On a fine early winter’s day the Alexandra Football Netball Club was home to traditional rivals Yea for two games of football and four games of netball to decide the inaugural Hedger – Ivey cup. The Rebels were keen to extract some revenge from our last meeting where the Tigers were too good in the Elimination Final last year... The senior side was led out by captain Chris Mullins playing his 200th game back in the team along with Jake Elkington and Luke Heard to replace Conner Heaslip, Jacob Brereton, and Brent McDonald. The ground was in great condition after early week rain as Alexandra won the toss and kicked to the hill end with a big crowd in attendance. Yea were first to goal at the town end before Alexandra ran the ball around the caravan park side to give Scott Hill a chance but he was astray. Hill soon made amends from closer in. Both teams were contesting hard and play was scrambly. Alex. used the ball with purpose and Brayden Norris finished well but the Tigers kicked the next major. A strong contest from Rhys Steward enabled Luke Heard to goal from a Yea kick-in. Alex. using the ball well found Brayden Norris again and his long kick from near the scoreboard were accurate. Ryley Norris combined with Ben Cooper for their fifth goal before Yea intercepted an errant kick out of defence for their third goal reducing the margin to 16 points at the first change. Strong attacking by Cooper and Steve Steiner allowed Will Goonan to goal early in the second as Alex. appeared to get on top in general play with Brayden Norris marking well up forward. A 50 m penalty enabled Will Goonan to kick a second goal. Alexandra’s inaccuracy was the only thing keeping Yea in touch at this stage but they got closer with successive goals. Brayden Norris, two further goals and Hill extended Alexandra’s lead to 55 points at the long break. Yea reduced the margin with the first goal of the third quarter as Alex. added behinds but Hill again goaled from the angle. Chris Mullins was jumping over the big Yea ruckman and Cooper and Steiner along with Zack Heaslip and Nathan Dundas were on top in the midfield whilst Braden Norris and Heaslip increased the lead. Yea with forwards Rattray and Pearce marking strongly and kicking accurately were very efficient up forward. Michael Coombs and Norris again stretched the lead to 57 points at the last change. Unselfishly Norris passed to Hill for his fourth goal as Alex. continued to attack but the competitions leading goalkicker Rattray continued to trouble the Alex. defence. Heaslip running into form took a one armed mark and goaled before Cooper burst from the centre in customary style and kicked accurately, further goals to Jack Goonan and Heard finished off the work from up field as Alexandra recorded a 70 point win 22.20.132 to Yea 13.4.82. Best: Ben Cooper (2 goals) Brayden Norris (7), Stephen Steiner, Scott Hill (4) Zack Heaslip (2) and Ben Woolard.
RESERVES
The Reserves included a few experienced players Billy Cody, David Bourke, Luke Ware and Cory Jack the latter playing his 350th game. Not much deserves to be written about the first half as both sides played poorly with only five goals kicked between the two teams. Alex. certainly picked up in the third quarter with six goals to one as they started to find team mates by both foot and hand. Around the clearances Brent McDonald, Cory Jack and David Bourke were winning the ball and providing Tom Halligan opportunities to use his pace whilst Jedd Hamill provided a target up forward. In defence Chase Pearce and Andrew Wood kept the Tiger forwards in check. Alex finished off the game with a further three goals to one to double the visitors score winning 11.6.72 to 5.6.36.
Last Modified on 05/06/2017 12:51