Lexton have continued their winning form with a 19 point victory over Dunolly at Lexton Reserve in the Bendigo Bank Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League on Saturday.
The game was played in fine conditions in front of a vocal crowd, and it was the visiting Eagles who got the ball rolling early with a nice goal to Mike Smiler opening Dunolly's account for the day. When usual defender, Josh Sullivan then got the Eagles second, it looked as if Dunolly's zip and ball use was going to really challenge the league powerhouse. James McNamee again chopped off plenty of Lexton's supply in a quarterback role across half back to deny Matthew Brown and his fellow forwards any positive entry early in the game.
Lexton began to win a lot of the ball late in the first term with Steven Tung and Nic Locandro taking advantage of Tim Oliver's good ruck work to help the Tigers put on a couple of goals and keep the deficit to seven points at the first break.
The second term was an even affair, with Dion Munkara showing plenty of skill and smarts out on the wing for Dunolly while Lexton’s runners in Mark Shaw, Casey Robins and Lloyd Bennett began to really find space at times and hurt Dunolly with their kicking through the middle to team mates in attacking positions. Despite this Dunolly took an 11 point lead into the main break. Shane Fisher and James McNamee would have both believed their respective sides had plenty of room for improvement in the second half.
The side that did the improving was the Tigers who increased their willingness and hardness at the contests in the third quarter to give themselves first use and ability to score. This they did, kicking four goals to the Eagle’s two behinds for the term to wrest back the dominance. Joe Thompson and Lachlan Cunningham continued to battle hard in the Eagle defence. The attack of the Tigers around the ground, through the likes of Luke Davidson and Michael Smith, who along with their team mates, hunted in numbers was the difference however between the sides, and this enabled Lexton to take a handy 15 point buffer into the final break.
Dunolly tried to answer in the last term with McNamee giving his all as usual. He was well supported by Dallas Martin and Adam Robinson but they couldn’t match the strength of the Tiger outfit and the Eagles were left in no doubt that some improvement will need to come from their camp as they venture into the run home this year. Lexton were impressive in their workman like attack at the pill and they seemed very pleased to get their well deserved 19 point win.
Navarre v Maldon
Maldon travelled to Navarre and were without big men in Stephen Harris and Justin Trevan, while Ric Cromb filled the ruck void and the Bombers also welcomed back Damien Gatti from a shoulder injury. Navarre was still without Sam Robertson and his forward presence was missed as Maldon ran riot in the first half to lead by 45 points at half time.
The first term was the Tom Cain and David Carroll show as they were in everything. Cain was brilliant in the middle and set up many forward entries where Carroll was involved in most scoring opportunities. He took an outstanding diving mark at the six minute mark to open the goal scoring for the game. Cain then ran the ball out from the next centre bounce and found Carroll who short passed to Christian Kelly, and he kicked his first of five goals for the game.
Kelly goaled again a minute later as Maldon were running rings around their opponents and making Navarre look slow and lacking in endeavor. Matt Jess had an opportunity to goal at the 14 minute mark but his kick was wide and David Carroll made him pay when Tom Cain burst through the middle of the ground and kicked long to where Carroll out marked Luke Bibby and he kicked truly for the Bombers to lead by 22 points at the 16 minute mark. Cain then ran forward and slotted a left foot goal on the run as the Bombers led by 28 points at the first break.
It was more of the same in the second term as Maldon hit the packs hard and broke through the lines with quick hand passing as Navarre were second to the ball at every contest. Dwayne Weetra was very good for Maldon in this quarter and goaled inside a minute, which was quickly followed by a long goal from the boundary from Joel Cross who had drifted forward.
Bryce Tickner then exploded through the middle of the ground and kicked long to Matt Jess who was once again wayward as Navarre could not post a major on the scoreboard. Weetra then kicked another goal from a long bomb in front of the scoreboard and you could be forgiven for thinking it was game over mid way through the second quarter. Matt Jess finally kicked the Grasshoppers first goal of the game after marking strongly and receiving a fifty metre penalty after a late tackle from Scott Whitehead. Navarre trailed at the main break 1.5.11 to 9.2.56
Maldon looked to be in control early in the third term as the Grasshoppers were fumbling and turning the ball over, but then Navarre moved Ben Martin into the ruck and Josh Driscoll also started to get plenty of the ball. Whitehead and Nigel Greenaway had a minor altercation which seemed to spur the Grasshoppers into gear and they kicked the next five goals of the game. Ben Martin was involved in creating a number of goals as was Daniel Parkin. Steve Clohesy also started to gather possessions and he and Matt Jess also goaled in this term as Navarre reduced the deficit to only 10 points at the final change.
Navarre continued to go forward early in the last quarter but could only post minor scores, then Tom Cain and Shaun Burchell wrested control back for the Bombers and set up goals for Christian Kelly (2) and Kyle Winstanley as the Bombers led by 28 points at the 12 minute mark. Navarre would not give in though and Greenaway and Clohesy kicked the next two goals to provide a slight chance for the Grasshoppers.
