Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Birchip-Watchem Bulls
Both sides had a fair bit riding on the outcome of this match with both needing the win to keep in touch with the top four sides. Sea Lake playing at home and with a couple of key inclusions got the better of the starts between the two sides. Accuracy played a key role in the Tigers quarter time lead. In the opening part of the game the Bulls could have put themselves in a strong position but poor kicking let them down from their six attempts and on the other side of the ledger the Tigers took the ball forward on three occasions for three positive results to take a slim lead of two points to quarter time.
Birchip-Watchem Bulls drew first blood in the second quarter to take a narrow lead before the Tigers, through a Simon Weekly goal struck back to regain the lead. From this point the Tigers started to get on top of the Bulls but they could not put a big enough gap between them and the Bulls which they were hoping to achieve. Birchip-Watchem cut the Tigers lead back to under two goals just before the main stoppage. To this point the game was fairly even with both sides producing a good brand of football in short bursts but in some cases they were overshadowed by some poor skill errors but the game remained in the balance.
With two quarters to play the Home side came out more determined than the Bulls and they were quick to post their first major score for the premiership quarter. The Bulls were trying desperately to break through the Sea Lake Nandaly backline but the ball was constantly sent back to where it came. The Tigers did get a break in this term to lead the Bulls by thirty two points at three quarter time. The Bulls could only manage the one goal for the quarter and were outplayed by the Tigers who deserved their three quarter time lead but if good enough the Bulls still had the game in their sights.
The final term was again a winner for the Tigers as they outscored the Bulls to eventually run out good winners by forty four points. Zac May was named best for the Tigers, with good support coming from Billy McInnes, Angus Munro, Brad Collins, John Summerhayes and Luke Martin. Simon Weekly was the major goal kicker for the Tigers with five. Michael Monteith was again named best for the Bulls with Jake Noonan, Brendan George, Charlie Hallam, Lochie Sirett and Sean Hogan being named as better players.
Final score Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 13-10=88 def Birchip-Watchem Bulls 6-8=44
Boort v Donald
Donald coming off two losses was keen to get back on the winners list and the indications from their opening term would have sent a strong message to their opposition in Boort Magpies. Donald was well in charge in the first quarter to take a seventeen point lead to the first break in play. Donald players looked to have regained some of their form from the earlier rounds. Seamus Young was back to his best up forward and his brother Ross and Brodie Haddow were strong around the midfield this giving the Royal Blues the edge over the Magpies who were unable to match the pace and skills of the Donald side.
In the second term the Boort Magpies were a different side and was able to match it with the Royals. James Orr started to get on top at the centre bounces and was also gathering many possessions around the ground. Leonard-Shannon started to get into the game and his two goals in the quarter put a spark back into the Magpies who went to half time just two goals in arrears of the Royal Blues.
As Boort done in the second term with improved play, Donald was able to do it a bit better in the third term as they teamed well together to take a hold on the game and was able to establish a handy lead by three quarter time. Boort was held to two goals for the term but with the Donald side adding six goals the margin at the final break had moved out to a six goal lead and with the Magpies only kicking six in three quarters to kick six and halt the Royals scoring in the final quarter the task for the Magpies to get up a collect the four points may have been a little steep.
The final quarter seen the Donald side increase their lead and in doing so was able to keep the Magpies to just the one goal in the last quarter. Donald run the game out better and went on to win by forty seven points. The win of Donald now gives them a two game and percentage buffer over the Magpies. Ross Young got the top honour for his four quarters where he gathered possession after possession and set up many opportunities which his full forward brother in Seamus took full advantage of finishing the day with six goals. Other better players for the Royal Blues were Brodie Haddow, Daniel Pearce, Nick Garner, Charlie Murray and Sam Dunstan. Boort’s best was James Orr with Jack Baker, Aaron and Keiran Wilson, Butch Fitzpatrick and Cam Chalmers.
Final score Donald Royal Blues 15-12=102 defeated Boort Magpies 7-13=55.
