Round six in North Central Football threw up some surprises and some low scores.
Boort at home to the Wycheproof-Narraport Demons produced the first upset when they downed the Demons by four points. This is the Demons first defeat for the year but they remain at the top of the table with a superior percentage to the Boort Magpies who are equal on points. Sea lake Nandaly Tigers had to produce their best football in the final term to get the points against the Wedderburn Redbacks who lead at the final change. The Tigers kicked seven last quarter goals to get home comfortably over the Redbacks. St Arnaud recorded their first win of the year when they defeated the Charlton Navy Blues at Charlton Park. The Saints led all day to get their first points with a nine point win. With the Saints win all North Central League teams have recorded a win in season 2017. In the closest game of the day Donald sprung the surprise win with a one point win over the Birchip-Watchem Bulls. At the final siren the scoreboard had both sides level on fifty four points but the goal umpires recorded a win to the Royals by a single point.
Boort v Wycheproof-Narraport
Boort continued to make a statement to all clubs that they believe that they are the real deal and can mix it with all clubs in the league. A five goal to five points set the Magpies up for a good day and they didn’t let their supporters down. Both side sent the ball forward on many occasions but it was the mote accurate Magpies getting the better of the first term.
In the second quarter the Magpies only had the two scoring shots to the Demons eight but they was able to take a five point lead to the half time break. Wycheproof-Narraport made a strong push to get back on terms with the Magpies but once again they missed easy opportunities and paid the price for their in accuracy. Boor’s David Johnston was turning in one of his better games for the club and was causing the opposition some headaches up forward. Down the other end it was Kieran Wilson who was defending strongly and turned back the Demons forward moves or when applying the pressure on their Demon’s forwards.
After half time the game evened up through the third quarter with both side only able to kick two goals each and by three quarter time the Magpies were hanging onto an eight point lead and was hoping that they could build on their lead to inflict the Demons first loss of the year.
In the final term strangely for these two sides who sit first and second on the ladder neither side could score a goal. The Demons had a repeat of their first term where they could only manage five points and Boort was no better only producing the one score a point but in the finish it would be enough as the Magpies even though having six less scoring shots than the Demons were able to hang on by less than a goal to record this important win for the club and send a strong signal to all clubs that they are looking to be there at the pointy end of the year.
Boort’s better players were Keiran Wilson, Brodie Leonard Shannon, Corey and Ben Gregg, James Orr and Kyle Manley. Boort’s major goal scorers were David Johnston 3 and Kyle Manley with two.
Wycheproof-Narraport’s best was George Turner, Ricky Allan, James Coatsworth, Chris Howgate, Boe Bish and Tim Holobowski with Corey jones being their major goal kicker with three.
Final score Boort 8-6, 54 defeated Wycheproof-Narraport 6-14, 50.
Wedderburn v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers
Both sides entered the game with some key players missing and it took both sides a while to get into any game plan and nearing half way in the term neither side had produced a major score. Sea Lake Nandaly made the first breakthrough when Coach Matt Elliott kicked the first of their four first quarter goals, Gilbert, Wright and Brad Collins also got a goal in the opener with Wedderburn’s Josh Wild kicking the Redbacks only goal for the quarter and at the first break it was the Tigers who led by sixteen points.
Wedderburn was first to get on the board in the second quarter when Josh Wild again marked strongly to record the Redbacks second goal of the game and reduced the Tigers lead back to single figure. Many would have thought that a depleted Redbacks would be no match for the Tigers but in this quarter they started to blend better as a side and they had the bigger percentage of the play but was unable to capitalise on their opportunities. Sea Lake Nandaly on the other hand who had some difficulty getting through the Redbacks defence finally broke through and sent the ball into their forward line where Gilbert converted for full points and Brad Collins marked strongly within range and posted their second goal for the quarter. Wedderburn through Lowry and Tonkin got the Redbacks back within ten points at the main break but a couple of missed easy opportunities could have had them in front at the main break.
After the break the Redbacks continued their good form from the previous term with players at all parts of the ground lifting their workrate and it made the Tigers scoring opportunities become limited and they could only add two points to the first half score by three quarter time. The Redbacks had all the play and were breaking through for many scoring opportunities but they were all going to either side of the big sticks. Jake Hayes and Josh Hogan goaled for the Redbacks to give them an eight point lead at the final break. The Redbacks had missed many golden opportunities to set up a solid lead but their return for the quarter produced two goals eight points.
Hoping to hang on for an upset win the Redbacks chances started to fade rather quickly as the Tigers peppered the goals right from the start of the final term and this continued right to the final bell. In the final term the Tigers turned an eight point deficit into a thirty seven point win with seven goals in the last quarter where they also produced their best football for the day. Matt Elliott led from the front and had great support by Lachie Gilbert who set up many opportunities for the Tiger forwards. Wedderburn would be fairly disappointed with their final term and adding just two points to their score after the brand of football they had played in the previous two terms. While an upset was looming at the final break the Tigers regrouped to record a win they needed after going down narrowly last week.
Best for the Tigers: Brad Collins, Ryan O’Sullivan, Ben Mahon, Matt Elliott, Nathan Wright and Luke Martin. Matt Elliott was the major goal kicker with 3 and Brad Collins, Lachie Gilbert and Ryan O’Sullivan kicked two goals each.
Best for the Redbacks; Nathan Holt, Tom Campbell, Adam Postle, Cam Perry, Corey Lowry and Jordan Hargreaves, Josh Wild was their major goal kicker with 2 goals.
