The Tradelink Western Magpies U/21 team secured its 4th victory in as many years in the annual clash with the Western Taipans U/18 Team on Saturday afternoon 11.10.76 to 10.3.63 retaining the Russell Green Memorial Trophy. Both coaches would have been satisfied with the intensity of their teams with both sides going in hard keeping the 400 strong crowd on their feet with solid physical clashes and tackling.
The first quarter was a goal for goal encounter with both teams making the most of their scoring opportunities scoring 4 goals and it was the taipans that went to the first break 1 point in front in very testing hot and humid conditions. The second quarter saw an arm restle as the football bounced back and forth between the goals as both defensive units were on top and scoring opportunities were few and far between. late in the quarter the Taipans running brigade found some space resulting in 3 quick goals to set up a healthy half time lead.
In the third quarter the Magpies worked their way back into the game with an inspirational goal to American recruit Bryan Dragus slotting one from the boundary 40 meters out set up by Blake McClennan and Greg Friss working hard through the midfield. Chris Mihalipoulos an older ring in was very busy in his first game back from knee surgery and combined well with Cameron Mitchelhill, Drew Mitchell and matt Dillon across half back.
The taipans took a 1 point lead into the final break after leading by 15 at the half and the Western Magpies came out in the last quarter with the aid of bigger bodies against the tiring Taipans were able too finnish the game off in the last quarter kicking 3 goals to 1. Brian Dragus kicked another in the last to finnish with 3 for the day in an impressive debut for the club while Andries Jurgens another 2010 recruit pushed forward from defence to kick an important goal.
The Magpies U/21 will take on the Country Queensland Kookaburras U/18 Team in a month on Tuesday March 9 @ 5pm.
Last Modified on 17/02/2010 16:52
