Well we are over the hump and into the second half of the season, unfortunately the senior side hasn't been able to sing the song yet, but i'm sure their chance will come.
This week we hosted the Bulldogs from McDonald Park in the return bout from round 1 and the game was a good contest through to the half time break, but a lapse in concentration and some confusing, bewildering and utterly unexplainable decision making by an adjudicator allowed West's opposition to gain the match winning break during the third quarter.
West began the game strongly with Josh Ransom again dominant at the centre square contests, Joel Carter was mopping up across half-back and Mark Smith was finding space leading up at half-forward, but this work couldn't convert on the scoreboard. Meanwhile backline pressure saw East's goalkicking efforts astray also, but they held a 9 point advantage at quarter time.
The second quarter was the most productive for West as they snuck ahead by a solitary point. "Roo" MacElroy kicking a long goal from the boundary, Tyson Ploenges snapping a goal around the corner and Tory Weaver marking strongly and goaling. Alan Kennedy began to run and carry on his scoreboard wing and Abdullah Kumara was strong in the middle.
The third quarter was the difference as East took advantage of weight of possession to skip clear. The East ruckman began to give his on-ball brigade first use of the ball at stoppages, and a number of free kicks seemingly going their way. The final free kick count was 33-11 in East's favour, and a majority came in this period, despite the innovation of using 3 central umpires it seemed 1 individual umpire was hell-bent on being the dominant whistle blower whether there was a free there or not.
The last quarter saw the frustration mount as the adjudication blunders continued, resulting in a West player being yellow-carded despite him being the one being knocked over off the ball. A resultant protest from two other West players saw the same umpire send them off also. With West down to 15 men it seemed the floodgates may open but to their credit the West boys and dug in to outscore their opposition during the time they were out-manned. However as the siren blew West were 36 point in arrears.
West have 2 weeks to regroup before challenging South Gambier due to the SA Country Championships
Last Modified on 27/06/2012 21:38