An under strength Inverell Saints outfit have outlasted a determined Moree Suns outfit by 50 points at Taylor Oval Moree on Saturday with Mike Gould booting nine goals for the visitors on his return to the team.
Missing the likes of Ben Gregory, Toby Tollis, Lachie White, Bailey Gardner, Kyle Payne, Ryan Woolley & Darren Pithers, the 19 man Saints squad had to dig deep to eventually complete their home and away season with a win over the young and speedy Suns.
The home side started well and did all the attacking but failed to capitalise on their early dominance kicking 2.8 for the first quater while the Saints, with Gould setting up multiple shots on goal for his teamates, headed to the first break up by 3 points. Corey Borthwick, returning to the field after a two year break, kicked the Saints first for the afternoon (Although it has not been registered in the official game results....Sorry Corey)
The Saints kicked into gear in the second term with goals to Dallas Baldwin, Luke Selig, Grant Cunningham, Hayden Chappel and a double from Gould setting up a 37 point halftime lead.
To their credit, the Suns kept posing questions to the Saints but couldn't pose any scoreboard pressure and stop Gould registering another three majors for the third term.
The Saints started to feel the heat during the quarter with Hayden McDonald suffering severe cramp and Ben Ellis limping off with an ankle injury.
Dallas Baldwin twisted his knee and was stretchered off the field during the last quarter, leaving the Saints with 17 fit men who were able to hold off any Sun's surges and walk away with a 50 point win.
Mike Gould finished the game with 9 goals and was clearly the difference between the two sides. The Club hopes he remains an option in the forward line during the finals as he poses a huge danger to opposition teams.
Luke Selig, Josh Desborough, Justin Pay and Guy Mepham all starred on the day and will enjoy the week off following their tough encounter against the Suns. The boys will now prepare for possibly a home final against the Tamorth Kangaroos at Varley Oval later this month.
Goal Kickers: M. Gould 9, L. Selig 3, N. Hughes 3, G. Cunningham 2, D. Baldwin, H. Chappel ( Corey Borthwick also kicked a goal but has not been registered in the official results)
Best Players: M. Gould, L. Selig, B. Coles, D. Baldwin, H. Chappel, H. MacDonald
Women's
The Saints ladies had a day out with a huge 125 point win over the Moree Suns.
Led by Ellie Ford with five goals and Courtney Pay with four majors, the Saints had winners right across the park.
The girls ran riot in the opening quarter with a six goal burst to blow the game wide open and by half time they led by a comfortable 68 points.
Chloe Gleeson and Georgia Strang dominated the centre while Ford, Pay, Kayla Simms and Tara Allford were dangerous up forward.
The Saints sit in second place on the AFLNW Women's Ladder just behind the Tamworth Kangaroos.
Goal Kickers: E. Ford 5, C. Pay 4, T. Afford 2, C. Whitton 2, K. Beveridge 2, L. Matheson 2, K. Julius, K. Sims
Best Players: C. Pay, K. Sims, . Gleeson, K. Beveridge, G. Strang, T. Afford
Last Modified on 13/08/2017 22:00