It was a riveting clash at Shell Reserve on Saturday when the Corio Devils hosted Thomson. Both teams put young sides on the field with a number of Under 18 players playing in the firsts.
The first quarter saw Thomson score in 30 seconds setting a possible tone for the day but turned out to be an arm wrestle between half forward and half back with both sides struggling to break the lines. When they did go inside 50 though, both sides scored quickly. The outer, or flat side of the ground, was favored by both teams running that wing before coming inside. Corio wasted two inside 50 opportunities that would have given them a break but given the contest an equal scoreboard was an accurate record of the game. At the break both coaches realized the need for the one percenters to make the difference in the game while Christian Hyland was very disappointed in the fact Thomson only laid two legitimate tackles for the quarter.
The second quarter opened all the Devils way as they opened up a 15 point lead. Matt Wade was shutting Jackson Macleod out of the game and Danny Ruck was doing a good job in his namesake role with Mark Stewart unavailable. Corio lost Spengler halfway through the second to another hamstring however Tom Mckay and Stephen Macleod rallied the Tigers to score 2 goals late in the quarter and see a one point margin at the main break, in what was a competitive game of footy.
Early in the 3rd Corio suffered another injury to be two short on the bench and it was turning into a blow for blow game, with both defences working overtime to halt any scoring opportunities. It was skill errors more then anything that allowed goals to be scored. Thomson were only able to kick 1 goal 3 whilst Corio put 2 goals 5 on the board.
Two of those opportunities though to Loone-Garcia should have been converted and given Corio the gap they needed greater then the 9 points they had. This particularly given the injury situation was making them look tired in the legs.
This proved to be the case in the last with many of the Devils runners cramping up and being reduced to an effective bench of one. Cornwall was tireless and an early Corio goal looked like they may hold on. But once again Thomson surged with both Macleod’s getting more of the ball and three quick goals saw them draw back even. Another and they pulled ahead for one of the few times for the day and the game looked all but over.
But Corio valiantly rallied again to put the difference back to seven points until Hodgson kicked his third and sealed the game for the Tigers. Hyland would have been very happy with a fighting win, whilst McDowell of Corio will be bemoaning the injuries and lack of fresh legs late in the day.
Corio 12.12 – 88 def. by Thomson 13.10-88
Goal Kickers: Corio - J. Kenna 3, D. Harrison 2, J. Petho 2, S. Franklin , A. Cullen , E. Newton , J. Huhn , S. Gundry
Thomson - M. Hodgson 3, A. McGaffin 2, J. Menzies 2, T. McKay , R. Grigg , J. Mitchell , D. McFarlane , T. Gardiner , J. Macleod
Best Players: Corio - R. Cornwell, M. Wade, D. Ruck, D.Greaves, E. Newton, R. Livesey
Thomson - T. McKay, S. Macleod, D. Oakley, A. Atkinson, J. Macleod
Last Modified on 09/05/2011 10:04