Wycheproof-Narraport v St Arnaud
St Arnaud travelled to Wycheproof to do battle with the second placed Demons and a win was the only result the Saints were looking for. A loss would close the book on season 2012, but to their credit they kept that chance of finals football alive with a 95-point win. The Saints set up their win with an eight goal to one first quarter and were never going to be headed from that point on. Coghlan finally found some form up forward kicking eight goals, and with Motlop dominating from the midfield the Saints were making every post a winner and by quarter time they had raced out to a 46-point lead.
The second quarter was all tied up with both sides kicking 3-2 for the term. Coatsworth and Bish tried everything in this quarter to lift the Demons but the Saints where determined to protect their lead and matched motors with the Demons at every contest. Organ was giving the Saints a second option up forward and finished the day with five goals. Going to the main break with their 46-point lead, the Saints confidence was up and the chance of playing finals was growing on the Saints faithful.
In the third quarter it was all St Arnaud as they carried on their first half form an posted another six goals and kept the Demons goalless in this term and by the end of the quarter an 81-point lead was their reward for a solid three quarters of football against a side who normally give a better shot than what they have to this point.
With 30-minutes of footy left, the Saints continued to do the hard work and shut down the Demons scoring opportunities, restricting them to one last quarter goal, this being the only goal the Demons had kicked in the last half. Motlop continued to show his class, McNamee was leading from the front and the rest of the Saints were doing their bit to build on their percentage that will come heavily into play, should the Saints record a win over Donald next week.
Final scores: St Arnaud 20-14= 134 def Wycheproof-Narraport 5-9= 39
Best for the Saints: S. Motlop, N. Baldwin, J. McNamee, N. Coghlan, B. Organ and L. Stewart. Goals: N. Coghlan 8, B. Organ 5, J. McNamee 3, J. Miles, R. Wild, A. McIntyre, B. Batters.
Best for the Demons: J. Coatsworth, B. Bish, B. Brennan, C. Jones, Josh White and P. Lulham. Goals: J. Coatsworth 2, Boe Bish, K. Prestidge, M. Dillon 1 each.
Wedderburn v Charlton
Wedderburn signalled their intentions early to the visiting Navy Blues when they posted six first quarter goals and holding the Navy’s to just the one major. Herdman also gave notice that he would be causing some havoc to the visitors with two early goals. The Redbacks were solid all over the ground with Taylor and Gash doing plenty of the hard work in the midfield, Herdman controlling the forward line. Charlton were under plenty of pressure down back with Wright being one of their only backmen to hold his head high, at quarter time the home side held a 31-point lead.
Charlton staged a mini fight back in the second term with Judd, Mulquiny and James McGrath posting goals. Wedderburn regrouped and by the end of the quarter had extended their lead out to 44-points with Herdman adding to more goals to his tally.
In the third quarter, Charlton who could see their finals chances slipping away with the news that the Saints were well ahead of the Demons, rallied and produced their best quarter of football for the day, outscoring the Redbacks and reducing their lead back to 40-points at the end of the term. Clifford, who was moved forward, answered the call and kicked three goals for the quarter with McKee and Joe McGrath their other goal kickers. Barnes kept his tally rolling along kicking two of his five goals for the day in this term to give the Redbacks a forty point lead at the last change.
Wedderburn continued on their merry way to posting their fourteenth win for the year while Charlton was wondering if they were going to need their gear again this year as the news from Wyche was not getting any better. Charlton were held scoreless in the last quarter as the Redbacks kicked a further five goals with Herdman adding three more goals to bring his day’s tally to eight, in a best on ground performance. Wedderburn had many good players in their 71-point win and with only one round of home and away remaining look in good form heading into the finals. Charlton must now rely on Donald causing an upset against St Arnaud, which is not beyond the Royal Blues, if the Navy Blues are going to venture into the September action.
Final Scores Wedderburn 20-10 = 130 def Charlton 9-5=59
Best for Wedderburn; B. Herdman, C. Taylor, D. Gash, J. Hayes, S. Barnes and B. Strange. Goals: Herdman 8. Barnes 5, Benaim, Holt 2, Taylor, McKay and Tonkin 1 each.
Best for Charlton: D. Wright, J. McLean, K.Sait, L. Mulquiny, K. Clifford and L. Kyriakidies. Goals: Clifford 3, Wright, Mulquiny, McKee, Joe & James McGrath and A. Judd 1 each.
Donald v Boort
Boort opened the scoring with Easton posting the Magpies first goal, Donald’s James Burke responded for the home side with two goals, before Boort finished the quarter off with two goals to take a five point lead to the first break.
Donald were now kicking with the aid of the breeze and added four goals in this term and held Boort to just the one goal. This was not a pretty match for supporters of both clubs to witness, the game at times was very scrappy and not a good spectacle with scoring opportunities not hitting any great heights. Donald were able to take a 15-point lead to the main break, a bit less that they were hoping for.
After the main break the Donald backline turned away many forward moves made by the Magpies and held them to just the one goal for the term while posting three majors into the wind. At the last break the home side would lead their opposition by 27-points heading into the last 30 minutes of the game.
It was all the Royal Blues in the last quarter as they added five goals to Boort’s one goal. James Burke was having a good day up forward and after adding a further three goals in this term his day’s tally had reached 9- goals to be best on the ground. For both Donald and Boort they now only have 1 game remaining for season 2012 in a season both clubs would wish to put behind them and look forward to 2013.
Final Scores Donald 14-12=96 def Boort 6-6=42
Best for Donald: J. Burke, B. Jennings, R. Harberger, T. Bell, W. McAllister and D. Pearce. Goals: J. Burke 9, Bell, Dunstan, Guthrie, Hogan and Jennings 1 each.
Best for Boort: N. Gooding, J. Baker, K. Wilson, D. Johnston , R. Easton and M. Kane. Goals: R. Easton 2, Jarrod Fitzpatrick, M. Kane, M. Rice and D. Stewart 1 each.
Next Week’s Matches
Birchip-Watchem v Wycheproof-Narraport (This match will decide second spot)
Donald v St Arnaud
Boort v Wedderburn
Charlton Bye
Last Modified on 19/08/2012 12:51