by Jim Gordon
HOPETOUN V BEULAH
Beulah continued its unbeaten run to six games with a sound 114 point thrashing of Hopetoun. The Devils were competitive early and even lead at quarter time, but after the main break, the Blues piled on 15 goals whilst holding Hopetoun to two.
Micah Buchanan continued his brilliant start to the season with another best on ground performance. Buchanan gathers a lot of the ball by making good position, he never stops running and is teaming well with Dale Shannon and Scott Smith.
Dennis Redden is another Blue who is having a good year. Redden kicked five goals against the Devils and dominated at centre half forward. Beulah were helped by Tom Hallam who chipped in with four goals and the lively Callum Buchanan also kicked four.
Hopetoun are just not competitive enough for the whole four quarters of a game. Their first term was enough to indicate that they have the ability to match it with the opposition, but just when you think they are going to have a good day, they go back into their shell for long periods of play.
The reliable Luke Carr was once again Hopetoun’s best, while Zac Robins has found form on the wing and Pat Purcell played a good, solid game. Kyle George is getting better with every game, but things go downhill from there for the Devils, giving their supporters little to cheer about at the moment.
Beulah are going along nicely and after the break they have the bye before fronting up to Jeparit Rainbow. With Inter League next week, the Blues will need to be tough on the training track to maintain momentum.
OUYEN UNITED V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
Walpeup Underbool won the inaugural Tony Cua Cup with a resounding 45 point win over Ouyen United at Blackburn Park. The Roos were on top of their game against the Demons after an even first quarter. They had far too much firepower for a flat United side that started briskly with the first three goals of the day, but from then on rarely looked dangerous as they continued to play from behind, they were outpaced and outmarked and ultimately could not match the skills of their opponents.
It all started in the middle of the ground where Joshua Charles had things pretty much his own way all day. His dominance in the ruck meant that players such as Ben Fisher had an armchair ride as the Roo midfield tore the Demons apart. Fisher was brilliant, moving up and down the ground with little pressure on him, his kicking is long and accurate and he can take a good mark - something his Demon counterparts could not do on the day.
Walpeup Underbool had players all over the ground willing to work together for the benefit of the team. It was most evident in the Roo’s backline in the first term when, with the Dees on top in the first part of the quarter, the Walpeup Underbool defence tightened up, their tackling was fierce and on the first opportunity it was inevitably a Roo defender who would swoop on a loose ball and repel the attack. This fierce desire to tackle and hunt in packs is something that has been missing in the Walpeup Underbool game for the past three weeks.
Up forward Walpeup Underbool had a dominant centre half forward in David Piasente. Todd Barker started on Piasente and they had some good battles, but the Roo forward got on top and provided a direct avenue to goal for his side ending up with eight goals. Barker nevertheless turned out to be one of United’s best on the day with his strong marking and bullocking, opening up play for this lighter flankers.
Chris Chubb was in very good form, often providing rebound from the Walpeup Underbool half back line, but he also gained kicks across the centre and even up forward. Kyle Munro was dangerous with his strong marking and accurate kicking for goal ending up with three for the day. Walpeup Underbool had several options going forward, whereas the Demons lacked penetration in their forward line. Kane Munro also had an influence on the game with his sure hands, cool head and accurate kicking around the ground.
United were well served by the brilliant Damien Cupido who finished with nine goals. At times Cupido gained kicks from accurate passing by his midfield or half forwards, but often he was left to battle two or even three Roos and kicked a number of goals across his body from awkward angles whilst on the run. With the Roos on top at centre half forward, Cupido was Demons only reliable avenue to goal.
Ouyen United were predictable going forward, not surprisingly always looking for Damien Cupido. However, this allowed the Walpeup Underbool backs to leave their opponents to assist in trying to spoil the dangerous forward. Whilst Cupido is a standout player, the Demons may need a find a few more goal scorers.
Utilising his blistering pace, Jerry Wilson looked like he would dominate his wing with a withering first quarter. It was through Wilson that United looked most dangerous and when he went out of the game in the second term, the Demon’s options dried up.
Coach Peter Caldow was a terrier early covering a lot of ground and doing the hard work in and under the packs. Ouyen United’s second goal of the day was the result of good play from Caldow and Mitchell Taylor in the middle before Wilson was on the end of a pass from Taylor, he took off and kicked accurately from a long way out on the flank.
With first use of the breeze, the Roos were slow out of the blocks, but after they settled into the game, they looked far too accomplished for Ouyen United and gradually increased their lead in the final three terms. It was a good win for the Roos and one that they needed as they would have found it tough if they had lost leaving them two and four, but three and three keeps them ominously in touch with the top teams.
SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers came out on top in this battle of the near neighbours with a dominant first three quarters in which they kept Woomelang Lascelles to four goals whilst scoring 13 themselves. The Cats had a much better final term outscoring the Tigers, but it was all over by then with Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers eventually running out winners by 33 points.
The Tigers were not taking this game lightly with a lot of talk going into the game about Woomelang Lascelles and their solid recruiting. However, the well drilled Tigers were having none of it and even with some key personnel still missing, managed to bang on nine goals to two in the first half to put the game out of the Cat’s reach very early in proceedings.
Woomelang Lascelle’s lack of pressure in the first half was telling, they were being carved up by loose Tigers running out the back of contests.
With injuries to Wes Harrison and Wes Sewell, rotations were limited for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the second half and although the Cats came back at them in the final quarter, the Tigers controlled play most of the day.
The Cats did a good job to try and bottle the game up on the large Sea Lake ground. However, when the ball did get out into space, it was the leg speed of the Tigers that enabled them to be first to the ball and provide many more opportunities for the their forwards. Cliff Ryan and Jason Collins made the most of their opportunities and kicked five goals each. Their strongly contested overhead marking was a feature of the game.
Jackson Quirk was one Cat to stand up against the Tigers. He was sensational across half back until he got knocked out late in the last quarter. Corey Kelly and Chris McMahon will be better value for Woomelang Lascelles with a game under their belt.
Stephen Lyons had a day out and did what he liked in defence marking everything that came his way all day. Tom Summerhayes was once again named the best for the Tigers with his run across half back and through the middle. Joey Summerhayes took the points in his stopping role deep in the backline and Matt Elliott was again at his creative best.
Inter League coach and Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers captain Colin Durie worked tirelessly for his team and Lance Brown also came under constant notice in a win that keeps the Tigers in the top two on the MFL ladder.
Last Modified on 19/05/2013 13:48