Final scores Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 13-22, 89 defeated Wedderburn 6-16=52
Donald v Birchip-Watchem
Birchip-Watchem coming off a strong win last week made the trip to Donald brimmed with confidence and was looking to continue their good form against a side that had lost their last two games. The Royals opened the scoring with a goal to Seamus Young in the opening minutes of the game, the Bulls then struck back with three goals to take a fourteen point lead to the first break. Goal’s in the first term for the Bulls coming from Foott, Gordon and Ben Hogan.
Bulls forward Steven Paulke started the scoring in the second quarter to extend the visitors lead out to over three goals and the Bulls were looking in good form. Donald lifted when Werts responded with a major score this was then followed by a goal to Seamus Young, his second and the margin was closing and it closed further when Darcy Harrison levelled the scores. Just prior to the main stoppage in play Steven Paulke again gave the Bulls the lead with his second goal for the term and the Bulls went to half time leading by a goal.
From the restart of the game after the long break and only a goal separating the two sides in what was a very even contest Donald Coach Tom Bell was able to again level the scores. Birchip-Watchem went forward on many occasions after Donald’s early goal but they were off target and could only manage five points for the quarter. At the final break the Bulls should have held a commanding lead but they were just four points clear of the Royal Blues from Donald.
Donald would have been happy to be as close as they were to the Bulls at the final change and with a chance of an upset they rated their chances as fairly good and when Darcy Harrison scored the first goal of the final quarter to give the Royals the lead the confidence lifted, as it should have. When Seamus Young goaled for the home side to give them a nine point break over the Bulls things were looking good for Donald. Steven Paulke put a stop to Donald’s run with a goal to bring the margin back within a goal and after some further missed attempts the Bulls levelled the score again and then Nathan Gordon added another goal the Bulls had regained the lead. From the bounce Donald pushed forward and a missed snap by the Donald forwards resulted in a point. With time running out the Bulls were looking to hold on for a narrow win Donald had different ideas and a mark and goal to Brody Haddow put the scores as level according to the scoreboard but at the completion of the game the goal umpires scores differed from the scoreboard favouring the Royal Blues by one point and that is when the Royals really kicked in the celebrations of their narrow win.
Best for Donald: Jacob Werts, Darcy Harrison, Bryan Beckham, Josh Potter, Tom Bell and Adam Pianto. Goals for Donald: Seamus Young 3 and Darcy Harrison 2.
Best for Birchip-Watchem: Nathan Gordon, Michael Monteith, Jacob Noonan, Lochie Sirett, Tom Carland and Charlie Hallam, Steven Paulke was the major goal kicker with 3.
Final score Donald 8-7, 55 defeated Birchip-Watchem 7-12.54
Charlton v St Arnaud
With five rounds down and only one win between them the stage was set for an interesting contest. In a goal feast in the opening term both sides got their share of the scoring opportunities and made the most of them. St Arnaud produced some of their best football for the year with six first quarter goals and the Navies were not far off the pace at the first change trailing by just eight points.
Again in the second quarter the scoring was fairly even and as the half time score indicated the evenness of the game the Saints lead was just seven points at the half way mark. Both sides’ forwards in St Arnaud’s Nick Coghlan and Charlton’s Tom Finlay were both on target and had both scored three goals to this point. Thiesz and Finlay were the main contributors for the home side and for the Saints it was Nick Baldwin and Caleb Bloomer who were have the most effect for their respective teams.
The Saints was desperate to build on their half time lead and they were the only ones to score majors in this quarter. Charlton had many attempts but missed the big sticks on six occasions which wasn’t helping their cause. St Arnaud was able to take a fifteen point lead to the final break but was it going to be enough to hold off the Charlton Navy Blues.
The Saints has not been this close in a lot of their matches so this was the main focus at the three quarter time huddle and the message was sounded out loudly to the players with a similar message being delivered in the other sides huddle.
Charlton got the first goal of the final term to lift their confidence and it was dashed quickly by the Saints Daniel Hargreaves who was putting in one of his better games since joining the Saints. Two quick goals to the Navy Blues and the scores tightened up but Batters and Hargreaves kicked a couple of steadier for St Arnaud to once again give them a little breathing space. Charlton had one last push to wipe off the Saints lead and two goals assisted their cause only to see the Saints Coghlan again get in the play to top the quarter off with his sixth goal of the day to give the Saints their final winning margin, their first for the year, a win of nine points over the reigning premiers. The win by the Saints now sees all clubs in the senior completion having recorded a win for the year.
Best players for the St Arnaud Nick Baldwin, Caleb Bloomer, Daniel London, Jake Tillig, Daniel Hargreaves and Harley Durward. Major goal kickers for the Saints: Nick Coghlan 6, Daniel Hargreaves 4 and Ben Batters 2.
Best for the Navy Blues: Daniel Thiesz, Tom Finlay, Anthony Judd, Angus Adams, Aaron Walklate and Lachlan Cunningham. Tom Finlay with 6 goals, Josh McKee and Nick Richardson with 2 each was the major goal kickers.
Final scores: St Arnaud 15-9, 99 defeated Charlton 13-12, 90
Next Week
Sea Lake Nandaly Tiger v Charlton
Wycheproof-Narraport v Wedderburn
Birchip-Watchem v Boort
St Arnaud v Donald
THERE WILL BE NO FOOTBALL IN THE NORTH CENTRAL OVER THE QUEENS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND
Last Modified on 29/05/2017 13:59