by Jim Gordon
Hopetoun v Jeparit Rainbow
There was a lot to celebrate in Hopetoun’s come-from-behind victory over Jeparit Rainbow at Hopetoun. The Devils’ first win for the season was highlighted by a seven goal haul from the talented and tough midfield forward Deek Roberts. For the Lakers, it was another disappointment. They went down to their great rivals in a game they were expected to win and it follows on from a one point loss to the Demons the week before.
For most of the game the Lakers seemed to have the measure of the Devils. Jeparit Rainbow midfielders Heath Clugston, Chris Meyer, Ben Marra and Elliott Bath did a lot of good work and Joel Schulz was valiant in the ruck and around the ground. Unfortunately for the Lakers, they were never able to gain more than a couple of goals on Hopetoun. This proved to be not enough of a break when the influence of their best players faded somewhat in the final term allowing the Devils to take over and kick four goals whilst holding the Lakers goalless.
This was another great game from Meyer who is consistently amongst Jeparit Rainbow’s best each week. The midfielder worked tirelessly and even went forward to score a valuable goal. Simon Clugston had a great duel with key Devil playmaker Luke Carr, both players named in their sides’ best.
Already depleted through injury, when a melee late in the second quarter lead to a couple of yellow cards, Jeparit Rainbow had to battle to hold their lead rather than being able to extend it. The Lakers were showing signs of getting on top of the Devils before the distraction and two late goals meant that Hopetoun was able to snatch the lead at half time. Ryan Bulluss and Nathan Millard were yellow carded for the Lakers and Hopetoun’s Tom Pridgeon received a yellow card and was reported. It looked like there could have been a Laker player also reported.
Nevertheless Jeparit Rainbow regrouped at half time and went on to play a good third quarter and take a 15 point lead into the ¾ time break. Heath Clugston was everywhere, Schulz was doing well in the ruck and Meyer was on top.
Lead by Roberts and Carr, Hopetoun came home strongly to overcome a rapidly tiring Jeparit Rainbow reduced to a limited bench off the field and poor decision making on the field.
In the tense final term, Carr managed to put Hopetoun in front half way through the quarter. From then on the game turned into a real slog with both sides not prepared to surrender without a fight. A late gaol sealed the win for Hopetoun.
The Laker injury curse continued. The number of injuries during the game severely restricted Jeparit Rainbow’s options. Simon Clugston and Adam Schumann returned to the team, but they started without Adam Schultz, Greg McLeish, and Josh Murphy. In the first few minutes of the game the Lakers lost Josh McCleary and Brett Fisher to injury and played most the game two players short. Having that extra man sent off for 20 minutes meant remaining players were put under extra pressure and the Lakers just ran out of legs.
Hopetoun lost Bryce Wellington in the first quarter, but the big man managed to return in the final quarter.
Joel Schulze was admirable for the Lakers. He had to ruck for the entire game without anyone to give him a rest due to McCleary’s injury and McLeish not playing.
Ben Zanker kicked five goals in the reserves and was going to sit on the bench for the seniors only playing in bursts, but he ended up on the ground for most of the game kicking four goals. Zanker had the distinction of kicking the most number of goals for his side in both the seniors and reserves! Not often a player plays two games and kicks the most gaols in both teams.
This win will be great boost for the Devils in what has been a dreadful season for them up until now. They face ladder leaders Beulah next week and will take with them a sense of achievement even if they should not expect to come away with the points. For the unlucky Lakers, the bye next week could not come at a better time.
Ouyen United v Beulah
Beulah maintained their firm grip on top of the MFL ladder with an emphatic win at Blackburn Park over Ouyen United. The Blue’s twelve goal victory was an indication of the gap between the top teams in the MFL and whatever side manages to cling on to fourth spot. If this game is anything to go by, it will be a short fling at finals football for the fourth placed side given the quality of the top side and the rest of the league.
Beulah had a potent forward line, a dominant ruckman in Steph Saunders and a spread of stronger bodied, talented players all over the ground. Ryan McKenzie will be a great acquisition to an already start-studded line up; he finished with five goals against United and looked capable of more. Andrew Hughes was not far behind with another five and United’s Tim Weir did a good job to limit David King to just the three goals.
The Blues jumped United early kicking with the breeze and if it wasn’t for a last minute flurry of goals from the Dees, the game could have been over by quarter time. As it was, Beulah took a four goal lead into the first break and extended it to over seven by half time.
Ouyen United tried hard all day, but never got close enough to really trouble the Blues. Beulah’s seven goal final term haul sealed the deal. United looked undersized and undermanned against their opposition. Their defence tries hard and never gives up, but they lacked the height and the strength to stay with their opponents.
The Blues play on at all costs even when the receiver is put under pressure. Their handball, their talented midfield run and with a potent forward half, it will take a mighty effort from now on for any of the other MFL sides to get close to them.
Ouyen United look rudderless without Laurence Angwin in the ruck, they are missing the run and carry of Peter Caldow and to add to their woes, Damien Cupdio went off with an ankle injury and will be a doubtful starter next week.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Walpeup Underbool
After going down to ladder leaders Beulah last week, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers bounced back with a meritorious 29 point win over Walpeup Underbool at Sea Lake. The win puts the Tigers firmly into second place on the MFL ladder and makes it hard for the Roos to defend their 2012 premiership flag without the second chance.
The first half of this game was played in dry conditions with a strong breeze to one end. When the rain came down at half time, the wind died down. Both sides found the slippery ball difficult, but it was the Tigers who adapted better to the changed conditions and went on to a very good win.
In the end, it was Cliff Ryan’s three goal haul in the third term that opened up the game after the Roos lead by eleven points at half time. With Luke Martin moved into the ruck and getting on top, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers had winners in Jason Collins and Col Durie and enough of the ball to kick a winning score.
The Tigers won the toss and kicked with the strong breeze. They immediately set the tone by booting the ball long into their forwards whenever they got the opportunity. This put pressure on to the Walpeup Underbool defence who held up well early.
The Roos’ best player on the day Travis Latta had the hard task of hold Simon Weekley. Through Latta’s good work, the Roos were able to hold the Tigers out and go forward themselves, even scoring into the wind and against the flow of play. This put the pressure back onto the Tigers who managed to meet the challenge and counterpunched with goals of their own.
Bill Barry started well early for the Tigers looking dangerous across half forward. For the Roos, Ben Fisher looked to be continuing on with his good recent form and was prominent early.
When Walpeup Underbool had their turn with the wind in the second quarter, they had to work hard to push the ball into their scoring zone. Turnovers started to hurt the Roos and the Tiger half backs were defending well. Walpeup Underbool continued to run the ball through the midfield and started to find their targets in the forward line. Wade Champion marked well and ended the day with two goals and Kane Munro was playing well. David Piasente put the Roos into the lead after some good work from Chris Chubb and Ben Fisher. However, it was a backline led by Travis Latta that got the Roos back on top as the Tigers struggled into the breeze. Tom Summerhayes kicked a late opportunist’s goal for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers against the flow of play as the rain set in at half time.
The breeze had stopped in time for the third term and with a wet start, the complexion of the game changed. The Tigers were playing the smarter wet weather football in the slippery conditions. As the term progressed, the Tigers increased their run, Cliff Ryan was able to take control on the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ forward line and kicked three goals.
The further the game went, the more the Tigers appeared able to find free team mates. Luke Martin was on top in the ruck. The Walpeup Underbool back line battled on, but the Roos fell down at half forward.
Sea Lake Nandaly was able to find that little bit extra when the game was up for grabs.
Last Modified on 07/07/2013 14:11
