This week the Northern Knights embarked on their biggest test to date down at Morwell Oval where they met the Gippsland Power. The highly anticipated match-up resulted in the Power still only having the one loss for the season, as they defeated the Knights by 26 points.
Once again, the Knights found themselves playing in rather wet and slippery conditions with misty rain falling for most of the day. Two Under 16s made their debut for the Knights - Tindarra Hood and Dylan Grimes (brother of captain, Jack Grimes). Tim Bongetti was named for his return from a knee injury but was a late withdrawal.
The first quarter saw the Power get an early jump by kicking three goals to one for the term. Gippsland were looking particularly strong at ground level and were winning a lot of hard balls. Michael Hurley was the lone goal kicker for the Knights in the first.
The second quarter started out as a really tight affair and it was the Knights who had the slight advantage - two goals to one thanks to Patrick Veszpremi and Matt Kreuzer. However, late in the term the Power put on three unanswered goals to be up by 26 points at half time. Jack Grimes was providing good leadership for the Knights and was winning plenty of the ball, while Kreuzer was continuing his great form this season.
Those late goals in the second quarter ended up being the difference as the Knights could never peg the lead back in a second half that almost went exactly goal for goal. The midfield were not creating the spark they have in previous weeks, while Gipplsland were kicking their goals with relative ease compared to the tough, hard battles the Knights required to score.
There was still a lot of belief in the Knights camp heading into the last quarter and they were doing a good job to contain the Power, but were simply unable to challenge for the lead as every time they scored, the Power replied. Remarkably the third and the fourth quarters were both tied so the 26 point half time margin was the same buffer the Power enjoyed at three quarter time and of course, it was the final score.
Northern Knights region manager Peter Kennedy pointed out that Gippsland were a "yard stick" of the competition considering their strong start to the season. "We weren't disgraced today, but we're three to four goals behind the top sides, so have a bit of work to do. We need to be more efficient in the midfield."
I guess our biggest weaknesses today were that we struggled up forward apart from Michael Hurley and we needed to apply more tackles and pressure."
Hurley has been really consistent for us lately and was very good again this week providing a strong target at centre half forward and full forward."
"I guess it's a disappointing result but we did get the chance to blood two young kids in Tindarra Hood and Dylan Grimes."
Gippsland Power 12.15. 87 def. Northern Knights 8.13. 61
Goals: Hurley, 3, Veszpremi 2, O'Donnell, S.Kelly, Kreuzer 1
Best: J.Grimes, Kreuzer, Hurley, Totino, Woodhams, Veszpremi
Last Modified on 30/03/2008 18:19