Charlton v St Arnaud (Click here for photos)
In the contest between last year’s two Grand Final sides St Arnaud produced their best football in the opening quarter similar to what occurred in round one with the Saints leading at the first change by a goal. St Arnaud kicked four major scores to Charlton’s three in this term with Nick Coghlan kicking two of those goals. Gunn for the Navies also posted two first term goals in what was looking to be a close contest.
Things changed in favour of the Charlton side in the second quarter where they were able to add a further four goals and restrict the Saints to just the two goals. McGrath and Gunn were the main scorers for the Navies which helped Charlton go to the half time break leading by eight points a fourteen point turnaround. Rogan and Sam O’Connor was doing most of the damage to the Saints who are missing a few from the Premiership side but do still have a some key players from their Grand Final victory and appear to find it hard to find some consistent form.
Charlton advanced their lead out to twenty five points by the end of the third term as they again outplayed the Saints who could manage just the two goals. The Navy Blues were producing winners on all lines as they started to take control of the game and heading towards the last break the signs for the Saints were not improving. Although the Saints were still in touch with the Navy Blues at the last change their form would have to improve dramatically for them to come from behind and win this match.
In the final term Charlton put the foot down and slammed on a further seven goals and kept the Saints to just two goals. Charlton run out big winners by fifty eight points and consolidate second spot on the leagues ladder. Cody Gunn with six goals and Joe McGrath with five were their top goal scorers and also named in their top players, while Shane Rogan was named as the Navy Blues best. Others named as better players for the Navies was Sam O’Connor, James Baird, Daniel Thiesz. Billy Williams was named best for St Arnaud and Nick Coghlan was their leading goal kicker with four. Also named in the list of better players for the Saints, Kurt Torney, Gav Vassallo, Jordan Summers, and Tom Bertalli.
Final score Charlton Navy Blues 18-16= 124 Defeated St Arnaud Saints 10-6=66
Wycheproof-Narraport v Wedderburn
In the contest between the undefeated Wycheproof-Narraport Demons and the winless Wedderburn Redbacks most would have predicted the final outcome favouring the Demons and this proved correct but it didn’t come as easy as many would have thought.
Wedderburn posted the first two goals of the game and looked the quicker of the two sides. It took the Demons until midway through the term to register their first major through George Turner who unfortunately copped a knock to the shoulder and left the ground and did not return. Wedderburn and the Demons both kicked goals late in the quarter with the Redbacks holding a seven point lead at the first change.
Wedderburn were able to stick with the Demons in the second term in a game that was very scrappy and not much of the higher skill levels were able to be shown. The Demons hit the front in the dying minutes of the second term to lead by five points at the main stoppage. The game to this point was not a great spectacle with the umpires having to intervene on a regular basis where many ball-ups were occurring due to the slippery condition where many packs were created.
As they have done in the past few games the Demons third terms have taken the game to a different level and this week was no different with the Demons slamming on seven goals and the Redbacks only able to add one goal. The margin at the final break was forty two points with the Demons looking to go on to build a big score in the final quarter.
In the final term the Redbacks was able to keep pace with the Demons and at one stage closed in on the lead of the Demons as they posted three last quarter goals to get the margin back to just three goals. The Redbacks were solid in this quarter and a couple of missed opportunities mid-term would have brought the score even closer but as good sides do the Demons rallied to kick the last three goals of the game and took the game out by forty four points to remain undefeated. Mead-Harding, James Coatsworth and Ricky Allan kicked three goals each for the Demons and Coach Danny Benaim with three goals and Will Holt, two were the major goal kickers for the Redbacks. Mead Harding was also named best for the Demons with Connor Burge, Ricky Allan, Boe Bish, Joel Turner and Kieran Prestidge also being named in their best. For the Redbacks Corey Lowry was their best and he gained solid support from Adam Postle, Ben DeAraugo, Daniel Gash, Jarrod Postle and Jake Hernan.
Final scores Wycheproof-Narraport Demons 15-9=99 defeated Wedderburn Redbacks 8-7=55.
Next week’s round nine matches
Wedderburn Redbacks v Boort Magpies
Donald Royal Blues v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers
Birchip-Watchem Bulls v Charlton Navy Blues
St Arnaud Saints v Wycheproof-Narraport Demons
Last Modified on 20/06/2016 23:33