by Jim Gordon
Jeparit Rainbow v Walpeup Underbool
In a game that was closer in general play than the final scores indicate, Walpeup Underbool kept themselves in the race for a top two finish on the MFL ladder with a hard fought 29 point win over Jeparit Rainbow. The Roos kicked to the scoring end in the first quarter and set up a match winning lead kicking six goals to one. This was to be the difference between the two sides by the end of the day.
The Roos were lead out by Matt Brown who was playing in his 300th senior game for the club. Brown has had an illustrious career with Walpeup Underbool. He combines a natural talent for the game with high marking skills and accurate kicking for goal in a long career punctuated by several premiership flags.
Jeparit Rainbow will rue their slow start to the game with a first quarter dominated by Wade Champion and David Piasente. The Lakers conceded the first four gaols of the game with Champion ending the day with three goals and Piasente back to his best giving the Roos consistent drive all day.
‘While I was disappointed with the loss,’ said Laker coach Luke Werner after the game, ‘I could not fault the team’s effort and desire to fight the game right out.
‘The side has improved compared to our previous games against the Roos this year that both resulted in ten goal losses,’ he added. ‘Walpeup Underbool's bigger bodied and more experienced midfielders were the difference.’
After looking shell-shocked early, Jeparit Rainbow worked hard to open their account and were finally rewarded through a good goal to Ben Marra. They were having difficulty when Walpeup Underbool ran the ball from defence, the Roos were prepared to spread out from the backline, helping them to find free men further up the ground. Kyle Munro was a lively forward for the Roos and proved to be a handful for the Laker backline.
The Lakers struggled in attack where Andrew Watson with three goals was their only dangerous forward. In the second term Jeparit Rainbow had the majority of the play, but simply didn't score enough goals to take advantage of the good work by Heath Clugston, Elliot Bath and Chris Meyer in the midfield.
The Lakers were working together to push the ball forward giving their forwards plenty of chances. They were able to capitalise on some Walpeup Underbool mistakes and found themselves well and truly back in the contest at half time. Heath Clugston’s ability to break clear and goal late in the term kept the Lakers within two kicks at half time. After a solid first term the Roos had found themselves being second to the ball and needed to lift against a desperate Lakers team.
In the third quarter the Jeparit Rainbow defence stood up well with Simon Clugston and Adam Schultz proving to be stumbling blocks across half back. The Lakers come out of the long break full of running and scored the first goal of the third term against the breeze. The backlines of both teams were working overtime and Ben Fisher was doing all that he could in an effort to try to lift his Roo team mates. The skill level of both teams was down in the cold and damp conditions as the ball was turned over regularly. Late goals to the Roos after a real arm wrestle in the third term saw their lead extend to over four goals.
In the final quarter both teams battled it out, but the Lakers just couldn’t get any closer. As they had done in the second and third terms, the Lakers scored the first goal of the final term. The Roos needed to respond and it was David Piasente who found that little bit extra just when his side needed it. Piasente was able to break out of packs and send the ball forward on several occasions.
The Walpeup Underbool backline lead by Travis Latta and Matt Brown defended well all day, especially in the final term when the Lakers were desperate to score. Elliot Bath in a strong performance for the Lakers was finding space and using the ball well.
In the end it was a hard fought win by the Roos over a desperate Jeparit Rainbow line up. The Roos will have to win all of their remaining games to give themselves second spot on the ladder and the double chance. They also have to rely on other sides losing.
Hopetoun v Woomelang Lascelles
With promises of more to come, the Woomelang Lascelles Cats had a great soul-stirring 87 point win over Hopetoun. The visitors were never headed and increased their lead at each change. Nyaburu Kelly was the star with a five goal performance coming back after injury and playing brilliant football.
Playing predominantly in the forward line, Kelly roamed far and wide up the ground displaying the skill and talent necessary to be where the ball is for most of the game.
It has been quite a while since the Cats have put a side to the sword. They haven’t played finals football since they were runners-up to Ouyen United in 2006. Woomelang Lascelles play United next week and with a place in the final four at stake, this is a grand final for both sides.
