Interesting results from the round nine matches, Birchip-Watchem caused an upset when they defeated the second placed Charlton by close to six goals. St Arnaud also went within three points of defeating the Wycheproof-Narrapport Demons. After leading at the last change and being over four goals up half way through the final term the Saints were finally run down by the Demons who for the second time this season have grabbed the Saints in the dying minutes of the game to win by three points, duplicating they round two win where they also got up by just three points. After struggling in the first half of their game against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers the Royal Blues from Donald outplayed the Tigers in the second half to get home by nine points in a low scoring affair. The win to Donald now sees them return second spot on percentage over Charlton. In the final game the Boort Magpies defeated the Wedderburn Redbacks by thirty two points to keep hold of fourth spot and four points clear of Birchip-Watchem.
Birchip-Watchem v Charlton
Birchip-Watchem got away to one of their better starts for the year when they were able to pile on five first quarter goals and keep the second placed Charlton to just the one goal for the quarter.
The Bulls kicked the first four goals of the game and held the Charlton Navy Blues scoreless until late in the opening quarter when Aaron Walklate broke through to record their first score a major. Nearing the end of the term the Bulls Brendon George kicked their fifth to give the home side a twenty seven point lead at quarter time.
Things went a little better in the second quarter for Charlton, they were able to bridge the gap a little and also kept the Bulls to just the three point for the term. Walklate and Kris Clifford were the goal kickers for the Navies as they brought the Bulls lead back from twenty seven points to fifteen at the main break in play.
It was a reasonably even tern in the third as both sides where both sides were looking to get the break that may give them the advantage over the opposition but neither side could get that break and at three quarter time the game was well within the balance of both sides with the three quarter time margin being nineteen points favouring the Birchip-Watchem Bulls.
The final term belonged to the Bulls as they outscored the navy Blues five goals to two. The Bulls kicked the first four goals in the final quarter to extend their lead out by over seven goals. Charlton was able hit back with goals to Gunn and Sait to reduce the margin but time was against the Navies and when Sam Allan goaled for the home side to again see the lead get out beyond the reach of Charlton the Bulls had pulled off one of their best wins for the year. The win of the Birchip-Watchem Bulls was always an important game and a win was a must and this now keeps them in touch with the top four sides. Charlton now drops to third on percentage and with their next game being at Sea Lake the result of this clash now comes very important to both sides.
Brendon George was the major goal kicker for the Bulls with four and also named as their best, Lochie Sirett, Daniel Ratcliffe, Spencer Aitkin, Jake Noonan and Michael Monteith also rated amongst their better players. For the Navy Blues Aaron Walklate was named best and also being their top goal scorer with three. Tom Finlay, Sam O’Connor, Daniel Thiesz, Mick Laffin and Kris Clifford were named in their better players list.
Final score Birchip-Watchem Bulls 14-9=93 defeated Charlton 8-10=58
St Arnaud v Wycheproof-Narraport
The Saints entered this game with a couple of players who has not donned the Saints strip for a few weeks and this certainly boosted their playing list to take on the ladder leaders in Wycheproof-Narrapport who went into the game minus some players missing through injury and other reasons. Wycheproof-Narraport were prepared for a different Saints side than that of recent weeks and got off to a good start kicking the first goal of the game. Nick Coghlan levelled the scores when he goaled for the Saints. The remainder of the term was fairly even with the Demons taking a four point lead to the first stoppage.
St Arnaud took advantage of a slight breeze in the second term to hit the front with Coghlan again in the action with two goals for the quarter. Petrie added to the Saints lead as the Saints got a little break on the Demons who were unable to convert their shots at goal kicking four points before James Coatsworth finally got the Demons their first goal for the quarter and this brought the Saints lead back to just one goal at half time. Both sides were showing some good passages of play in the first half but as the scores indicated neither side was able to get the vital break over their opposition.
In the third quarter the game remained fairly even with both sides unable to put their stamp on the game. There was some good one on one contest happening with Bloomer for the Saints and Holobowski for the Demons having a great contest in the middle and both gave their side’s great drive from their midfield position. St Arnaud did end up better than the Demons at the end of the term as they were able to get a little break over the Demons to lead by thirteen points at the final change and the Saints went to the huddle full of confidence that they could get the job done in the final term of the game. For the Demons they could not get their game going after half time and would have to pick it up if they were going to collect another four points.
The Saints broke from the huddle determined to continue their form of the previous three quarters and sensed that they could get their second win for the year. With an early goal the Saints extended their lead and continued to press forward for positive results and midway through the term were ahead by over four goals. Looking down the barrel of their first defeat the Demons finally found some form firstly it was Burge then Joe Coatsworth and Holobowski who put the Demons back in the game. St Arnaud struck back when Coghlan kicked his eighth goal of the game and a boil-over looked well on the cards. But just when you thought the Saints might get the points the Demons made a last ditch attempt to win back the game, with late goals to Coatsworth, Howgate and Burge for his third well into red time to put the Demons ahead by three points and at full time the Demons had pulled off another come from behind win as they did in round two over the Saints to get home by the same margin. The Demons remain as the only undefeated side and lead the completion two games clear of Donald and Charlton. For the Saints, this you would think would have been their final chance to make finals but with other results going against them, their chance of another finals series certainly looks to have come to a close.
