Boort v Donald
In what was a slow start for both sides Boort broke into the scoring with a major about ten minutes into the quarter? Shortly after Donald found some space and was able to push the ball into their attacking zone to produce their first goal of the day. Boort seemed to settle a little better than the Royals and this showed with their teamwork gaining the required results late into the first term, while holding the Royals to just the one goal, the Magpies finished off the first quarter with three late goals to give them an eighteen point lead at the first change in play.
Donald done all the attacking in the second quarter and only for some costly turnovers could have been much closer to Boort at the main break. Donald managed to post four goals for the term and they were able to restrict the Magpies for the majority of the quarter as they cut off many forward moves attempted by the home side. Late in the quarter they were able to break the shackles and convert some late opportunities to give them an extended lead of 22-points at half time.
Early in the third term it was a wrestle for control and neither side was able to gain any advantage with both sides countering any scoring of the opposition. With about ten minutes to go in the premiership quarter heavy rain hit and offered no favours to either side, but certainly altered the tempo of the game, Boort who handled the wet conditions a little better than Donald was rewarded with late goals to give them a handy forty plus points lead going into the last term.
After a few stirring words from the coach, Donald entered the last quarter with the aim of winning the last term and getting their goal tally into double figures, this at the end of the day they were able to achieve. Boort were trying everything to hold back the Royals who at about half way through the final quarter looked a chance at causing an upset. Boort through White was able to steady when he kicked his fifth goal for the day. Haddow, Carr and Wyatt were the main contributors for the Donald side who also had a trump card in Seamus Young up forward, he finished the day with five goals in a top performance from limited opportunities. Boort at full time had earned their win with a margin of thirty one points gaining them another four points which aided their cause. This result for Boort was the reverse of last week when their main opposition for a finals berth in the Birchip-Watchem Bulls win turned their win into an eight point game this week it turned in their favour with them winning and the Bulls suffering a defeat.
Final scores: Boort 15-14=104 def Donald 11-7=73
Best for Boort: A. White, C. McAdam, Jesse Smith, C. Millward, M. Hodoras and R. Crapper. Goals: A. White 5, A. Welsh, and M. Patterson 2 each rest singles.
Best for Donald: B. Haddow, L. Carr, S. Dunstan, G. Wyatt, M. Gilmour and C. O’Rourke. Goals: S. Young 5, A. Hall 4, W. Sexton and G. Wyatt 1 each.
Birchip-Watchem v Charlton
On home turf the Birchip Watchem Bulls got away to a flyer against an opposition noted for their fast beginnings in Charlton. The Bulls main goal kicker in Daniel Castellano got his side off to a good start with two of his side’s four goals for the opening term. Charlton forwards was not allowed any freedom with Jake Noonan and his fellow backmen turning back any forward moves from the Navy Blues who were only able to kick one goal for the quarter. At the first break in play the home side had got out to a three goal lead and were looking very dangerous.
Charlton was able to get into the action in the second quarter and cut back the Bulls lead when they were able to take full advantage of the hard working midfield, McGrath got on the end of a couple of nice passes and brought up full points to bring the Bulls lead back to a manageable level, but this soon altered when the Bulls struck back with a couple of late goals to secure them a reduced lead of fourteen points at the main stoppage.
The Navy Blues went into the second half short of their Coach in Aaron Walklate who appeared to suffer a shoulder injury. With plenty riding on the outcome of the game the visitors were not going to let the Bulls continue to control the game, Mulquiny and Thompson were two players to add to their contribution of the previous half. Thiesz put the Navies back within a kick with his goal only to see Neeson respond for the Bulls. Heading to three quarter time Judd posted a goal for Charlton bringing the margin at the final break to just seven points.