Chris McMahon was great through the middle and dominated the centre on a day when the Cats really had no passengers. Their back line held up really well, Kane Banham has finally got rid of some injury problems and is playing great football on the wing where he is able to show off his classy foot and hand skills. Mark Charleson dominated the ruck giving the Cat midfielders first use of the ball.
The Devils were simply no match for the Cats. Hopetoun’s problems were compounded by having virtually no interchange before half time due to injury. Cade Wellington was brave continuing to play whilst injured, but lost his effectiveness because of it. Deek Roberts has had a good year, Scott Heath battled hard and David Baulch is a consistent performer. Once against it was too few left to do too much.
The Devils battled hard after some promising form in recent weeks. The effects of a tough season maybe starting to come to the fore as they ran out of legs in this match up with a side that clearly has finals football in its sights after years in the wilderness.
Ouyen United v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers
In bitterly cold conditions and with the breeze blowing right across the ground, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers ran out easy winners by 93 points over Ouyen United at Blackburn Park. It took the visitors a while to shake off the home side, but when they broke their shackles, it was all one way traffic.
In the end the Tigers had winners all over the ground. Steve Lyons was in control down back, onballers Tom Summerhayes and Jason Collins regularly drove Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers into attack and they had a potent forward line with Cliff Ryan kicking four goals and Simon Weekley outstanding with ten. Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers were able to read the ball better than Ouyen United and no-one read the play better than Weekley.
When the conditions are as difficult as they were on Saturday, the better skilled side will adapt and this was certainly the case in this game. The Tiger forwards played, or tried to play in front, they held their marks and kicked with greater accuracy around the ground. Their superior ability to read the ball was evident in a third term dominated by Simon Weekley and Cliff Ryan who had finally got away from United full back Damien Cupido.
With United concentrating on limiting Ryan’s contribution - which Cupido did extremely well in the first half, Weekley was able to run free behind the pack and pick up any loose balls. With the ball coming in regularly once the Tigers got on top, Weekley scored goals himself and helped those around him to score resulting in Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers scoring ten for the quarter to United‘s one.
For Ouyen United, gun full forward Cupido spent most of the day at full back on the dangerous Cliff Ryan. It worked in the first half with Cupdio best on the ground to that stage. He stood toe to toe with Ryan, punched the ball with authority, marked anything loose and was agile at ground level. Cupido was one of few who could make use of the difficult conditions by continually driving his side into attack with long raking kicks from back half.
Wade Brady and Dan McEwan had a good battle in the ruck and around the ground. The Tigers would have expected to dominate the midfield with Tom Summerhayes, Col Durie and Darcy Ryan pitted against Bradley Summerhayes, Aron Morrish and Mitchell Taylor. Yet the United onballers more than matched it with the Tigers for most of the game, it was really only in the third term that the Tigers started to get on top in that department.
Most play took place on the outer wing such was the strength of the wind. In an effort to limit Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ creative run, United continually kicked the ball wide. This proved a good tactic early as they were able to keep within four goals of the Tigers at half time. Unfortunately for the Demons, they found the boundary line far too often by kicking the ball with so much height that it was being blown out on the full. It limited the Tigers’ forward run, but the Dees were not able to attack either.
In the first term twice Cupido kicked out to the attacking side finding Simon Jardine in plenty of space and he was able to run the ball right into the United forward 50m and two goals resulted, Ouyen United’s first of the day to Casey Stoetzer and the other to Jerry Wilson whose run and carry was the final link in the chain that got the ball to Stoetzer.
Ouyen United had some good contributors. Aron Morrish did well to limit Col Durie, certainly early in the game. Bradley Summerhayes played well on the ball in probably his best game for the year, Adam and Tim Weir look like they are worth persevering with as long term Demons.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers are cruising along nicely. The have a break next week and a couple of winnable games before they meet Beulah in the final round. We may get to see them play the Blues three more times this year. For United, their grand final is next week when they take on the Cats for a spot in the four.
Last Modified on 27/07/2013 20:33
