RESERVES
Owing to injuries and the unavailability of both Senior and Reserve players, the Reserves had to make several changes to the side that was beaten at Seville the previous game. The changes included a couple of new players Daniel Rouget and along with an older “recruit” Ben Vanlierop who last played in the Reserves in 2006. Alexandra got away to a good start as they were a bit more efficient in attack to lead by three goals at the first break. The second quarter was more even but Alex. were again able to kick three goals to increase the lead by half time . The defences of both sides were on top with Alisdair Hutt and Shaun Graham providing plenty of run out of the Alex. backline. Alex added a further two goals (both to Van Lie-rop from the goal-square) to one to maintain a comfortable lead into the last quarter. Despite the loss of Hutt’s run (due to a knee injury) Billy Cody with his pace, Len Jenkins with experience and Jock Blakeney’s marking enabled the Rebels to increase the lead and finish with a 39 point win. Young players Matthew Mitchell, Ethan Ritchie and Jess Skerritt impressed as did Shaun Graham, Billy Cody (3 gls),Ben Podger Carroll, Len Jenkins (2) and Daniel Rouget.
SENIORS.
Looking for their first win of the season Alexandra, mindful of the new speed limit between Molesworth and Yea made the relatively short trip to the Tiger lair. The Rebels have had the wood on the Tigers recently, winning the last ten encounters, with Yea last winning in 2011. Alex. made five changes, including Ryan Carter, Tom Halligan, Brent McDonald, Chase Pearce and Jordan Purcell to replace Travis Carter, Nathan Dundas, Isaac Hedger, Will Goonan and Ben Podger-Carroll.
Yea attacked early and after a period of tough hard at the ball type football, were doing better Alexandra had chances but were a little unlucky one shot on goal touched on the line and another hitting the post. Chris Mullins and Scott Hill were providing forward targets but Alex were missing opportunities as did the Tigers at the other end. Late in the quarter Mullins was able to put the first Alex. goal on the score-board. Yea were doing better in general play and their second goal gave them a seven point lead at the first change..The second quarter was played between the half back lines as neither side could find a passage to goal perhaps caused by the blustery wind blowing across the ground. Play was tight and hard and David Bourke and new player Tyler Horwood were often at the bottom the pack. Tyler looks a good young player with pace and a typical rovers appetite for the ball. Yea appeared to be in control of the game but the Alex. defence led by Jack Goonan and Michael Miller held tight. Half time arrived without a second quarter goal from either team but Alex had reduced the margin to one straight kick. Alex, began the second quarter well with behinds including another touched on the line. Horwood freed, broke the stalemate with a goal to give the Rebels the lead. This was followed by a typical strong effort and goal from out wide to Ben Cooper as Alex. were now doing better. Jake Steyger took marks all round the ground whilst Cooper and Ben Woolard won plenty of the ball through the midfield. Miller going forward marked strongly in a pack and played on and used his kicking skills to give the Rebels the biggest lead of the game. Lyndon Purcell had a chance to stretch the lead even further after strong play by Mullins now on the ball and providing drive, but another miss was the result. A mis-directed kick in enabled the Tigers to get their score-board moving again and this was followed by another Yea goal. Alex. appeared to lose concentration and the home side again were doing the better A Yea free-kick followed by a bit of a scuffle resulted in a Yea goal after the siren to take a six point lead into three quarter time. The last quarter was again a battle of the defences early before Alex got the ball out of the centre to Tom Halligan whose pace enabled him a clear shot at goal but unfortunately his shot also hit the post. Alex. amid the many ball-ups (there must have been a hundred during the game) were often able to transfer the ball from defence but Yea always seemed to have the extra defender to take the intercept mark. Yea got the first goal of the last term as Alex could only manage behinds. Yea finished off with the last goal of the game to win 7.13 to 4.17 . Alex. must be disappointed with their game. Apart from a ten minute period in the third quarter where we added three goals we were only able to kick one other goal for the entire game in good conditions. Best: C.Mullins, J.Goonan,T.Harwood, B.Cooper, J.Steyger and B.Woolard.
Last Modified on 04/05/2015 17:10