Under 18.5's : A rural setting at Bushfield provided a scenic backdrop as the junior combatants took the field in overcast conditions. Making full use of one's chances was the name of the game as the Tigers squandered all scoring opportunities to log a miserable 8 behinds in the opening term. In contrast, North maximised their use of the ball to manufacture a couple of goals to enjoy a narrow lead at the 1st changeover. Portland's woe continued as North slotted a couple of early goals in the 2nd term and then the downpour started. The ball became extraordinarily difficult to control as the game slipped out of Portland's grasp. Half time saw the home side on top by 32 points and looking good. The Tigers accuracy was much improved on the resumption and they were able to peg back the deficit by a significant amount, 16 points separated the two sides a the final change, the question being whether the Tigers could maintain their momentum. Unfortunately for the visitors it was not to be, North steadied and were able to keep the ball in their attacking zone for the majority of the quarter to ease out to a comfortable win. Hamish Withers was outstanding fo the Tigers, whilst Rowan Marshall provided strong support. Others to show out were Nathan Jennings, Tom Templeton, Matt Kelly and Zac Shepherd.
Final Scores
Portland 4.10-34
North Warrnambool 9.14-68
Reserves : The rain had stopped by the time the Reserves swung into action with Portland monopolising early possession and exerted early scoreboard pressue by slotting the first 3 goals. The Eagles stemmed the flow late in the quarter and were able to grab a couple of majors to be only 9 points in arrears at quarter time. Goals were at a premium in the 2nd term until the Tigers strung together a fluent piece of play to stretch their lead, only for North to quickly reply with 2 of their own. Another goal after the siren gave the Eagles the lead by a slender margin at the long interval. Portland regrouped in the 3rd quarter as they hunted in numbers and were able to push the ball into the scoring zone enough times to regain and then extend their lead to some 15 points at the final changeover. It was more of the same in the last quarter as the Tigers found new layers of energy to run away from the opposition to record a handsome victory. Good players erere in abundance with Marcus Amor, Joel Mirtschin, Jordan Cables, Daniel Kinghorn, Zach Telfer and Jamie Blacksell bing the more prominent.
Final Scores
Portland 13.15.93
North Warrnambool 8.7-55
Seniors : The game started off at a helter-skelter pace with the Tigers more than matching it with their highly rated opposition. Portland had the scoreboard asendancy until the final stage of the quarter when North grabbed the lead after a period of relentless attacking. It was all North in the early phase of the 2nd quarter, their aggressive work on the ball causing problems for the Tigers defence. They had Portland at their mercy as they punctured the opposition with an impressive display of precision skills. Goals came with a certain regularitiy so that the Eagles had the comfort of a lead of some 5 goals at the main interval. Portland made some inroads into the deficit in the early part of the 3rd term, but North were able to repel the threat as they executed the skills with just a little more finesse than the visitors. It was a competitive encounter with North holding sway by 27 points as the home straight approached. Call it a reality check or a lesson in wet weather football skills, the last quarter was a debarcle for Portland as North careered away in a 12 goal avalanche. In a clinical display, the Tigers were left floundering as North performed as they liked with plenty of energetic running and fairly applied muscle. The Tigers had some gallant warriors, the best of whom were Ben Malcolm, Rhys Egan, Nathan Haylock, Scott Clark, Luke Van Heugten and Charlie Woodford.
Finals Scores
Portland 7.10-52
North Warrnambool 22.8.140
Last Modified on 07/06/2013 16:01