Birchip-Watchem v Charlton
Charlton who are the new pacesetters in the North Central had little trouble getting the points over Birchip-Watchem. The Navy Blues kicked out to a handy lead in the opening term kicking 5-2 and holding the Bulls to 1-3, this would remain their score for the next three quarters. Charlton’s pace all around the ground stunned and frustrated the Bulls who were not able to match their more pacey opposition and went to the first break 23-points in arrears.
Charlton increased their lead in the second quarter, while the Bulls failed to worry the scorers not adding to their first term score and at half time trailed by 46-points, double the lead the Navy Blues held at the first break. Kyriakides, Judd and McGrath were causing the Bulls backmen plenty of havoc, this coupled with some Bulls players being yellow carded, and this didn’t help the home side restrain their opposition, which contributed to the comfortable lead the Navies held at half time.
Hoping for a change of fortunes in the second half the Bulls were once again on the receiving end with Charlton dominating the game and continuing to build on their lead. Once again the Bulls failed to score in this quarter and this was frustrating the Bulls players and supporters, Charlton kicked 4-5 for the term to extend their lead out to 65 points with a quarter to go. Charlton had a fair sprinkle of winners in most positions and were travelling comfortably while the Bulls have few good players, with Jake Noonan, Angus Grigg and Jacob Christie being their main contributors.
In the final quarter Charlton cut lose and really played the game right out even with the large lead they held at the final break. In this quarter it was just a matter of how they would finish off the game, they done it in fine style as they proceeded to kick their highest quarter score for a long time with 9-2 being added to their score. The Bulls finally broke the drought when they scored their first major since the first term, but they were on the receiving end of a fair hiding with the Navy Blues kicking out to a 123-point win at the final bell. Charlton look to be the real deal while the Bulls remain winless and have a fair bit of work in front of them before they look like registering a win.
Final score: Charlton 21-14=140 def Birchip-Watchem 2-5=17
Best for Charlton: B. Walklate, L. Kyriakides, T. Finlay, A. McKenzie, K. Sait, M. Winsall. Goals: J. McGrath 5, A. Judd 4, L. Kyriakides 3, T. Finlay, J. McKee 2, 1 Each to B. Walklate, T. Collins, L. Mulquiny, A. McKenzie, D. Thiesz.
Best for Birchip-Watchem: J. Noonan, A. Grigg, J. Christie, C. Postlewaite, T. Gilla, J. Hogan. Goals: S. Anderson, H. Christie 1 each.
Wycheproof-Narraport v Wedderburn
Wycheproof-Narraport gained a valuable four points with their 29-point win over the Redbacks. In what would turn out to be a very even first term the Demons went to the first change holding a 1-point advantage. The opening term was a tight battle which was quickly developing into a scrappy affair where Wedderburn were unable to take advantage of a slight breeze favouring the town end. The Demons backline was standing tall and with the assistance of Jones who continually took marks and turned back the Redbacks forward moves.
In the second quarter the teams remained locked in the contest until mid-term when the Demons broke through with three quick goals from Jones and Lourey (2) to kick out to a good break, Wedderburn responded through Tonkin and Barnes to keep them in touch, but the Demons found ways to break the lines and kicked two goals late in the term to take a handy 30-point lead to half time.
Wedderburn needed to bridge the gap rather quickly in this term to pull back the Demons lead but found scoring a hard task. Jones and Coatsworth were very solid for the home side and were not giving the Redbacks any favours as they swooped on and mistakes made by the Redbacks forwards. Goals to the visitors were scored by Rose, Barnes & Gash but they had not done enough to set up a winning chance and went to the final break trailing by 18-point and Wycheproof-Narraport kicking with a strong wind in the final term.
The Demons were the first to register a major in the last term to extend their lead, before Wedderburn mounted a charge to salvage the game and reduced the margin back to 9-points on two occasions before the Demons were able to kick goals late in the term to Coatsworth, Dickson and White to seal the game by 29 points. The Demons win keeps them well entrenched in the top four while the Redbacks despite them winning only the one game see them sitting only one game out of the four but they will need to regain some of their 2012 form to see them lift back into finals contention.
Wycheproof-Narraport 15-14=104 def Wedderburn 11-9=75
Best for the Demons: K. McNicol, S. Allan, T. Rumbold, D. Lourey, K. Prestidge, Jake White. Goals: C. Jones, D. Lourey 3, J. Coatsworth, R. Allan 2, Brock Bish, Josh White, K. Prestidge, C. Dillon, M. Dillon 1 each.
Best for Wedderburn: J. DeAraugo, D. Benaim, C. Perry, B. strange, J. Cavallaro, D. Gash. Goals: S. Barnes, B. Herdman 3, L. McCarthy, B. Rose, D. Benaim, D. Gash, J. McKay 1 each.
Boort v Donald
Boort with some key players returning got off to a good start against Donald, Coach Rick Easton led the way for the Magpies and this resulted in them holding a 1 goal advantage at the first break in play. Donald also had key players return from injury to strengthen their chance of collecting the points.
In the second term Donald gained a slight advantage over the home side with Blake Grant who was returning from injury adding some much needed goal kicking strength to their forward line, this resulting in the Royals turning a three point deficit into a three point lead at half way.
After the break Boort dominated the play kicking seven goals to two by the Royal Blues. Easton was accurate in front of goal and providing a much needed focal point up front. Chalmers who started on the bench took full advantage of his chance on the park when he chimed in with three timely goals. Heading to the three quarter time break the Magpies had gone out to a 25-point lead with only a quarter of football to go. To this point it was only the Magpies more direct avenue to goal that was enabling to score more freely than the Donald side, this was what needed to happen for the Royals, if they were going to take out this game as they had the use a slight breeze in the last term.
A good start to the scoring was required by Donald and they got the perfect start when Blake Grant kicked truly to bring the margin back under 20 points.
Anderson and Ades kicked goals to further reduce the Magpies lead before they were able to get the ball to Cameron who made no mistake. Boort again got on the board again with Henningson bringing up both flags. Time was running for the visitors who had been competitive all day and it was just some costly turnovers which cost them dearly which Boort took full advantage of.
With time almost gone Easton brought up his sixth goal of the day to extend Boort’s winning margin out to 17- points at full time.
Boort 14-7=91 def Donald 11-8=74
Best for Boort: M. Rice, J. Lanyon, P. Manser, M. Hodoras, R. Easton, B. Quinn.
Goals: R. Easton 6, C. Chalmers 3, D. Cameron 2, J.Kane, T. Van Derzande, M. Henningson 1 each.
Best for Donald: L. Anderson, R. Funcke, A. Baird, D. Pearce, B. Grant, T. Bell.
Goals: B. Grant 5, L. Anderson 3, Darcy Harrison, J.Burke, D. Ades 1 each.
Next Week’s Matches
Wedderburn v Boort
Donald v Birchip-Watchem
Charlton v St Arnaud
Wycheproof-Narraport Bye
Last Modified on 12/05/2013 16:34