The St.Arnaud seniors pushed Charlton to the limits in a game that was largely influenced by the wind at Charlton. The highlight for the saints is Bruce Hando who kicked a massive 9 goals as the team lost by 54 points.
Although the result was as many goals as Hando kicked, this did not show how the game was truly played with the saints putting the challenge to the Navies. Zach Notting played his first game for the seniors, coming up from the Under 16’s and having to adapt to a much more fluent game.
The saints started the match with the wind, and were taking advantage of this early. But they were unable to score early goals with the Charlton defences working well to clear every attack. Charlton score the first goal of the match after Mark Cuirleo gave away a 50m penalty. Free kicks were being handed out at every contest and Hando was on the right end of the free and was also rewarded a 50m penalty to put through his first. This spurred the saints on as they attacked again and this time it was Daniel Needs who put the ball through the sticks. Charlton was then able to slowly reply with a goal and scores were even again. The pressure from both teams was immense as neither team score for the rest of the quarter.
Quarter Time
Charlton 2 1 13
St.Arnaud 2 1 13
Charlton used the wind well early in the second, with a goal to Matt Gretgrix. The saints were able to fight against the wind and the Blues to put through Hando’s second. The wind assisted the blues well as they put on the next three to get a good lead. But the pressure of the saints forced many turnovers. The Charlton attacks were being well cut off along the half back line and as a result, the saints kicked another. It was looking like Charlton had no answers to the great defences work from the saints until Luke Ezard was reported and yellow carded for a hit on Carl Theisz. From then on Charlton kicked two more goals to finish the half four goals ahead.
At the half, Coach Egan told his saints that their pressure around the ball was great, but must win every contest in the next quarter to get their noses in front.
Half Time
Charlton 8 5 53
St.Arnaud 4 5 29
The saints started the quarter quickly but Charlton was the first to kick a goal. The quarter was turning into a goal for goal contest with Hando then McGrath then Hando kicking the goals. The saints broke the goal for goal contest with a string of handballs and a brilliant stab pass from Brock Ezard to Hando, and he was able to kick his fifth. He then followed up with his sixth and the saints were closing in on the Blues. Hando put through yet another goal and suddenly the saints were within ten points. The saints’ pressure all across the ground was doing wonders for them as Charlton had nowhere to go and the ball was turned over and the saints were attacking once again. But they were unable to convert and the Blues started to take advantage of this. Despite good defence all day from Matthew Goode, Mark Cuirleo and Dom Rhoden, the blues banged on two more goals to finish the quarter four goals up.
Three Quarter Time
Charlton 12 5 78
St.Arnaud 8 9 57
Charlton took the wind and ran away from the saints very quickly as they kicked the first two goals. But selfishness from some Charlton players was proving costly as they missed many shots. But they continued to win the ball over the ground and they kicked another four goals before Hando kicked the saints first. In a fortunate series of events with a deliberate out of bounds by a Charlton player Kurtis Torney received a 50m penalty and therefore another goal for the saints. From there, the game was being controlled by the saints and Hando put his last goal through. But it was too late, and the Navy Blues kicked one final goal before the siren sounded and the win was theirs.
Full Time
Charlton 19 15 129
St.Arnaud 11 9 75
Goals: Charlton- M. Gretgrix 4, D. Thiesz 3, J. McGrath 3, T. Hill 2, A. Judd 2, C. Thiesz 2, B. Roberts, L. Hartley, J. Baird.
St.Arnaud- B. Hando 9, K. Torney, D. Needs.
Best: Charlton- T. Hill, L. Hartley, J. Ketterer, A. Judd, K. Clifford, C. Thiesz.
St.Arnaud- B. Hando, D. Needs, B. Batters, C. Medlyn, B. Williams, M. Goode
Last Modified on 14/04/2010 19:00