Round thirteen is now complete with flag favourites Wycheproof-Narraport having a convincing win over the Boort Magpies by over ten goals with both Corey Jones and James Coatsworth kicking five goals each for the Demons. The Demons has consolidated their position on top of the table and even if they were to lose the remaining three matches they cannot be dislodged from the top of the ladder. Boort’s loss to the Demons has ended any chance that the Magpies had of reaching this year’s playoffs. In the other game at Charlton Park between Charlton and Donald with both sides vying for the double chance, the home side looked in a reasonable position at half time in what was a low scoring first half. Both sides were off target with a total of seventeen points registered to this point of the game with the Navy Blues going to the main break holding a nine point lead. After the break Donald came out and totally dominated the game kicking twelve goals to three in the second half. Sam Dunstan and Ross Young were the key players to get the Donald side back on track and their second half performances was the main reason that Donald was able to wipe off the deficit and then get a break over the Navy Blues, resulting in the Royal Blues running out winners by forty one points. This important win to Donald now has them back in second spot with only three rounds to go where these two sides will continue their battle for the double chance and both sides having to play two sides outside the top four and one side within so the interest will remain in the closing weeks of the home and away season.
Charlton v Donald
Donald kicked with the advantage of a good breeze but was unable to make full use of the wind as their return for the first quarter being just the one major score kicked by Seamus Young. Donald were not able to convert their opportunities when the ball came forward and they had their share of opportunities and they could have been in a worse spot than they were at the first break but were fortunate that the Navy Blues was also off target in the early part of the term. Charlton had their share of the football when kicking into the wind and they posted five minor scores before they broke through for their first goal coming from Matt Giri who was gathering plenty of possessions and looking a real danger to Donald. Codi Gunn gave the Navies an eight point lead when he kicked a goal just prior to the end of the first quarter.
Charlton in the second term was like the Royal Blues in the first, when they had their chance with the wind and was unable to post a score that would give them any great advantage over Donald. Donald looked better going into the wind but like Charlton they were missing the main target to add one goal six for the term but was still within reach of the Navies at the half time break. Charlton’s goals came from Anthony Judd and Codi Gunn with Donald’s only goal being kicked by Sam Dunstan right on half time.
Whatever was said or done at the half time break certainly worked for Donald as they came out a different team going into the premiership quarter. The Navy Blues who entered the game missing some key players had a further blow landed on them when Tim Nicolson was sidelined for the remainder of the game with an ankle injury. The Donald side lifted their work rate and things started to fall into place for them as they posted six goals to Charlton’s two to reverse a nine point half time deficit into a thirteen point lead with a quarter to go. Sam Dunstan was the standout player as he marked everything that came his way. Under sixteens player Sam Griffiths making his debut at senior level, snapped a team lifting goal early in the quarter and from there the Royals put their stamp on the game and the Navies could not match it with the visitors and even at this point looked to be falling off the pace and they would need to lift in the final quarter to prevent the Royals reclaiming the double chance on the ladder.
In the final term Donald continued their dominance of the game as they pushed the ball forward for positive results as they went on to post a further six goals in the final term and held the Navy Blues to just the one goal kicked by Matt Giri. Donald shared the goals around with Sam Dunstan bagging two goals in the quarter to bring his tally to four goals for the game in a which would see him named as best afield. Donald’s improved form in the second half would give them some confidence leading into their game against the ladder leaders in Wycheproof-Narraport next week. The Navy Blues will be hoping for an improvement in their form and the injury department when they make their trip down to Wedderburn next week.
Best players for Donald: Sam Dunstan, Jackson Hogan, Ross Young, Nick Garner, Brody Haddow and Jarred Newell.
Better players for the Navy Blues: Luke Mulquiny, Jye Sandiford, Matt Giri, Joe McGrath, Dean McKay and Ben Walklate. Codi Gunn was their leading goal scorer with three.
Final scores Donald 14-12=96 defeated Charlton 7-13=55
Wycheproof-Narrapport v Boort.
Boort made the trip to Wycheproof knowing that any chance of playing finals would depend on the result of this game and things didn’t get off to the start the Magpies wanted with the Demons kicking six first quarter goals and held the Magpies to just the one goal to trail the Demons by thirty two points at quarter time. The Demons power forwards in Corey Jones and James Coatsworth were both in good form up forward and causing the Magpies defence plenty of problems.
In the second term Boort put in a better effort and was able to restrict the Demons scoring opportunities to just the one major. Boort added two goals for the term but was still twenty five points in arrears at the main break with Rohan Nolen and Cam Chalmers being their goal kickers.
After the long break goals for both sides was hard to come by with only three goals being scored in the term. Wycheproof-Narraport added two goals while Boort managed the one goal and at the final break in play Boort was trailing the Demons by thirty two points and had a big job in front of them to keep their finals hopes alive and while the Demons had not been able to put the Magpies completely away on the scoreboard they were in control in the contests.
The final quarter seen the Demons lift their game as they showed their true form to post a further seven goals in the final quarter to extend their margin out to sixty two points by full time. Jones and Coatsworth were back in the action in the final term, both kicking two goals to give them five goals each for the match. Pappin who had missed some weeks with an injury showed a return to form with a solid display as did centerman Tim Holobowski who was named best for the Demons with Matt Riordan, Spencer Allan and Connor Burge rating mentions. Boort’s best was key defender Aaron Wilson with James Orr and Kieran Wilson also being named as better players. Rohan Nolan was their leading goal scorer with three goals.
Final scores Wycheproof-Narraport 15-10=100 defeated Boort 5-8=38
Next Week Round 14
St Arnaud v Birchip-Watchem
Wedderburn v Charlton
Donald v Wycheproof-Narraport
Boort v Sea Lake
Last Modified on 14/08/2016 18:28