But it was the Bombers day as Christian Kelly then kicked the match winner after Shaun Burchell hit him on the lead in the dying moments of the game. Maldon won 13.7.85 to 9.16.70
Harcourt v Newstead
A close contest between Harcourt and Newstead was played at Harcourt and it was only in the second quarter that the Lions were able to break free and set up a winning break.
Mark Oxley was again judged to be Harcourt’s best player as the big ruckman is in stellar form and allowing the midfield players to gain first use of the ball. Paul Chaplin gathered numerous possessions from the ruck work of Oxley and Kyle Mclean and Daniel Smith were also instrumental in the Lions win with Smith kicking six goals. Jay Milward, Joe Park and Casey Zepnick performed admirably for the depleted Steaders and Adrian Conn was the focal point up forward with four goals but the lapse in the second term was costly and allowed the Lions to win by 15 points when the final siren blew. 16.12.108 to 13.15.93
Natte v Rovers
The game at Natte Yallock between Rovers and Natte Bealiba was a close encounter in the first half as both teams were desperate to win the game and maintain their position in the top eight. Alex Collins bounced back from his one goal game against Navarre the week before with ten goals and he was well supported by Zach Perez with five as Natte assumed control of the game in the second half with thirteen goals to four. Stephen Ross and Jacob Long also played significant roles for the Swans as did Lachlan Cameron in the ruck. The Guareschi Brothers kicked six of Rovers ten goals for the game while Dion Hedger and Brendan Hehir were amongst the better players for the Magpies in their 74 point loss. Natte won 21.14.140 to 10.6.66.
Talbot v Carisbrook
Carisbrook travelled to into Arch rival territory in Talbot, and recorded a comfortable 109 point victory over the struggling Hawks.
From the early stages it was evident that Talbot was in for a long day.
Wasteful kicking kept Talbot in the game, as Carisbrook kicked 11 points in the first term. Carisbrook Ruckman Scott Adam played his best game since crossing from Clunes, as returning coach Luke Treacy kicked 6 goals in a dominant display. Talbot was well served by Aidan Mathews across the half back line, whilst old stager Jeffrey Bux was outstanding in the Talbot midfield.
At half time a 66 point deficit faced the Hawks, as a drubbing was well and truly on the cards. To Talbot’s credit, the Hawks were competitive in the second half, but were simply outclassed by the Redbacks. Final Scores - Carisbrook 22.17. 149 Talbot - 6.4.40.
Trentham v Avoca
Avoca travelled to Trentham and nearly pulled of the upset of the round when they led midway through the final term only to be hauled in by the Saints late in the game.
Trentham went into the main break confident of a win when leading by 27 points, but Lachlan Edwards and Matt Hind inspired a third quarter fight back for the Bulldogs who kicked seven goals to one as Avoca led by eight points at three quarter time. The Saints gathered themselves at the break and eventually wore the Bulldogs down to win by eight points. 15.16.106 to 15.8.98
Royal Park v Campbells Creek (Sunday)
Royal Park met Campbells Creek at Hedges Oval in slippery wet conditions on Sunday to decide which of the two teams will move from the bottom of the ladder.
It was Royal Park that gained the upper hand in the opening term with Brendan Birch and Linden Anderson providing plenty of drive from around the ground. Chris Perry and Zac Short were strong in defence, but Brad Lockyer did manage to outmark Birch and kick a goal on the run for Creek at the 10 minute mark, however Adam Wright quickly answered with a 40 metre goal for the Tigers to take the momentum into the second quarter.
Both teams found it difficult to score in the wet and slippery conditions during the second quarter, but Ryan Hughes was handling the ball well for Creek and was under notice. Michael Firman goaled late for Creek and they led by three points at half time.
Creek started to gain the ascendency early and kicked the first two goals after the main break through Brad Lockyer and Grant Dimitrijevick and held a 14 point lead at the eleven minute mark. Royal Park mounted a challenge through the hard work of Linden Anderson who kicked three goals for the term and Chris Perry also responded with a great checkside goal and the Tigers had regained the momentum and led by three points at the final change.
In a exciting final quarter, Shane Gray snapped a goal inside a minute for the Tigers, which was quickly answered by Grant Ditrijiveck who was proving a handful for the Royal Park defenders. With heavy rain starting to set in, the Tigers gained the upper hand with the next three goals and there was none better than when Justin Perry tapped the ball down the throat of Chris Perry from a boundary throw in and he slotted the goal to set the Tigers alight.
With the game all but over and the Tigers leading by 22 points at the seventeen minute mark, Creek came alive and showed its fighting spirit to score the next three goals to be within four points at the 27 minute mark and had the ball in their attacking zone as the siren sounded to end the game, with Royal Park holding on to score their first win of the season, much to the delight of the players and supporters.
The Tigers won 10.12.72 to 9.14.68
Last Modified on 13/07/2011 18:00