With a quarter to play, both sides had plenty to gain by winning this match, firstly the Bulls who had led all day would keep in touch of the top four sides and keep alive a strong chance to play finals, a loss would see them drop off the pace a little and make their effort of playing finals a little tougher. For the Navy Blues a win would see them retain second spot on the ladder behind Wedderburn. As the previous three terms had not seen any great breakaway by either side, scoring was again limited in number for this term, the Bulls could only manage the one goal but when the kicked it, it gave them a minor break on the Navies. Charlton was never going to hand over the points to the Bulls and just kept the pressure on and was rewarded with major scores after failing in earlier attempts. The Navy Blues hit the front for the first time in the match deep into the final term and they would hold off the Bulls final rally to record a hard-fought eight point win. Unfortunately the loss has now put the pressure back on the Birchip-Watchem side and they will need to record some wins in the coming weeks to keep in touch with those sides above them.
Final scores: Charlton 10-6=66 def Birchip-Watchem 9-4=58
Best for Charlton: L. Mulquiny, R. Thompson, M. Willox, R. Collins, A. Judd, Sam O’Connor.
Goals: J. McGrath 3, D. Thiesz 2, rest singles.
Best for the Bulls: D. Ratcliffe, Z. Holmes, J. Christie, J. Cusack, D. Castellano, C. Walsh.
Goals: D. Castellano 3, rest singles.
Wycheproof-Narraport v St Arnaud
In their match against the Saints the Demons welcomed back James Coatsworth from injury and he resumed in the same form as when he was injured back in round five. In a fine display Coatsworth slotted through seven of the Demons ten goals for the day to signal his return to North Central Football. In a tight first term both sides were continually pushing the Sherrin forward only to see the opposition’s backmen turn the ball back to where came from. The Demons held a slight edge over the Saints at quarter time with three points being their lead.
With virtually nothing separating the two teams, both swung into action in the opening minutes of the quarter with Coatsworth being the focal point for the Demons and Nick Coghlan at the other end for the Saints, with both having a good day in front of the sticks. Coghlan kicked two majors in this term and was matched at the other end by Coatsworth and at half time it was the Demons who had the better of the play and had gone out to a twelve point lead.
St Arnaud were first to strike back in the third term through Coghlan and Thorne and the game was all tied up, Ricky Allan gave the lead back to the Demons before Needs squared it up again as the game moved closer toward the final break. Kristian McNicol was gaining plenty of the ball and continually sent the ball forward for the home side and for the Saints their main contributors being Jimmy Wray and Rick Wild. Just before siren time the Demons Joey Coatsworth kicked his second to see his side take a slender six-point lead into the final term.
With the game up for grabs and very little separating the teams to this point for the entire match who was going to get the desired break on their opposition, it was the Saints who drew first blood with Coghlan being in the thick of the action to post his fifth goal and the scores were again level. Wycheproof-Narraport who had lacked opportunities in the second half were finally rewarded when Coatsworth kicked goal number seven and the lead went back favouring the Demons well into the term. St Arnaud were able to get the ball out of the middle and Thorne who was having a good day found Coghlan who brought up goal number six and level the scores again. From the centre bounce an important clearance by Ricky Wild found Tungatalum to give the Saints the lead for the first time in the match. The Saints pushed forward an many occasions only to see the ball go the wrong side of the big posts, finally Needs and Baldwin gave the Saints the much needed break and they went on to secure a very important four points. The Demons were gallant in defeat but this loss has probably ended any slim chance they had of playing finals in their 50th-year since the amalgamation of the Wycheproof and Narraport football clubs. For the Saints this was an important win, which keeps them level on points with Charlton, with their next round contest against the league leaders in Wedderburn followed by the bye.
Final scores: St Arnaud 13-9=87 def Wycheproof-Narraport 10-10=70
Best for the Saints: J. Wray, D. McGrath, R. Wild, C. Bloomer, L. Cunningham and N. Coghlan.
Goals: N. Coghlan 6, S. Thorne, R. Tungatalum, D. Needs 2, N. Baldwin 1.
Best for the Demons: James Coatsworth, K. McNicol, D. Lourey, Joey Coatsworth, K. Prestidge and Brock Bish.
Goals: James Coatsworth 7, Joey Coatsworth 2 and Ricky Allan 1.
Click here for Photo's from this Game - Reserves Photo's here
Next Week
Charlton v Wycheproof-Narraport
Donald v Birchip-Watchem
St Arnaud v Wedderburn
Boort has the Bye
Last Modified on 23/06/2014 11:42