Donald v Boort
An undermanned Donald proved no match for the Boort Magpies and Boort set the scene early kicking early goals before the Royals kicked what would be their only goal for the first three quarters.
Boort’s line up was far different from their side which was named on Thursday night and for the first time for the year they got their game together from the opening bounce. Cameron and Manser were the focal points for the magpies and they did not let them down contributing towards the team’s lead of 15-points at the first change.
In the second term the Magpies opened up and added a further six goals but only for their bad kicking this could have been game over at half time. Donald who were having trouble getting the ball into their attacking zone could only manage to add a further two points to their score for the quarter and at the long break new the game was almost out of reach as they trailed by 54-points.
The third term didn’t offer any relief for the Donald side as the Magpies continued their march towards victory when they kicked a further five goals, while the Royals failed for the second term in a row to kick a major score and going to the last break in play seeing them trail by eighty five points which left only the last term for them to recover some pride. Boort who had really teamed well deserved to go into the last term full of confidence and looking to build on what was already a big lead.
What was said to the Donald players at the three quarter time break certainly had a huge effect on the players as they did redeem themselves a bit when they were able to outscore the Magpies in the last quarter. All credit must go to Boort in recording their first win, as some of the Boort faithful were starting to doubt the future prospects of their team. Boort who went into the game short of some of their recruits for this game will now look to the future with renewed confidence when they return in a couple of weeks. For Donald it is back to basics as they attempt to re build their team and regain some confidence for what is predicted to be a season which may not reap them many premiership points. The Royals will now focus on their match against old rivals in Birchip-Watchem who like the Royals have yet to open their account for season 2014.
Final Scores Boort 18-13=121 def Donald 6-6=42
Best for Boort: Jesse Smith, Peter Manser, Andrew Welsh, Michael Henningson, Jack Dehne and Matt Hodoras. Goals: Dale Cameron and Peter Manser 4, Andrew Welsh 3 rest singles.
Best for Donald: Nathan Witherow, Brody Haddow, Will McAllister, Sam Dunstan, Trent Grant and Brent Gilmour. Goals: Aaron Jones 3, Seamus Young 2, Sam Dunstan 1.
Charlton v Birchip-Watchem
In a lightning fast opening quarter both sides showed glimpses of brilliance, goals did not come easy as the defences of both sides worked overtime to stave off the opposition’s forward moves. The Bulls kicked the first goal of the game after about five minutes and the Navy Blues answered immediately through inform forward Tom Finlay. Both sides were attacking the ball ferociously and there was plenty of heavy tackles being laid. Finlay was again in the action and kicked his third for the term and Charlton looked like going to the break with a slight lead over the Bulls until McConville kick truly to put the Bulls back in from at the first break.
The second quarter was all Charlton as they piled on ten goals for the term with six different players kicking goals, McGrath 3, Ben Walklate and Finlay both kicked two with Laffin, Roberts and Judd adding singles, Birchip-Watchem’s sole goal scorer for the term was Jesse Smith. Looking down the barrel of a big defeat the Bulls went to the half time break trailing the Navy Blues by 56-points.
With the long break behind them Charlton took off from where they left prior to half time and quickly extended their lead with three goals before the Bulls were able to add a couple of their own to keep the scoreboard looking not so bleak. Finlay brought up two goals late in the quarter to bring his tally to seven before the Bulls Castellano kicked his second for the quarter to see the Bulls now trailing by 66-points at the last break.
Charlton kicked six unanswered goals in the last quarter to see their lead get out to over 100-points before the Bulls found a new lease of life and added five goals and put some respectability back on the scoreboard. As the clock ticked down towards full time Tom Finlay got on the end of a good passage of play to kick his eighth and the sides twenty sixth goal of the day as they run out big winners by eighty points. Charlton had many good players which contributed to their large score while the Bulls, who were very determined and showed some good signs, worked hard to get their goals, which was made even harder when they took the long avenue to goal with short kicking which created a lot of turnovers, perhaps with a more direct avenue to goal their score may have seen them a lot closer to a side that will be right in the mix come September.
Final Scores Charlton 26-11=167 def Birchip-Watchem 13-9=87
Best for Charlton: Sam O’Connor, Tom Finlay, Ben Walklate, A. Judd, Angus McKenzie and Coach Aaron Walklate. Goals: Tom Finlay 8, Joe McGrath 5, Ben Walklate 3, Matt Willox, Ben Roberts, James Baird 2, rest singles.
Best for the Bulls: Tom Carland, Daniel Ratcliffe, John Barnard, Sam O’Loughlan, Daniel Castellano and Zac Holmes. Goals: Daniel Castellano 4, Sean Neeson 3, Albert Simpson 2, rest singles.
St Arnaud v Wycheproof-Narraport
Wycheproof-Narraport set their sights on causing an upset when they visited Lord nelson Park St Arnaud and in the opening quarter it looked like it just might happen when they got off to a flying start to lead the Saints by four gaols at the first change.
In the second term the Saints rallied towards reducing the Demons lead and dominance of the game as they displayed in the first quarter. Browne who was gathering plenty of the ball was the instigator to get the Saints going. Needs was able to continue his good form of the opening two rounds when he kick a couple of goals for the quarter. The Demon s managed to kick a goal to keep their lead at half time. In the term the Saints reduced the lead of the Demons back from 24-points back to 13-points and put themselves well back into the game.
The third term saw both sides battle to do any major scoring, with only three goals being kicked between the two teams. The Demons who only kicked one goal in this quarter could have put the game to bed if they had have kicked straight, but it wasn’t to be and this kept the Saints in the game and at the end of the third term the home side was well within reach and trailed by just 9-points and the game was up for grabs for both sides.
A six goal last quarter was good enough to get the Saints the four points but with only a couple of minutes to go they trailed, Needs then rose to the accession and booted the last two goals of the game to give the Saints an eleven point win. Wycheproof-Narraport may have been a bit stiff not to get the points after leading all game apart from the last couple of minutes and the Saints may have been lucky to keep their winning run in tact, but at the end of the day they got there at the death knock to hold on to top spot on the North Central Ladder.
Final Scores: St Arnaud 11-13=79 def Wycheproof-Narraport 9-14=68
Best players for St Arnaud: Andrew Jesse, Daniel Needs, Ricky Wild, Jobastian Priest, Jarrod Kell and Nathan Brown. Goals: Daniel Needs 7, Nick Coghlan 2, rest singles.
Best for Wycheproof-Narraport: Spencer Allan, Brock Bish, James Coatsworth, Sam Driscoll, Ben Brennan, Kristian McNicol. Goals: Boe Bish, Brock Bish, George Turner 2 each, rest single.
Next week’s matches
Wycheproof-Narraport v Charlton
Birchip-Watchem v Donald
Wedderburn v St Arnaud
Boort has the Bye.
Last Modified on 27/04/2014 23:30