McNamee were the main instigators in getting the Saints going. Wyche-Narraport managed to steady the ship midterm with a couple of goals, but the Saints were not done with yet and they moved the ball into their forward lines on many occasions putting plenty of pressure on the Demons backline. Kicking 5-5 for the term was their best quarter but the short lapse midterm allowing the Demons to regroup turned out to be costly as those goals the home side was able to kick would be enough to get them a 10-point win.
Scores Wycheproof-Narraport 14-15=99 def St Arnaud 12-17= 89
Best for the Demons: Boe Bish, G. Turner, K. Prestidge, S. Allan, T. Rumbold, Jordie Bish.
Goals: G. Turner 4, J. Dixon, J. Martin, James Coatsworth 2, M. Dillon, K. Prestidge, C. Jones, B. Brennan 1 each.
Best for the Saints: T. Petrie, J. McNamee, B. Organ, K. Torney, S. Miles, D. James.
Goals: N. Coghlan, B. Organ 3, J. McNamee 2, B. Batters, A. Motlop, S. Motlop, S. Miles 1 each.
Wedderburn v Charlton
The clash between the top two sides at Donaldson Park was a real arm wrestle in the finish where Wedderburn looked as if they would run out comfortable winners, but the Navy Blues had different ideas.
In the opening few minutes of the game the game was fairly scrappy as both sides tested each other’s commitment, Charlton was able to capitalise on a loose ball and a stray kick landed with Joe McLean who snapped the first goal of the day. Wedderburn were able to answer with a nice goal from McKay. Postle was handed a goal by the way of a fifty penalty which landed him in the 10-yard square. Williams kicked the Navy’s next and again McKay answered for the Redbacks. Barnes then added two goals for the home side just on siren time and the Redbacks were 20-points up at the first change.
Charlton showed that they would not be any push over as they set out to reduce the home sides lead, James McGrath kicked two of his side’s four goals in the quarter, and Barnes matched him for the Redbacks. There was plenty of commitment from both sides with many stoppages which kept the umpires busy. This quarter was fairly physical and there was no backing away from either side. Wedderburn lost Benaim in this term suffering an injury to his knee which would see him remain off for the remainder of the game. At the long break the Redbacks held a three goal lead over their Navy Blue opponents with the stage set for a bid second half.
Wedderburn returned from the break setting their minds to attempt to blow the game open and they were able to half their half time lead out to about 40-points by half way into the term. Charlton were able to regroup and do plenty of attacking, with a fair percentage of their shots only registering points. Late in the quarter they were able to add a further three goals through James and Joe McGrath to bring the lead of the home side back to 28-points at siren time.
Charlton had many chances in the last quarter to pinch this game off Wedderburn and when they got the margin back to 15-points midterm we had a game on. Barnes was infringed in-front of goal and made no mistake, bringing up his sixth goal for the day this giving the homes side a bit of breathing space. Charlton were not done with yet and with a late rally added a couple of goals, kicked by Williams and McGrath and the lead of the Redbacks was back to 13-points. With the clock and the rain being the Navy Blues biggest enemies, time eventually ran out for the visitors and the Redbacks had held on for a hard fought win over a side that when at full strength will be a genuine flag contender.
Best for Wedderburn: H. Polglase, B. Strange, R. Tonkin, B. Herdman, S. Barnes, J. Hayes.
Goals: S. Barnes 6, B. Herdman 3, J. McKay 2, A. Postle, B. DeAraugo, R. Tonkin 1 each.
Best for Charlton: L. Mulquiny, J. McLean, James McGrath, A. Judd, R. Wellington, M. Laffin.
Goals: James McGrath 5, N. Williams 3, J. McLean, K. Clifford, L. Kyriakidies, Joe McGrath 1 each.
Next Week
Birchip-Watchem v Wycheproof-Narraport
St Arnaud v Donald
Boort v Wedderburn
Charlton has bye.
Last Modified on 16/07/2012 10:12