Miners cup heads north
THE FAR NORTH FL has taken a 4-3 lead in the annual Miners Cup with a powerful 69 point win at Adelaide Oval on Satuday.
Broken Hill were confident they had picked a team of midfielders capable of running the FNFL off their feet, but alas the Roxby district based team had planned well for this game and had a quick side also....and a gun full forward!
33 year old Chris Ladhams - who played 54 games for Adelaide Crows between 2001-04 was the difference as he kicked ten amazing goals without a miss! Matt Dempster is as good as they come one on one but Ladhams converted many times from 45 plus metres on tight angles after the FNFL rushed the ball forward most of the time on the back of BH turnovers.
Broken Hill were well prepared for the game and after a great rev up from Coaches Ruddock, Dolanand Morris they hit the game at top pace, and the ball was locked in the BH attacking zone for much of the quarter....but only points came and on the rebound Ladhams & Fisher both scores two goals and the BH team was behind the eight ball. At quarter time the scoreboard reflected 7 scoring shots to 6 but a 26 point deficit to the locals.
The second quarter was much the same as the FNFL could not miss with another 6-2 to 2-3 effort to stretch the lead to 49 points. Broken Hill’s midfield was being heavily rotated and with it players like Kelly, Beavan, Johns & Purcell drifted in and out of the game.
Todd Shapter was our shining light and was working overtime at the base of the packs setting up our outside runners in Pettitt, Gepp andMartin.
The Coaches shuffled the team a bit at half time sending Bird back and Westley went onto Ladhams and won some 50/50 balls whilst Dempster bounced back to give some good rebound off half back.
Broken Hill played their best footy in the third quarter but yet again near misses were the difference with Kelly and Shapter missing from 40 metres only to see the ball in the hands of Ladhams after 3 skill errors by BH.
With Martin, Browne and Purcell on fire late in the quarter BH posted back to back goals for the first time with goals to Blacksell and Schorn, and the margin was back to 41 at ¾ time, despite only one less scoring shot.
BH attacked relentlessly at the start of the final quarter and a goal to Schorn after 1 minute was followed up by another centre clearance and goal to Lindon Cox.
It’s 29 points and BH have all the momentum, and another centre break has the FNFL under pressure. A costly turnover and yet again FNFL go coast to coast and Ladhams nails his eighth from the 50 on the boundary line.
The floodgates opened and FNFL kick the last 6 goals of the game to turn an honourable loss into a 69 point drubbing.
Broken Hill can’t be faulted for their attack on the footy, nor this willingness to run and chase from start to finish. What hurt the locals was their kicking skills under pressure and just about every turnover across half forward saw a goal to FNFL such was their ability to run and carry the footy. Whilst BH hit the post twice and had two shots touched on the line FNFL had a day out kicking 16-3 to ¾ time.
Jayden Kelly won the medal from the opposition, whilst Ladhams was the player that hurt BH the most.
The Miners Cup was yet again a fantastic event well supported by both Football leagues. The South Australian Community Football League are to be congratulated for all their lobbying behind the scenes to ensure this game went ahead at the new venue. We can only hope that the Miners Cup continues in 2015 and beyond as the concept has great support pitting the Mining Unions of Broken Hill against the might of the BHP who back the Far North FL. Its friendly banter but its a great marketing concept that can only grow stronger each year with support of all bodies.
Final Scores
Far North FL 6-1 12-3 16-3 22-8 (140)
BROKEN HILL FL 1-5 3-8 8-10 10-11 (71)
FAR NORTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Goal Kickers: C. Ladhams 10, B. Warren 2, D. Fisher 2, S. McIvor , C. Millard , M. Lynch , T. Grosser , L. Hewett , J. Watson , J. Greenbank , J. Veale
Best Players: B. Hampel, J. Greenbank, C. Ladhams, M. Schipper, C. Millard
BROKEN HILL FL
Goal Kickers: T Blacksell 2, C Schorn 2, T Boland, C Pettitt, L Cox, M Purcell, B Martin, J Johns
Best Players: T Shapter, M Purcell, Q Beavan, J Kelly, B Martin, D Browne, J Gepp
Last Modified on 09/06/2014 21:12