Chris Howgate was named best for the Demons and he had good support from James Coatsworth, Matt Riordan, Tim Holobowski, Boe Bish and Ricky Allan.
Nick Coghlan was named in the best for the Saints with his eight goals as was Kurt Torney, Gav Vassallo, Caleb Bloomer, Nick Baldwin and Sam Dyke.
Final score Wycheproof-Narraport Demons 11-14=80 defeated St Arnaud Saints 11-11=77
Donald v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers
Both sides entered this contest coming off good wins and a win for the Royals would keep them in the top end of the leagues ladder and a win to the Tigers would keep their finals aspiration alive.
The Tigers got away to a better start and it wasn’t long before they had posted their first goal of the match and this was quickly followed by a goal to the Tigers Doering. Donald hit back with a goal to Jackson Hogan to steady the ship but the Tigers responded with two further goals late in the term to lead at quarter time by twenty one points.
Donald was unable to improve on their first quarter’s effort after the break and it took all of their efforts to finally get their second goal of the game and they were probably lucky that the Tigers were having difficulty adding to their first quarter score. In what was an unattractive display from both side’s where a combined total of one goal seven was registered between the two sides. At half time the Tigers led the match by two goals and both were hoping for a better performance after the long break.
Whatever was said at the half time by the Royals coach looked to have worked as the Royals found form and also found a way to add to their poor first half score-line. The Royals kicked five goals to turn what was a two goal deficit into a seven point lead at the last change. Sea lake Nandaly kicked two goals in the term to keep in touch and was in with a strong chance of putting back to back wins on the board.
In the final quarter it was fairly even both sides kicking a further two goals. Donald struck early in the term to put some pressure on the Tigers to get a mini break and looked like they could open the contest up but this didn’t eventuate as the Tigers posted two late goals to bring the final margin back to nine points in favour of the Royal Blues from Donald. Brodie Haddow was again named best for the Donald side; Darcy Harrison, Ross Young, Charlie Murrie, Scoot Wood and Nick Garner also were named in the better players. For the Tigers, Luke Martin was best for the Tigers, Mikal Bloom, Angus Munro, Jordan Doering, Jason Collins and Simon Weekley also rated mentions.
Final score: Donald 9-11=65 defeated Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 8-8=56
Wedderburn v Boort
In a game where the Redbacks believed they had a chance to register their first win with a victory over the Boort Magpies that possibility was put to rest midway through the first quarter? After Wedderburn’s Will Holt kicked the first goal of the game at about the ten minute mark things came to a halt for the Redbacks when Jarrod Fitzpatrick got the Magpies on the board with three goals in as many minutes. Wedderburn through Danny Benaim cut the Magpies lead back to eight points by quarter time with a goal on siren time.
Benaim started the second quarter the way he finished the first term with a goal but the Magpies kicked the next five unanswered goals to take a thirty two point lead to half time. James Orr was dominating the Centre Bounce ruck duel and combining with Sam Taylor Boort was able to send the ball forward where Riley Lehmann finished off the good work with three goals for the quarter and things were looking good for the Boort Magpies going to the half time break.
Boort started as they left off in the third with two quick goals and a big win was on the cards for the Boort side before Wedderburn’s young full forward Will Holt kicked an important goal but the magpies posted another three goals to take a thirty three point lead to the final change.
In the final quarter the Redbacks were able to add three more goals to reduce the Magpies lead down to twenty six points but that was as close as they would get. Boort got the four points with a thirty two point win and with the Birchip-Watchem Bulls also winning this win over the Redbacks proved even more important for the Boort Magpies. Riley Lehmann had a good day in front of the big sticks finishing the day with seven goals. Jarrod Fitzpatrick was named as the best player for the Boort side with James Orr, Matt Hodoras, Riley Lehmann, Sam Taylor and Cam Chalmers also rating mentions for their good efforts.
Wedderburn’s major goal scorers were Coach Danny Benaim with five and young forward Will Holt with four and both being named as the team’s best with Jacob and Ben DeAraugo, Daniel Gash and Joe Lockhart also featuring in the awards.
Final Score Boort Magpies 15-13=103 defeated Wedderburn Redbacks 10-11=71
Next Week’s Matches
Wycheproof-Narraport Demons v Birchip-Watchem Bulls
Boort Magpies v St Arnaud Saints
Donald Royal Blues v Wedderburn Redbacks
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Charlton Navy Blues
Last Modified on 14/08/2016 18:24